Review: Fallout 3

Howdy folks!

*WARNING: To those who have yet to play this game, possible spoilers ahead! Read with caution*

Now some people don't know this fact about me but I've never been a huge Fallout fan. I've never been interested nor care about the series. However after much nagging, persuasion and actually sitting down and reading the plot, I decided to sit down and in the Australian spirit, "have a go".
And boy was I a fool.
Despite this game being nearly five/six years old, I shall explain. You are a young man/woman from Vault 101, one of the last active Vaults in the vicinity of a nuclear wasteland of D.C. After living to your adulthood happily away from the destruction, your father suddenly goes missing and the Vault is in chaos. Quickly following in his footsteps, you follow your father into the destruction of the outside world and the real adventure begins.
While the graphics in current time are sub-par, they are quite good for their time, the facial expressions are quite well done, especially with your father. It's odd to say, but it seems developers focused a lot of their time on his movements. Sound effects are extremely well done, giving a real sense of the world around you. From the mutated wildlife around you even down to footsteps which really livens up gameplay and adds realism into the world.

What truly stands out is the musical score, gameplay and vocal acting. While roaming through the world, there is nothing more satisfying then listening and to some degree, singing along with the classics of a time long gone. The vocal cast is nothing short of terrific - the cherry on top being Liam Neeson as the voice of your father, simply known as James. Neeson adds a terrific sort of class into the early part of the game, adding in a warmth that is quite alien in a video game but a welcome surprise. With other big names such as Malcolm McDowell, Ron Pearlman, Odette Annable and many others who add in simply a large amount of character and depth into the world. What truly ties the game all together is the gameplay; with the many weaponry, near endless customisation and random spawn enemies, playing through the main storyline never gets dull. Even playing side missions doesn't feel like such; Fallout 3 truly captures the essence of a terrific gameplay by making this game one of the rare titles you can revisit over and over. While the main storyline is quite brilliant and gripping, the last few ending missions seemed a little...lacking. When meeting President Eden, the game takes a small left turn, leaving you with an awesome (yet slightly overpowered) ally (In the game's defense, you may depose Fawkes whenever you please) and another ally by the name of Liberty Prime who leaves you near to nothing to fight by the end of the game. The ending boss fight against Colonel Autumn is extremely lacking. "I'll just have to end you here!", with three quick shots, he falls dead before he can pull out a weapon while Fawkes finishes off the few soldiers left with him. Granted, the ending leaves a bitter, but welcome, taste in your mouth as the game comes to a close. The ending clips almost seem a little stereotypical by the end and without the option to replay as the same character or continue before setting off on the last mission seems like a bit of a hiccup.

Regardless, Fallout 3 adds in a lot of jaw dropping, heart warming, melancholy moments throughout the entire gameplay. As a gamer who had barely touched the series before this title, I cannot deny that over the years, Fallout 3 has been deeply exaggerated; while the game is truly addictive and never ceases in entertainment, lore or good old fashioned fun, overall it has been overhyped, even if only slightly.

Out of 10, I give Fallout 3 an 8.5/10

Good Points
+ Addictive and fun gameplay
+ Sound effect and musical score is utterly brilliant
+ Voice cast is quite unique
+ Main/Side missions never lack in depth

Bad Points
- Ending is a little lacking
- Occasional game freezes near new areas
- Needed more Liam Neeson

Fallout 3 is available for Game On Demand at the standard price of $30