Edge: Fallout 3 Review

The substantial boons aside, however, Bethesda treads water in most other areas of obvious improvement, and Fallout 3 is disappointing in its lack of finesse. But then submersion in this world means that you quickly look past the many frustrations – the uncanny NPCs, the occasional broken quest, the ill-conceived interface, the dozy voice-acting. It's a game that rewards the long-haul with deep, inventive missions which eschew the usual fetch and kill structure, ensuring that the many hours spent in Fallout 3's wasteland aren't wasted.

[Spike47]

really just about lost it?

[InMyOpinion]

This is why I got fed up with Fallout 3.

Move 30 feet. Firefight. Go into the menu and repair guns & armor. Repeat. 20 hours into the game I noticed that enemies became so tough that I had to leave dungeons, go back to my apartment and replenish health, medkits, spare guns and armor(for repairs), before I could go back and continue. Killed a couple more enemies then back to the apartment again.

The same bug that killed Oblivion for me is also still there. If you don't play the game and level the way the designers intended you to level the game becomes broken. You then have to restart from scratch and level differently. I wasn't willing to replay 20 hours worth of gameplay so now I've put it on the shelf.

[pukka_p]

I love RPGs and really liked Oblivion (did about 80 hours I think, but got a little bored and didn't bother finishing it in the end, but it was good). Was really excited about Fallout 3...

What happened? I did 3 or 4 hours, hated the whole vault growing up thing, didn't like the story, found the combat side to be a little worse than Oblivion (surprisingly) - generally didn't like it.

Oblivion was an 8.5 in my opinion. Fallout 3 is around 6.5 (Edge's score seem just right to me).

Still, it's just my opinion (and my arbitrary assignment of numbers to appear objective on an entirely subjective matter of taste and personal preference - just as with any review).

[MaximusPaynicus]

I hardly every say this, especially when it comes to game reviews, but if you are seriously having that much trouble with Fallout 3 then I'd be inclined to say that you simply don't know what the hell you're doing.

[--Onilink--]

yeah, i do admit that at some points the game was a little tough, but not 1 time i had to go back to my house every single time i left a dungeon, you must have been doing something wrong, even when u are in the DC area in low levels, you can also move troguh the train stations and avoid super mutants. And saying the game is bad after 3 hours into the game? have havent even STARTED to scratch the surface of this game, on your 1st playtrough you are probably still in the vault at this point, and if you are not, then you are rushing things which is a bad thing in an RPG as well

[InMyOpinion]

Bethesda are the ones that don't know what they are doing when designing games where enemies level progressively. They throw in a million things in their games and the player 'freedom' but don't know how to balance it properly. Why is the third person view even an option?

I know what I did wrong and I'm going to explain it to you. I decided to level 4 offensive skills(small guns, melee, grenades and hand to hand) instead of 2(as the designers probably intended you to). As I progressed I put more emphasis on small guns and grenades cause those were the ones I thought were most effective for me.

What happened when I was at level 16 was what I described earlier on. The enemies had become more or less immune to my assault rifle. The hunting rifle wasn't an option anymore.

I also got really fed up with the fact that most of the gameplay consists of a scavenger hunt for weapons and armor so you can repair your stuff. Which you do every 30 seconds. This makes the game feel flawed. Even Oblivion had a better solution to that with it's blacksmith hammers. Combining assault rifles and armors just doesn't make any sense, and it makes your weapons feel as unique as a bag of potatoes in a grocery store - "Oh look! I found a powerful gun with a scope. Now I just need to find 5 more before I can use it!"

@--Onilink-- - If you refer to me I'm about 20-25 hours into the game and I never had to run from enemies while in DC. The hardest ones I encountered there were 3 bounty hunters, but I got past them by using a shotgun and some drugs to raise attack and make you take more damage(don't remember their names, was a while ago I played it). I've done lots of side quests as well with my favourite being the hunt for the android aboard the ship.

