Platforms: Xbox 360 (Reviewed), PS3 and Windows based PCs

In a bid to garner a little hype for the upcoming Broken Steel DLC for Fallout 3 and give anyone who may be sitting on the fence as to weather they should buy this or not that extra little push, I’ve decided to re-review Fallout 3. Previously I had done a damn fine review last year but that was for another team and it was for the PS3 version.

Fallout 3 came to us from Bethesda Softworks, the very same folks who were responsible for the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Elder Scrolls series. I must admit that I wasn’t overly impressed the Elder Scroll: Oblivion when it came out for the 360. I felt that the character models were poorly done and the environment was too big. I loved the look of the environments but that was about it. When it was announced that Bethesda was taking the reins for the next Fallout series, I was less than enthused as the original series is ranked as one of my most beloved computer games ever. As time wore on and new information and screens came out, the excitement began to well up in me.

The game literally starts you as a baby where you set your appearance and your traits and learn basic movement and environment interaction. From there you will grow to be an adolescent where you learn how to deal with the conversation tree, and the basics for combat to a teenager, which is when the story really gets moving.

I won’t go into specifics on any plot points because I don’t want to ruin it for any newbies coming late to the party and those of you who have already played through know what to expect.

Washington is HUGE. From the moment, you enter the Capital Wasteland you’re treated to some of the most gaming environments ever. Everything Bethesda modeled was painstakingly done and it’s very easy to see. From the Vault to the Lincoln Memorial – It’s hard not to get completely caught up in the beauty that is a post nuclear holocaust Washington.

The movement controls are smooth and the battles are a nice combination of real time combat and timed shots. Timed shots use a specific amount Action Points based on the accuracy and your proficiency in that particular weapon. You gain experience points during combat and performing specific tasks and finishing any of the many different quests and side quests.

The story consists of a single main quest peppered with a large variety of side quests and mini missions that spans across a very large Capital Wasteland. After playing through this game twice and partway through a third time, I still haven’t seen everything nor have I found all the different locations in well over 130hrs of game play. The replayabilty of this game is absolutely awesome.

In the end, if you enjoy games with deep narratives, stunning graphics, incredible replay value (Let us not forget the DLC), this is a game you must buy. With the recent announcement of Fallout: New Vegas and the upcoming DLC episode Broken Steel, I have something to keep me occupied until the next major release. Never before has Nuclear Holocaust been as fun or beautiful as this.

Feed Your Console gives Fallout 3: 10 out of 10

Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Developed by: Bethesda Game Studios