Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta

 PC
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 122 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 122
  2. Mixed: 57 out of 122
  3. Negative: 37 out of 122

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  1. RS13
    Nov 22, 2014
    3
    Seriously, Fallout, how do you make getting abducted by aliens boring? Mothership Zeta is barely more interesting than wandering around the wasteland killing raiders for a few of hours, and only then because aliens are slightly more interesting than raiders. But if you decide to go raider hunting and get bored, you can always just go do something else. Mothership Zeta forces you to doSeriously, Fallout, how do you make getting abducted by aliens boring? Mothership Zeta is barely more interesting than wandering around the wasteland killing raiders for a few of hours, and only then because aliens are slightly more interesting than raiders. But if you decide to go raider hunting and get bored, you can always just go do something else. Mothership Zeta forces you to do nothing except kill aliens for hours. Yay. The aliens have no personality, no motivations, no nothing except a big head and a desire to kill you. There are other humans in Mothership, but they don’t really do anything. They don’t help you, they aren’t interesting, and you’ll probably just ignore them. Other than the alien weapons you’ll pick up in the first 10 minutes, there’s not any cool loot. There aren’t any side quests: there’s nothing to do except escape the ship. That is, there’s nothing to do in this DLC except get it over with. Which raises an obvious question: why bother?… Expand
  2. TomM.
    Aug 11, 2009
    4
    Pretty weak, especially compared to Broken Steel and Point Lookout. As others have said, very linear, and after about 20 minutes of play the spaceship interior gets very boring to look at. Clunky dialogue and encounters with NPC's. Just not a very fun or engaging DLC. My advice - save your $10 for Fallout: Las Vegas.
  3. Dree
    Aug 4, 2009
    2
    Mothership Zeta proves the reason why Bethesda need to stop making DLC for Falllout 3. This DLC pack contains a beautiful textures sets, but that is about it. The whole quest takes place inside of alien ship, which has very bland interiors. There is no story, no plot, no unique dialogue, no "oh snap" moment, no replay value, and there are few techincal errors and overall, it left me a Mothership Zeta proves the reason why Bethesda need to stop making DLC for Falllout 3. This DLC pack contains a beautiful textures sets, but that is about it. The whole quest takes place inside of alien ship, which has very bland interiors. There is no story, no plot, no unique dialogue, no "oh snap" moment, no replay value, and there are few techincal errors and overall, it left me a feeling that I wasted my money.… Expand
  4. AndrewT
    Aug 8, 2009
    4
    Point Lookout set the mark high and Mothership Zeta didn't even try to compete. MZ is almost all combat, but the varying enemy types are almost indistinguishable despite their massive power differences (a shimmering energy field often means the difference between 2 shots and 3 magazines for a kill). Bugs abound (I crashed to desktop twice before I was halfway through, and one of the Point Lookout set the mark high and Mothership Zeta didn't even try to compete. MZ is almost all combat, but the varying enemy types are almost indistinguishable despite their massive power differences (a shimmering energy field often means the difference between 2 shots and 3 magazines for a kill). Bugs abound (I crashed to desktop twice before I was halfway through, and one of the unique items has the wrong skin), and the story is nonexistent for more than half the main quest. If you only get one DLC for Fallout 3, don't get MZ.… Expand
  5. DanielV.
    Aug 5, 2009
    3
    I looked forward to this addon for such a long time, and I am quite disappointed. Very linear, the new weapons are certainly nothing to be excited about, and there is absolutely no Good/Evil pathways in Zeta. All the other addons are terrific, but I really can't say that about this one.
  6. FacuCaro
    Aug 7, 2009
    3
    En cuanto a lo que la redacción de Meri dice (compartido por varios lectores, según veo) olvidaron decir que la duración puede variar de acuerdo al modo de juego que usemos. Si exploramos bien la nave y usamos el modo sigiloso, sin duda dura más. Terminarlo en 2 o 3 horas es para alguien que no para de correr y tirar tiros para todos lados. Yo lo terminéEn cuanto a lo que la redacción de Meri dice (compartido por varios lectores, según veo) olvidaron decir que la duración puede variar de acuerdo al modo de juego que usemos. Si exploramos bien la nave y usamos el modo sigiloso, sin duda dura más. Terminarlo en 2 o 3 horas es para alguien que no para de correr y tirar tiros para todos lados. Yo lo terminé entre 4 y 5 horas y vamos... después de todo tan corto no es para una expansión si tenemos en cuenta que el COD 5 se puede terminar en 5 hs con dificultad Veteran como en mi caso.
    Pero en fin, en cuanto al juego es sin duda la peor de todas las expansiones. Bethesda quizá debería pensar en otras cosas más que aliens flacuchos y abducciones trilladas (como quizá sugiere la redcción al principio de la nota) y avocarse a cosas más originales. El diseño de ningún modo es innovador... claro, se me dirá que es distinto con respecto a todo lo que significa Fallout, pero el escenario interior de una nave alienígena es todo lo que cabe esperar de una mala película yanqui como el día de la independencia, es decir, nada, la reproducción de un estereotipo.
    Para serles sinceros, queridos Fallouteros, yo no me conformo con un par de armitas y unos bichos poco inteligentes (SPOILER!!! cuando lleguen a la sala final se darán cuenta de lo que les digo, sólo vean la silla principal y miren quién está sentado como si no pasara nada en la nave FIN DEL SPOILER!!!), el argumento es un verdadero desperdicio...correr...correr....correr....... escapar de la nave! bueno y algo más? se interactúa en algún momento con los alienígenas?.... pues no, usted corra y escápese del lugar nomás porque como verá, a los alienígenas los estereotipos los pintan siempre (o casi siempre) enemigos de la raza humana y por lo tanto lo quieren matar asi que devuelva la misma moneda y váyase, fin del argumento.
    La incorporación de un samurai y la armadurita bonita, sí, es gracioso pero nada más que para mirarse un rato (si es que uno decide matar al tipo ese) pero en cuanto a defensa no tiene nada que hacer en comparación a las armaduras del enclave.
    En fin, un escenario bonito plagado de salas y pasillos para escapar (no hubiera sido más interesante parar, de algún modo, en alguna parte de algún planeta extraterrestre?... bueno en fin esto no es Star Wars ni yo estoy en Bethesda).
    Chicos, una decepción verdaderamente sobre todo teniendo en cuenta qeu oficialmente se ha anunciado que es muy posible que esta sea el último DLC para Fallout 3, quedando muchas cuetiones por resolver (quizá lo veamos en Fallout 4 porque el New Vegas, como se ha dicho, no será la "secuela" del 3...).
    Por último, creo que antes de lanzar una expansión podrían pensarse un poco más el argumento y quizá hacerla un mopo más duradera, como Point Lookout (aunque mi preferida fue The Pitt) y dejar de vendernos a los jugadores estos productos de mala calidad con argumentos que se le pueden ocurrir a un chico que no sabe hablar.
    Un saludo a todos los decepcionados como yo, jeje, esperemos que si sacan un próximo DLC esté a la altura de otros o del juego original.
    (Cita: este análisis lo publiqué también en Meristation)    … Expand
  7. EggManStudio
    Jul 14, 2015
    2
    Fallout 3 is one of the best games I've ever played in terms of setting and story, as well as unique gameplay mechanics. As such, it is almost with a heavy heart that I say that I cannot say the same of its final DLC pack, Mothership Zeta. This is quite easily the single worst DLC I have ever played for a game, as I shall now explain.

