Fallout 3

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5318 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,751 out of 5318
  2. Mixed: 987 out of 5318
  3. Negative: 580 out of 5318
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Sindow
    Jan 7, 2009
    7
    Ultimately for a Fallout game this was mediocre at best. For Bethesda however, this is a very good start. I was going to give it a lower score however the GECK (the SDK) was actually released. I'm sure by using the GECK the Fallout 3 community will be able to fix Bethesda's mistakes and turn this into a true Fallout sequel instead of Oblivion with guns.
  2. Soldat
    Oct 12, 2010
    10
    Great game, lots to do and a massive play area to explore, I sort of don't like VATS and the large amount of ordinance it takes to put things down, but that doesn't even merit half a point deduction.
    Story is pretty interesting in a wasteland of uninteresting stories that fill most games these days.
    Really sucks you in, just wish the FPS aspect was a bit better implemented ie. no    Great game, lots to do and a massive play area to explore, I sort of don't like VATS and the large amount of ordinance it takes to put things down, but that doesn't even merit half a point deduction.
    Story is pretty interesting in a wasteland of uninteresting stories that fill most games these days.
    Really sucks you in, just wish the FPS aspect was a bit better implemented ie. no autoaim, stronger weaponry being used by/against you. Tons of content for 20 or 30 bucks, can't go wrong.    … Expand
  3. Dr.Piranha
    Nov 16, 2008
    10
    This is quite the extraordinary game. Not only do you have have the amazing story line, you have your choices on how you want to carry it out. You can choose to go down the path of the good and the righteous, or you could be as evil and maniacal as you wish. And you don't just have to do the campaign, you have many many choices of little side quests to do along the side. Depending on This is quite the extraordinary game. Not only do you have have the amazing story line, you have your choices on how you want to carry it out. You can choose to go down the path of the good and the righteous, or you could be as evil and maniacal as you wish. And you don't just have to do the campaign, you have many many choices of little side quests to do along the side. Depending on how you play the game, you get a different ending. This does have its little flaws... its little glitches, but nothing major... and nothing that takes away from the playablity and the fun.… Expand
  4. RogerI
    Feb 8, 2009
    10
    Outstanding. If you like games that give you a sense of genuine exploration, you'll love this - except if you're stuck in the past worshipping the original games. Nostalgia is a wonderfull thing, but any new game should be judged on it's own merits. The vats targetting system works very well, the animations are a great improvement over Oblivion (animation always seems to be Outstanding. If you like games that give you a sense of genuine exploration, you'll love this - except if you're stuck in the past worshipping the original games. Nostalgia is a wonderfull thing, but any new game should be judged on it's own merits. The vats targetting system works very well, the animations are a great improvement over Oblivion (animation always seems to be Bethesda's weak point), and the copy/paste dungeons are gone. Yes, some areas look the same, but they don't suffer from the indentical locations that plagued Oblivion's dungeons. Make sure you try this for yourself, and if you do see someone moaning about the gameplay, I'll put money on them wanting to be back living in an isometric past.… Expand
  5. Tom
    Feb 9, 2009
    9
    The game is (sorry but only a superlative will do) brilliant. I would definitely say it was the best RPG of 2008, in-fact quite possibly one of the finest RPGs of all time. I shit you not. I took away one point as I believe it takes some perseverance to truly appreciate it; I did not enjoy it immediately, and many others I have spoken to have said initially they found it hard to get into. The game is (sorry but only a superlative will do) brilliant. I would definitely say it was the best RPG of 2008, in-fact quite possibly one of the finest RPGs of all time. I shit you not. I took away one point as I believe it takes some perseverance to truly appreciate it; I did not enjoy it immediately, and many others I have spoken to have said initially they found it hard to get into. But (and I know I'm using all the clichés in the book) it grows on you. Grows like a mutated third arm following some serious radiation sickness. Really, buy this game. Buy it even if you didn't like Oblivion, a game to which it owes a great deal, yet Fallout 3 is an entirely different beast, and I mean this in the best way possible. In fact, I urge you to buy it even if you don't like RPGs or FPSs: You WILL get hooked. Hooked on psycho, jet, buffout. I mean, it allows you to play at your own pace, yet it constantly gives you something to strive for. I haven't had a dull moment within the game were I really couldn't be bothered to do anything. When it comes to the time that you want to replay it, you should set yourself personal challenges; I decided with one character I was going to wear the tunnel snake jacket armoured with a baseball bat. And I felt damn cool. Especially whilst you bat some innocent NPC to death, who doesn't really deserve it, but you just like to admire the brutality in V.A.T.S slow-mo, with a host of different camera angles. Really, I cannot fault the gameplay, the atmosphere, the story, the graphics, nothing, aside from a few bugs/glitches here and there, but that's all due to the complexity and depth of the game. So, to re-iterate; buy it.… Expand