[die_fiend]

Yep, once again a poor review. Fallout's much better than 7/10, I don't know anyone who'd say otherwise

[TheIneffableBob]

It's better than a 7, but not much better. I'd give it an 8 or so. It's a solid game, but it didn't suck me into its game world. The dialogue system is good, but some of the writing is atrocious. Also, the final third or so of the game's story is not that good. It's like Bethesda just rushed the story near the end. Oh, and another thing: the game's decisions are sometimes too black and white and too direct. Some more gray area actions and not having your decisions impact you immediately would be nice. The Witcher did this fairly well.

[thor]

Of course it sucks. Fallout 3 is on PS3 as well. -Edge

[Captain Tuttle]

Funniest post of the day!

[Rikitatsu]

EDGE is disappointing.

[PS360WII]

So if Edge doesn't know how to review that means their 10 for LBP is a bunch of baloney as well right?

Fallout 3 I find to be amazing but many still think it is nothing but Oblivion with guns and therefor no good or they just think it is suppose to be a fps and forget that it's an RPG.

[YogiBear]

I am not an RPG fan. Oblivion did not impress me nor did Knights of The Old Republic. I like FPS and platformers mostly but I really do like Fallout 3. It's a deep game with many options and routes you can go. I think Edge has simply realized that they can get more hits by writing such BS reviews. I think it's a testament to Bethesda that someone who does not care for RPG's like myself can really get into Fallout 3.

[PS360WII]

That's awesome I'm glad you like Fallout 3 without being a fan of RPGs :)

You are right that Bethesda is doing something right if they can pull off a game where someone like me who's an RPG nut can like it and someone like you who doesn't care for RPG can still get into the game.

[kewlkat007]

I think the game looks great..but I have not done much. I don't know if I like the control scheme yet.

[supahbad]

i'm sorry but FO3 is the best game this year and anyone who thinks otherwise hasnt played it. I've have LBP, R2, MGS4, and GeoW2 and none of them compare to this game. it is just so cool

[Bishop]

I have played so many straightforward shooters this year and while I do like many Gears2 and Res2 I find myself missing the RPG's of old and while Fallout 3 isn't a full on RPG it merges the best aspects between FPS/3rdPerson and RPG's, really well. I love decisions and opitions, being able to play a game differnt ways ,akes me feel like I have gotten my money's worth in a game. Their were some areas that could have been better but overall it was the best game I have played this year.

[Timesplitter14]

I think it's the best game this year on par with MGS4, but yeah it's a stellar game

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Agreed. Fallout 3 was one hell of a ride for me. I enjoyed it better than blivion. But I must admit oblivion took alot longer to play through than fallout. It took me years to get through oblivion and under a month to get through fallout. But thats what DLC is for.

[spectyre]

A little off topic but Amazon has Fallout 3 for $39.99 today. I'm not sure if it was only the PS3 version that is on sale.

[TheIneffableBob]

All versions were on sale, but the sale ended.

GoGamer.com still has their sale on, though. Around $43 for the console verisons and $30 for the PC version.

[Timesplitter14]

1- What's with all the late rviews lately?

2- Edge... STFU

[strongbad1441]

I think they're just trying to use shock value in order to gain more traffic. It's the old, "There's no such thing as bad publicity" mantra they're working.

[Magic_The_Celt]

Yeah........ about as credible as there 6/10 resistance 2 review

[TheMART]

So... Their LBP review wasn't credible either?

[Marquis_de_Sade]

People need to get over the R2 review, I like the game, but I can understand why people wouldn't. Also, like Mart pointed out, you can't claim a review site/mag is biased when it suits your platform of choice.

[Venomish]

edge has lost the edge?

[Jones Miller]

What the f*cks up with IGN and all the other sites giving every mediocre hyped game between 8 to 10? Let´s talk about IGN. IGN hardly ever never ever use the lower end of the scale, and don´t give me this oh it´s because all the games are so great bullsh*t. Something is seriously wrong with review sites nowadays. Gamereactor and EDGE are some of the few sites that seem to be fair. People who think otherwise are either victims of hype, and/or out of touch with what a quality means and generally lack gaming experience. These words were spoken from the heart of a hardcore gamer (whatever that means lol).

[Defiantmac]

I thought Fallout 3 was overrated, I got bored of it very quickly... I didn't agree with their Resistance review but whatever, everyone has their own opinion.

[heyheyhey]

christ, cynics..... i don't think Fallout 3 is the best game this year, but give props where props are due eh?

