Fallout 3

Simply put, this is a masterpiece. This is a game where you go can go anywhere and do anything (just about) in whatever order you like. Obviously there is a storyline that is mostly linear that pulls you around the map in a particular direction, but that's entirely up to you. You can wander around the wasteland at your pleasure, and there are plenty of side quests to keep you busy.

Some early reviews spoke to the multiple 'pathways' to solving quests, but the truth is that there are usually only two (the 'good' way or the 'evil' way) but this is a necessary limitation - otherwise with a game this size, it would get completely out of control, from the point of view of the game makers.

The graphics are gorgeous, and capture the desolation of the post-nuclear wasteland perfectly. Whether you prefer wandering around in first or third person perspective, it's always great to look at. And to hear. With a decent set of speakers, the surround sound is excellent, and quite important when you don't want monsters sneaking up on you!

Speaking of monsters, they are beautifully created, but there aren't really enough of them. After you've killed your hundredth raider, super mutant, or talon merc, you start to wonder if it would have killed the programmers to come up with a half dozen other enemies to run into. That said, the enemies are smart - they use cover and don't all just charge into your gunfire. Sometimes they are a bit too smart, though, and both enemies and friendlies can see you through walls on occasions, which is annoying in particular if you're trying to engage in a little stealing or quiet assassination.

As has been discussed in the media, this is the 'censored' version of Fallout 3. The Office of Film and Literature Classification took objection to the 'drug use' in the game, and so there are no animations of the various drugs that you use to stay alive. Firstly, it really doesn't affect the enjoyment of the game. Secondly, it's a ridiculous objection. This is a game where if you are so inclined, you can murder just about everyone, friend or foe. And bodies explode in slow motion gore like you probably haven't seen before. And no one bats an eye? And yet a player injecting himself with performance enhancing drugs brings a threat of a ban? Sigh..... moving on.

Lastly the VATS targetting system. You can play the game without it, but just aiming and shooting as you do in any first or third person shooter. Or, you can press the V key, which pauses the game, and you can select which enemy and which body part to fire at. It's a brilliant way of getting turn based strategy into a shooter. You only have so many action points at a time, so you have to make the shots count, but it brings a new dimension to the gameplay, and is a standout feature.

To sum up, the game is a brilliant achievement. Its fun and exciting and tense at times. You've tremendous freedom and there is no shortage of mini quests to complete while trotting along with the main story. It's not without its flaws, but they're minor and forgiveable. Buy the game, you won't regret it. The last word - even though the two games don't look or play the same at all, if you loved Fallout 2, you'll love Fallout 3; they have the same sense of humour, the same sense of freedom, and the same spirit.