  6. VAGamer
    Jan 5, 2010
    10
    How could you not love this game? It is easily the best RPG that I have played. Its deep enough to cause you to think about what you are going to do next without scaring you that if you do one little thing that you will ruin the entire game. Sure, if you walk around, constantly mowing down enemies with a gatling laser machine gun might be meticulous... Well, it really isnt, but thats How could you not love this game? It is easily the best RPG that I have played. Its deep enough to cause you to think about what you are going to do next without scaring you that if you do one little thing that you will ruin the entire game. Sure, if you walk around, constantly mowing down enemies with a gatling laser machine gun might be meticulous... Well, it really isnt, but thats about the only negative thing I could think of. It does depart a bit from the old Fallout games, but it at least puts it in a different setting as an excuse. Overall, the game is amazing, the DLC is amazing, and I am amazed that it didnt get 10's and 100's from everyone.… Expand
  7. MikeB
    Nov 10, 2008
    10
    Amazing game, with the best atmosphere I've experienced in a game since the first half-life! Not a shooter and not a rpg, but something all together different and wonderful. It does have some bugs, but most can be avoided at least until the patches finally come out.
  8. OldSkoolGamer
    Oct 30, 2008
    9
    Bethesda did it's best to take this classic franchise and slap it on their Oblivion engine, but a few elements did fall through the cracks. And while it is a bit buggy, it's still a valiant effort. And while I'm an old skool bitter gamer, enough of the original managed to get translated into this title that I find myself forgiving its many sins. There's a lot to hate Bethesda did it's best to take this classic franchise and slap it on their Oblivion engine, but a few elements did fall through the cracks. And while it is a bit buggy, it's still a valiant effort. And while I'm an old skool bitter gamer, enough of the original managed to get translated into this title that I find myself forgiving its many sins. There's a lot to hate (mono-chromatic environments, weak character models/ animations, Oblivion similarities, etc.), but there's a lot more to love. The notorious character progression system from Oblivion is replaced by the system that the Fallout is loved for. Item degradation and repairing them makes for a tough challenge in the wasteland. However, there's enough content that those who are perceptive and resourceful will be just fine. Distributing the right skill points and perks at the right time in line with your own play style will result in a very rewarding experience. This is a first person RPG and hardly a shooter. Shooter purists expecting one will be disappointed. However, the VATS / game play pause / targeting feature does a good job of making up for this. If you're looking for an exact translation of the Fallout franchise, this is as close as you'll find. My feeling is that the magic that came from Black Isle Studios is very difficult to duplicate. Take my feedback with a grain of salt, but I'm I remember the original F1, F2, and Fallout Tactics... this title isn't perfect, but I find myself loving it anyway. With a few patches, it should be much improved.… Expand
  9. MikeN
    Oct 31, 2008
    9
    Stable it ain't. I experienced frequent crashes under Vista until I started doing a clean boot before playing. And it still crashes occasionally. Fortunately the auto-save function fires every time you change location. The game is roughly comparable to Mass Effect in terms of play but with ten times as much stuff to do and better ambiance. Even with the crash problems, a great RPG. Stable it ain't. I experienced frequent crashes under Vista until I started doing a clean boot before playing. And it still crashes occasionally. Fortunately the auto-save function fires every time you change location. The game is roughly comparable to Mass Effect in terms of play but with ten times as much stuff to do and better ambiance. Even with the crash problems, a great RPG. This is the game Mass Effect should have been.… Expand
  10. cub317
    Sep 26, 2013
    9
