Consolation Prize

Before I was struck down with one of the millions of nasty bugs that seem to be lingering around at this time of year, rendering my mind and body virtually useless and capable only of watching dreary daytime TV shows, I was thoroughly enjoying Fallout 3 – the post apocalyptic role-playing-game from Bethesda.

I must admit that to begin with I wasn’t hooked. The visually impressive post nuclear wasteland can, at least early on in the game, be a torturous affair as even the briefest of encounters with a vicious dog could lead to a fatal outcome. Realising that wandering aimlessly across the landscape wasn’t perhaps the best course of action, and possibly why I was pointed in the direction of the safe haven of Megaton to begin with, I headed off for the nearby settlement and things certainly improved from there on in.

I really should have anticipated the opening salvo of frustration that this kind of game represents; after all, didn’t I clock up over a hundred hours in Oblivion, a stable mate that plays much the same as Fallout 3? Well yes, I probably had a similar first impression of Oblivion, but it’s the kick-ass character at the end of the adventure that I remembered, not the weakling at the beginning that struggles to defeat sewer rats. However, perseverance is rewarded and developing your character is certainly one of the highlights of the game.

In some respects it’s the character development that’s the beauty of Fallout 3. Your character is a blank slate – ready to be imprinted with whatever playing style you choose. If you prefer a more gung-ho approach, or maybe, like myself, have a penchant to sneak around in the shadows, then that is entirely your choice. Whatever style you choose the engine seems to be flexible enough to handle it. The downside is that it takes a while before you actually feel like you’re ready to take on whatever the nuclear wastes can throw at you. I do however believe that the more time you invest in Fallout 3 the more rewarding the experience.

It’s not without its flaws however, and although Fallout 3 gives the illusion of the perfect sandbox game, sometimes that illusion is well and truly shattered - I’m given the freedom to play as I desire with one hand, but then that freedom is occasionally snatched away with the other. Playing the game sometimes raises the odd logical question; Why can’t I get into that building that’s boarded up? Why can’t I climb the ladder next to the water tower so I can survey the landscape? Why can’t I get through that gap between the train carriages which is obviously wide enough? Why do the guards, and/or town residents suddenly become hostile when I silently kill someone whom was sleeping whilst I was “hidden”, using a silenced weapon, and no one was around to witness the crime? Are they all linked telepathically to one another?

However, there’s so much to love about Fallout 3 that it almost makes you forget about the flaws. The design of this nuclear ravaged wasteland is remarkable; pockets of civilisation gather together to form townships, gangs of raiders prowl the land scavenging what they can, the cult of the Brotherhood of Steel try to contain the mutant outbreak, and the Enclave spout propaganda that they’re the last remnants of the government. The depth, diversity, and attention to detail in Fallout 3 is spectacular and extremely impressive.

I’m now hooked on Fallout 3. Over fifty odd hours have slipped by like the memories of my lost youth – in a flash. The main story may be coming to a close, but there’s still so much more to experience. The wasteland is a vast expanse; maybe not all of it will be as consistently interesting, but I have the overwhelming desire to discover what’s out there.