War, war never changes...
Perhaps one of the most iconic phrases uttered in a videogame (up there with “It’s me, Mario”), and almost certainly the most banal way to begin a review of the return of the illustrious Fallout series
Some things, however, have changed. Eleven years after the original Fallout first appeared as an isometric RPG, and following the collapse of Interplay, we finally have the third chapter courtesy of new owners and creators of The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda Softworks. Understandably Bethesda's reign over Fallout begins with its own chapter in the Fallout canon. Wisely recognising that they couldn't rely upon an ageing PC fanbase (let’s not mention previous console Fallout titles) to make up the numbers, Bethesda has created Fallout 3 for fanatics and newcomers alike. Opting to tell its own tale set 200 years after the Great War, Fallout 3 doesn't delve particularly deeply into storyline aspects associated with the first two titles but it does bring newcomers up to speed with the facts surrounding the Great War, the Vaults, Supermutants, and The Brotherhood of Steel.
Beginning quite literally at the beginning with the protagonist’s birth, character creation in Fallout 3 immediately employs some witty references to the original titles. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L (Stamina, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) setup works in conjunction with a streamlined pool of Traits and Perks from the original, to provide a thoroughly deep and expansive setup that stays truthful enough to satisfy fans of the original. Bethesda evidently has an expertise at creating open, free-roaming RPGs where you create your own character and carve your own adventure, so it’s not such a surprise that Bethesda has brought this to Fallout 3. The choice of attributes and traits largely dictates how your experience in Fallout 3 will pan out. Like Oblivion and Deus Ex before it, opting for skills in Charisma or Intelligence will bring benefits when it comes to communicating with characters or hacking into computer terminals, whilst those who opt for the more action-based approach can just ram through such diplomatic/stealth options with a well placed shotgun blast to anybody that opposes. Despite some fears surrounding where Bethesda was planning to take Falllout, the simple fact is that they're the only studio that could possibly offer a pedigree and understanding worthy of the Fallout heritage.
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