    To start off, let's have a lok at the concept. I    Fallout 3 is one of the best games I've ever played in terms of setting and story, as well as unique gameplay mechanics. As such, it is almost with a heavy heart that I say that I cannot say the same of its final DLC pack, Mothership Zeta. This is quite easily the single worst DLC I have ever played for a game, as I shall now explain.

    To start off, let's have a lok at the concept. I hear that aliens have been hinted at in previous Fallout games as easter eggs, much like Fallout 1's TARDIS, but this DLC is all about them. It is a plot element which has no place in the Fallout universe, and a later revelation in the plotline is potentially canon-destroying.

    Not only is the plot inexplicable and unwanted, however, hte gameplay and mechanics added are too. The game introduces several new weapons which are far too powerful for their own good, as well as the "Epoxy" - which allows you to repair your objects simply by using it, which is something that no self-respecting Fallout player would want or need. Using these items would just make the game unrealistically easy.

    The gameplay, furhtermore, could not be anything less like Fallout 3. There are far too many enemies and far too few pointers to where you're meant to be going. The interior of the spaceship feels cramped and claustrophobic, and worse still: Once you start it, you cannot go back to the Capital Wasteland until you've finished it.

    Overall, Motherships Zeta is, quite frankly, neither the final DLC we wanted, nor needed. The combat-focussed experience, misplaced setting and outrageous plot is something which will leave any self-respecting Fallout fan seething.    … Expand
  8. nastyjes
    Mar 14, 2023
    3
    It plays not bad (5/10), but the level design is incredibly boring (3/10), and the whole idea of aliens in the world of Fallout in a non-ironic context is absolutely terrible (0/10).

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
94
#94 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. AtomicGamer
    81
    Aliens, cowboys, robots, zombies (sorta), and samurais are included and do spice up the experience, but if you really want to crank up the craziness, Bethesda, we'll need some pirates and vikings, too.
    Read full review
  2. VideoGamer
    60
    Mothership Zeta is a let down. It's nowhere near as good as Point Lookout or The Pitt. It's slightly better than Operation Anchorage, but only slightly. It's a linear, repetitive slog through an alien space ship and nothing else. Is it a fitting finale? No. Is it worth 800MS Points? Just. If only for the Samurai Armour. Sniff.
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  3. Edge Magazine
    60
    Design flaws include a bizarre decision to cordon off most of the ship after completion, locking away any unique items you previously overlooked. Much of the game commendably favours stealth players but the rest can feel shambolic.
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