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hey, being in England i have to wait another few days for Fallout 3 to come out, i was just wondering for you guys that already have it what is your opinions of the game?

I don't own it personally, but my friend picked it up and he loves it. Loved it so much he stayed up till 4 playing it last night then skipped out on work today. Very open ended/sandbox type of play and somewhat similar to oblivion, but with guns.

So far I love it. I was a massive nut for the original Fallout.

So far I really like Fallout 3. The auto detect put my computer at "medium" settings and the game still looks amazing. So far I've only got quibbles with the game not any real problems. There are some issues with monsters that are long (like giant bugs) not looking very good when they move over uneven terrain (which the game has in spades). The VATS system turned out better than I expected. With a really good gun skill your character can shoot well and pretty damn accurate. VATS target numbers break down at very long range. IE your almost always gonna be better aiming for yourself. I've already seen at least 3 or 4 places where I could have taken other "paths" when it comes to the story line. Two of them could lead to major game changes for replay. The game really captures the Fallout atmosphere of scrounging for every last bullet. Ammo so far has not been super plentiful. There are some very occasional slowdown issues on my PC but they aren't major and I haven't attempted any performance adjustments.

I'm pretty sure the game so far deserves at least a score in the low 90's out of 100. If I had a slightly faster computer the game would be perfect.

thanks Dr Phibes the kind of feedback i was looking for, i am a massive fallout nut too and have been following the development of this game pretty closely since it was announced back in what 2004? something like that,

Vats was something i was concerned about but the reviews ive read state it as no problem which sounds awesome as it looks like a pretty fun gameplay mechanic, i feel for you with your PC concerns, luckily i will be getting on the xbox so hopefully i wont have such issues from what ive also heard those PS3 owners have got the short end of the stick this time as far as how the game runs is concerned nice to hear your pc isnt having too much of a problem what spec you running?

thanks for your informed reply

VATS is amazingly fun.

Take one minigun
Take one super mutant
Insert VATS faceshots
=
PROFIT???

But seriously.
The game is amazingly fun, and I spent all night last night playing around on it.

I played the original 1 and 2 tactics hell i even bought the lame post bankruptcy on for xbox that came out a few years back

fallout 3 is in the original vein of the first two and i have genuinely enjoyed the 10+ hours i have spent playing it even though i have only covered about 5% of the game world itself..

Simply stated. The money i spent on it will be bringing me enjoyment for many many weeks to come.

5 out of 5 whatevers

I got the game and I have to say I'm a little frustrated with how poorly they've constructed the beginning of the game to help you figure out exactly how the game functions.

The 'intro' bit in the vault is all well and good, but once I escaped the vault all I had in my possession is a pistol with roughly 24 shots, a BB gun (and ammo), Baseball bat, Baseball, Baseball glove, some armor (and helmet) and a couple of vault jumpsuits. I've got no money (which fits the story) and I have no idea how to make money.

By this time in the game I've decided I'm going to play a 'good guy' type of character. I'm not going to steal or lie and I'm always going to try to help people out. . .for compensation, of course, a man's gotta survive.

Following that archetype when the crap went down in the vault I decided I wasn't going to try to kill the vault security guys who were chasing me, I just ran from them instead. I have no idea if I missed out on a bunch of great weapons/gear etc. by fleeing straight for the exit, but that felt like the 'right' thing for my particular character to do.

So when I get to Megaton, I'm looking for guidance on how exactly I survive in this game world and I don't get any of that. The town sheriff asks me if I can disarm their bomb. Well, I'm looking to help and I picked a bunch of technical skills when I was developing the character so I say 'sure', I'll try to disarm it to get some cash.

But of course when I get to the bomb, I don't have the sufficient ability to do so. Crap. Still no money. So I head to the bar and talk to the guy who saw my dad, but he wants cash to tell me what I want to know, but of course I still have no money. Crap again.

He offers me a job to go jack some guy up in the nearby town, but everyone has told me this bar owner is a sleaze and I don't want to work for him (or rough someone up on his behalf) so I'm not going to take that job. Another guy in the bar wants me to blow the town up, but of course that's not something I'm interested in.

Finally, I find some girl who wants me to deliver a note to her brother in another town for some cash. There's a task I can feel good about doing.

So I set off to find this other town, with only those few measly weapons to my name and no health packs. It happens to be pitch black at night when I set out and on the very long trek I happen to be attacked by several beasts in the dark, become irradiated by falling in the river that I don't see until I fall into it, get shot and killed by raiders in the dark with my pistol running out of ammo trying to kill them (pistol + vats + long range doesn't work, which I'm sure you all know now).


Since then I've figured out you can 'skip time' to travel during the day (which is much easier to see where you're going of course), I also figured out you can trade pretty much any junk you find in for some sort of cash or goods and with that money I've been able to get a few weapons.

