I don't want to set the world on fire

Can’t get that song out of my head since I’ve started playing Bethesda Software’s Fallout 3. In fact, I’ve pretty much got all the old time tunes that feature in the game on permanent rotation in my head. The Galaxy Radio play list is by far my favorite part of the game ( yes I need help ).

I’m a big sucker for atmosphere in a game. A well conveyed setting, that adeptly lets you experience various moods and feelings, really scores points with me, which is why I think Fallout 3 may well be my game of the year. Age of Conan had the same effect, with it’s rich Hyborian tapestry. I play computer RPGs mainly for reasons that center on a need for escapism, and games like Fallout 3 and AoC hit that particular button well as far as I’m concerned.

Before playing Fallout 3, I had a;ready played all the Elder Scrolls series games from Bethesda, including their famous Oblivion offering. That being said, I was never a huge fan of the game mechanics in those titles, the first person twitch-based combat system and improve-as-you-use character advancement they featured never having been a hit with me. But I always managed to overcome these obstacles to enjoyment by immersing myself in the rich world the games were set.

It’s the same with Fallout 3, but to a even higher degree. This time the game mechanics for me are even less of an obstacle than was the case with oblivion. The change from the isometric turn-based combat of previous fallout titles to Bethesda’s first-person hybrid turn-based / realtime system has not demanded that big a level of adaptation and I am glad that they kept the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats system and the perks of previous Fallouts. I think Fallout 3 is a very smooth transition from the old Fallout to the new. I now realise that all of the the misgivings I had about the new direction in game-design Bethesda’s takeover of the franchise would bring were for nothing. Even if Fallout has been ”Oblivionised” to a large extent, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

I’m still relatively early into the game, my character is a level 8 talker / scientist type guy, but so far I am very happy with Fallout 3 and would recommend it to anybody who enjoys old time music and truly atmospheric RPG gaming !

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