    Well, it took me a few playthroughs of this game, but I have finally reached a verdict. This game is just amazing! It is another fantastic game that I've played from Bethesda Softworks. Fallout 3 is a truly spectacular game that successfully combines both the RPG and First-Person Shooter genres. That line can sum up the game's gameplay in a nutshell. This game mixes Fallout's ownWell, it took me a few playthroughs of this game, but I have finally reached a verdict. This game is just amazing! It is another fantastic game that I've played from Bethesda Softworks. Fallout 3 is a truly spectacular game that successfully combines both the RPG and First-Person Shooter genres. That line can sum up the game's gameplay in a nutshell. This game mixes Fallout's own roleplaying mechanics with that of Bethesda's Elder Scrolls franchise. In this game, you can be whatever kind of character you want, and do what you want in the wasteland that was once Washington D.C. As in the Elder Scrolls, you can travel anywhere you want in the capital wasteland, buy what you want, fast-travel where you want, and so much more. This is hardly an Elder Scrolls clone however. This is not just Oblivion with guns, not in the slightest. There are several more things that this game has that the Elder Scrolls does not. This game has its own perk system (which was actually added into the Elder Scrolls Skyrim), that makes it different from Oblivion. The perks are special specific stats for your character that Oblivion does not have. They can give your character special bonuses, such as doing more damage than you normally would with all weapons. Leveling is also different from Oblivion. In Oblivion, you could only level up while your character was sleeping. Here, your character levels up almost immediately. This is an excellent improvement from Oblivion, as I did not like how you had to sleep just to level up. It proves that Bethesda Softworks truly is a company that learns from its mistakes. Also, along with the RPG elements, there are also shooter elements, which further cement that this is a truly different game from Oblivion. There are plenty of guns to choose from in this game, and the shooter mechanics are executed perfectly. However, I do find myself constantly running out of ammo from time to time. Money is also very scarce in this game, so it is a little difficult to buy ammo too. There are also a few bugs and glitches, however, these shortcomings don't hurt the game all that much. The graphics and sound of this game, all I can say is, they are excellent. This game is one of the most beautiful looking video games that I have ever played/seen. It is not Skyrim or Just Cause 2, but it does look brilliant nonetheless. The sound of this game is also done very well. The weapons sound right, and the monsters sound the way they should. The best part about the sound of this game however, is its spectacular music. This game mixes songs from the 50s (and yes, I mean actual songs from the 50s, not ones that sound like songs from the 50s) with more orchestrated pieces from the composers of the Elder Scrolls franchise. The soundtrack of this game truly is a beautiful mix. The story of this game is also phenomenal. It involves the main character's father trying to give the wasteland of Washington D.C. fresh water for all who inhabit the wasteland. It is up to you, the main character to leave your vault, find your father, and help him in giving the wasteland fresh water. This is a very unique story if you ask me, and it not the stereotypical story that people might find in most post-apocalyptic games. There are also many choices that your character can make throughout the game that will determine what people think of the character through the game's karma system. These decisions will effect what happens in the game's main story. Good actions will make everyone love your character, while bad actions will make them hate your character. This system is done very well, as it is very easy for your character to change from good to evil and then back again, unlike most games with systems like this. It also has a system called V.A.T.S. which was also in the first two Fallout games (that I was unfortunate enough not to play), that allows you to pause the action, and aim for specific body parts on the enemy. This is a really good system, and I'm happy it was used. Overall, I'd say that this game is fantastic. If you love a good first-person shooter, or role-playing game, you should definitely consider buying this game. It is every bit as amazing an experience as The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion, and more than deserving of a nine out of ten.… Expand
  11. migusnex
    Nov 28, 2015
    9
    Massive post-apocalyptic world and a huge amount of locations to explore. I think this statement best expresses this great RPG that is Fallout 3. The game's story is set in Washington and the surrounding areas. If you like a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, a lot of exploring, shooting, lots of side quests and advanced character leveling, then you are going to love this game. The completion ofMassive post-apocalyptic world and a huge amount of locations to explore. I think this statement best expresses this great RPG that is Fallout 3. The game's story is set in Washington and the surrounding areas. If you like a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, a lot of exploring, shooting, lots of side quests and advanced character leveling, then you are going to love this game. The completion of all main and side quests, finding all the locations and exploring them takes more than 80h (GOTY Edition). This can be done in either first or third person perspective.