But why did I have to spend hours blundering through all this? I'm a life-long gamer who's played many, many games, I can only imagine what frustration a new gamer who tries to pick up this game would feel. . .probably a feeling of hopelessness and futility at which point they'd put down the game forever.

I know a lot of this info is found in the manual, but EVERY game these days has either an in-game tutorial or sets up the first few levels of the game to explain the basics of the mechanics to you.

The 'vault' training levels completely fail at this because they fail to cover some of the most basic needs of the game: how the game's economy works with the barter system for any junk you pick up, how VATS works, how to 'skip time', etc.

I just can't figure out why they wouldn't build some basic missions into Megaton that would help walk you through all of those concepts. It is mind-boggling to me, frankly.

Now I did manage to work past my frustration and after dying a few times I think I've gotten the hang of staying alive in the wasteland and I am starting to enjoy myself, but why oh why did I have to spend several hours of pure confusion to get there?

Because it's not a Bethesda game without you thinking "WTH is going on?!" for a few hours?

For the love of god! How do you skip ahead through time?! I am a serious Fallout fan and know it was simple in the original two, but for the life of me I can't find it anywhere. I must be slowed. Help? I waited outside Craterside Supplies encumbered with gear wait like a half hour for the sun to rise.

I never played the first two, but I have always been a fan of Bethesda's games. This runs the same engine as Oblivion did, it's nice to see the improvements that have been made. However like Yak I had similar problems early on trying to figure out how to do things. VATS wasn't very well explained, so I had no idea how to use it, also it didn't tell me I could cue multiple actions in VATS. Also lock picking didn't become clear to me till I was nearly finished with the game! However Despite these issues, and my stupid Xbox crashing every hour or so, I really have been enjoying the game. Running around in the wastes is a blast, especially up north!

Who else couldn't stop laughing when Liberty Prime was blowing up bad guys?

Smashotron wrote:For the love of god! How do you skip ahead through time?! I am a serious Fallout fan and know it was simple in the original two, but for the life of me I can't find it anywhere. I must be slowed. Help? I waited outside Craterside Supplies encumbered with gear wait like a half hour for the sun to rise.

For the xbox its the back button, across from start

Thank you!

I actually decided to purchase this game, and I must say it is great. I do agree with Yakface to an extent, when you first start off its kind of difficult to jump right into the action, especially if you choose to play as a good guy, but one thing I have learned though is that even if the task or quest you are completing seems evil, there is usually a way to complete it in a good way.

Vats is great, nothing better than getting a head shot with a rifle. Best moment so far is sneaking up to a raider with a combat shotgun and completely removing his head off with a point blank shot.

The easiest way to get some good weapons at the start is to go to the Springvale School. The hallways are littered with Raiders who attack you on sight, and most tend to rush at you so VATS with a pistol is good times. By the end you should have a couple of pistols and a 10mm submachinegun, all the while killing in self-defense!

Anyone else get Fawkes as a companion yet? I love having him around!

Might want to put SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on the post now that Yak got here with his above post. Thanks yak....

Any ways, I had only finished up to the part where I exit the vault, but already knew I could sell junk to make money (its in every RPG and MMO since many years back) so I'm not sure many other people will have issues figuring out how to make money.

- Kill critter with baseball bat.
- Loot.
- Sell.

Basically the same in every game I've played since the original Fallout 10+ years ago.

I'm just trying to get to The Citadel and make nice with the Brotherhood.

I've already met them, and helped them out...but they won't teach me how to use Power Armor.

I mean sure, they give me the schematics to make a Nuclear Landmine that's remote detonated.
Sure they give me a Minigun, Flamer, and a Fat Man nuclear launcher.

Yet they won't show me how to wear power armor?! WTH guys! You gave me NUKES!

Well i have the game now, i must say i am impressed, in respect to the beginning in the vault i agree with Yak totally, however once you get outside and workout what you are doing etc its not that, ive only just got to megaton, however i've had a couple of fights with some raiders along the way and picked myself up a flamethrower , it does play alot like Oblivion however that isnt exactly a bad thing really it is essentially Oblivion with Fallout skins but being as the Elder Scrolls series and Fallout are two of my favourites im pretty much hooked still thanks for the opinions guys keep em coming

Kanluwen wrote:I'm just trying to get to The Citadel and make nice with the Brotherhood.

I've already met them, and helped them out...but they won't teach me how to use Power Armor.

I mean sure, they give me the schematics to make a Nuclear Landmine that's remote detonated.
Sure they give me a Minigun, Flamer, and a Fat Man nuclear launcher.

Yet they won't show me how to wear power armor?! WTH guys! You gave me NUKES!