Oblivion with guns it may be, but 7/10 is not representative of the intense scale meticulous universe Bethesda has crafted

[air1]

wats going on with edge?

i know gears 2 is better than r2 but even i think the score they gave r2 was too low. and now this? i have fallout the game is crazy addictive.

[cereal_killa]

Maybe Edge is in competition with Variety to see who can give a game the lowest score just to create hits for there site one for edge and one for Metajoke (since you have to go to Metajoke for the supposed score that was given to them by phone).

[Eddie20101]

Edge is not a reliable source for information or reviews, end of story.

[Captain Tuttle]

My biggest problem with the game is the stiff and awkward NPC interaction. I ended up really liking the game other than that and I was pretty skeptical. It's not even in Fallout 1 & 2's league but it's certainly better than Oblivion.

[MajesticBeast]

Fall out 3 is just to f*cking buggy when they fix that i will start playing but now i see it as a game that hasn't had enough polish.

[ParanoidMonkey]

Great game, definitely deserves more than a 7 IMO, but I totally understand their criticisms. Still nowhere near the greatness of the first two, but I don't think anyone expected otherwise.

[ElementX]

I've put nearly 40 hours into Fallout 3 so far, the 360 version. I absolutely love it! Sure there are only 27? quests, however they take more than an hour or two to complete. I've been exploring the wasteland, but I've only discovered 56 locations. There's an achievement if you discover 100 locations, so I'm about halfway through exploring. I think this is a step in the right direction for the Fallout series. I've played and finished the other 2 on PC years ago when they were released. Bethesda has yet to release a sh!tty RPG, however I do think that Fallout 3 is leaps and bounds beyond Oblivion. I think this game deserves at least a 9. I've gotten my money's worth out of it and I still have 14 quests to complete, plus a lot of hidden special weapons that you discover along your journey. People who hate this game must not have played the previous Fallout games. Sure, some of the dark humor from the first two games is missing, however it's still an experience that I think every gamer should have. I bought this game as an early Christmas gift for a friend and he loves it also.

[theEnemy]

Edge Exec1: I think we should lose all heat regarding that 6/10 of Resistance 2 from Sony Fans. Anyone here got an idea so they will not think we are biased?

Edge Exec2: ....

Edge Reviewer 1: ....none sorry.

Edge Reviewer 2: ....I'm on vacation leave.

Edge Reviewer 3: .....ah..umm. I haven't sleep for days,

Edge Maintenance Guy: I got one!, How about you guys go review another famous title and put a low score on it too!

Edge Exec1: Oh wow, that is not a bad idea!

Edge Reviewer 1: Yeah! Do it!

Edge Exec2: So what game will it be ?

Edge Reviewer 3: How about Fallout 3 ? we haven't reviewed that yet.

Edge Exec1: Buhbuhbuhbutt that's also on the 360!!!!!!11

Edge Reviewer 1: Yeah and I've heard from some kid that Microsoft paid Bathesda for an exclusive DLC as well.

Edge Exec2: Microsoft might get angry with us. Remember, Christmas is coming.

Edge Reviewer 3: It's the risk we have to take.

Edge Exec1: ..grrr.. k fine. but not so low, a 7/10 will do.

Edge Reviewer 3: Ok boss, I'm on it.

-End-

[FCOLitsjustagame]

What broken quest? I will have to read that full review, but the only quest I came across that I had to do another way was one in Big Town. I was going to show them how to fix robots... but there was no robot to fix that I could find.

EDIT:
"...with chunky dials and flickering green-on-black text. It’s an idea that probably sounded great to Bethesda’s artists, but overlooks the fact that computing has improved in usability over the last 50 years."

So this statement would make me think that Edge has missed the point. But I guess some of their complaints I did notice, they just werent any big deal as they are the sort of thing you see in many games. Though I must say when I got that one chick angry enough to shoot her husband and then talked to her before she could shoot him, and then he left the stairwell before she could shoot him, the site of her glitching out and shooting the 10mm randomly into the ceiling was quite funny.

[MiloGarret]

I love EDGE, from now on it's my favourite game-site/mag. EDGE for the win, honest reviewers who don't cave for industry pressure and hype.