Kanluwen, have you spoken to Elder Lyons yet? If not (and if you haven't gotten into the actual Citadel) you won't be able to use the Power armor. You need to speak to Elder Lyons to get permission. Once you have his permission you need to speak to the training dude (he moves around somewhat to make things worse) I found him in the Citadel A-Ring section, thought I also saw him outside once or twice in the courtyard.

I haven't actually gotten to the Citadel, yet.
Only level 15; and on "Scientific Pursuits" for the main storyline(Following James, yeah?). Gotta find Vault 112 :(

I'll be getting it in a few days, and it's going to eat up my life for about a month at least.

yakface wrote:

The 'intro' bit in the vault is all well and good, but once I escaped the vault all I had in my possession is a pistol with roughly 24 shots, a BB gun (and ammo), Baseball bat, Baseball, Baseball glove, some armor (and helmet) and a couple of vault jumpsuits. I've got no money (which fits the story) and I have no idea how to make money.

You're in a post-nuclear holocost world and you're complaining about that treasure trove of stuff? You'd complain if they hanged you with a new rope wouldnt you?

(I actually think there would be a bit more realism if there was LESS stuff to find ammo-wise. Who's making bullets after 200 years of desolation?)

.............................................

I have it on X-BOX.

I love this game. LOVE it! I've played 30 hours into it and have barely scratched the surface of the total 10 square miles that there are to explore.

VATS is what EVERY first person shooter should have from now on....the "cinematics" during it have yet to get dull. Exploding heads are more fun than cocaine. Shooting charging Mutants in the legs to make them stumble. Shooting arms to make them drop weapons...as a rule, I normally HATE first person shooters, and its rare that I get into one. This first person shooter/roleplayer has me totally hooked.

Fallout vets should be happy. The atmosphere is VERY close to what I remember of the first game, but the graphics are appropriatly better. Somehow I find the game MUCH more immersive than I found Oblivion, I'm not certain why. I got bored with Oblivion quickly and never REALLY got into the game but Fallout is sucking my life away like an MMO.

Yak is actually correct that its a little hard to learn just how to 'operate'. This goes for control-wise and quest-wise. The game is really about exploration though so I can get over that.

Equiptment is a little to easy to find, if the difficulty level reduces the amount of "loot" one gets I may up my difficulty. At times I DO begin to run low on prefered ammo, but I'm never actually out....but I typically carry about 3-4 weapons I specialise in and alternate though, with some "Big Guns" and mines as back-up's. I actually specialise in small arms and sneaking and find the easy-to-find/loot hunting rifle to be my most used weapon...until I get charged, then I whip out the sawed-off for a beautiful head explosion or the ripper (a chainsword straight out of 40k) when I'm feeling particularly nasty.

HOORAY!

I got Power Armor and a unique Minigun!

Bwhahahaha.

Oh yeah, got the unique Chinese Officer's Sword off Vance and his vampire buddies.

I told them I'd cleanse that hole of depravity with flame and power armory death.

And a nuke

Who wants power armour?

With the minigun equipped, my hair/facial hair model, and the sheriff's cowboy hat, my avatar looks vaguely like Jesse straight out of predator.

....now if I can just find an MTV t-shirt and some chewing tobacco. Then my character will be a G-D sexual tyrannosaurus....just like me.

You can get a duster if you take the Lawbringer perk; for the authentic minigun toting Cowboy look

I've got it on PC. Gobs of fun; I'm having trouble stopping.

I think the answer to how to come out of the Vault with wealth (or as close as you can get) is, sadly, kill the guards. They're bad men anyway, no karma lost, and the armor helps you stay alive with extras to sell... also more ammo. Really, it's like most RPGs: wander around, kill things, loot them, clean out the environment of anything moveable that even hints at value.

Om the darkness bit... I just turned up the brightness some. I mean, yes it's supposed to be dark out... but everything was nuked till it glowed, so a little extra glow isn't out of place...

i must confess i have run into a tight spot at the moment, does anyone know any good places to look for 5,52MM and Shotgun Shells, i used all mine fighting a nest of fire ants and im now left with just my 10MM and Laser Pistol

If you can find the Talon Company Mercenary camps and actually *survive* going after Sniper Rifle, Missile Launcher, Assault Rifle, Flamer, etc armed enemies...Fort Bannon works

Kanluwen wrote:HOORAY!

I got Power Armor and a unique Minigun!

Bwhahahaha.

Oh yeah, got the unique Chinese Officer's Sword off Vance and his vampire buddies.

I told them I'd cleanse that hole of depravity with flame and power armory death.

And a nuke

dammit I should not be reading this.

Over on other forums a fair number of persons have completed it already, and I did not detect any signs of a race to do so.

Confirmation please, is the main quest very short?

(No spoilers required)