    Score: 9/10 - I would definitely recommend it!    … Expand
  12. JesperC.
    Oct 31, 2008
    8
    First of all: i HATE ppl who give 10 as a score. if a game should get 10 it would be the perfect game in it genre. NO GAME SO FAR IS THAT! thats why fallout 3 gets a 8. Its a VERY good RPG, and its a mediocre shooter(although if you want a shooter don't buy this, you'll only get dissapointed) but if you want a game thats a better version of Mass effect(because of more RPG, not First of all: i HATE ppl who give 10 as a score. if a game should get 10 it would be the perfect game in it genre. NO GAME SO FAR IS THAT! thats why fallout 3 gets a 8. Its a VERY good RPG, and its a mediocre shooter(although if you want a shooter don't buy this, you'll only get dissapointed) but if you want a game thats a better version of Mass effect(because of more RPG, not the graphics(my opinion)) then buy fallout 3. Im a fan of the old fallouts. They were great RPG's with a old fashioned style of camera(you cant do anything but love the camera in games like diablo and old fallouts, but when you look at them again you easily get irritated) thats why i understand the re-use of oblivion camera in this new bethesda game. Yes oblivion(and morrowind, and daggerfall etc) and fallout are universes so far away from each other, but it actually seems that bethesda made the right call on how to design the new gameplay of fallout 3. When talking about combat in fallout 3 you might wonder how the VATS(known from previous fallout games) work. At first i was sceptic.. how will a pause button work in a FPS?? but then i tried it. and realised the following: Fallout 3 still isn't a FPS. It's a RPG with some elements stolen from FPS'. Thats why it doesn't feel wierd to pause the combat and think about where to strike with your deadly weapon(should i shoot that ant i the head with a high % of hitting og in the antennas with more dmg?) Overall Fallout 3 is great! give it a chance! some might feel weird using the FPS part, but as said prios it is NOT a fps! Enjoy it as a RPG with the option to blow someones head off with a big shotgun, but dont expect another far cry. Peace out V COOP COOP.… Expand
  13. Tshober
    Sep 11, 2015
    4
    Meh.

    I loved F1 and F2, and was really looking forward to F3. I played for about 10 hours, but ended up uninstalling it. I couldn't put my finger on it. It just wasn't compelling enough to continue. It felt very slow paced and uninteresting. Borderlands filled the void *really* well. :)
  14. jim109109
    May 31, 2012
    9
    I think I speak for all that are great minds when I say, we don't want structure, we don't want a direct quest line, we want real world choices and their consequences, we want to be able to nuke villages and screw things up, we want to be a serial murderer and murder an entire street of people. These things are possible in Fallout 3, because it's a game which actually is a real RPG, youI think I speak for all that are great minds when I say, we don't want structure, we don't want a direct quest line, we want real world choices and their consequences, we want to be able to nuke villages and screw things up, we want to be a serial murderer and murder an entire street of people. These things are possible in Fallout 3, because it's a game which actually is a real RPG, you can be what you want. If you want a linear shooter where you just go from point A to B shooting things, following quest markers, first of all go die, but if you aren't willing to do this service to the world, then at least don't complain when you play an epic game like fallout. It's a brilliant game, the style and art really suck you in, it's way better than elder scrolls in this respect, it's not a lame ass medieval game all over but really a dark sad world in ruins after a nuclear disaster. You will feel lost, because that is what the character is supposed to feel as he steps out on this strange world. You will feel the game. Few games achieve this. This is truly one of the best games in the past decade, and one of the few "epic" games ever. No - I am not giving it a 10, because for one it is much too short, for two the max level is WAY too low except if you DLC, which is **** and for three the games posses after all these years game breaking bugs, which if screwed up and would never have been tolerated if it had been a japanese title.… Expand
  15. Seryin
    Mar 10, 2013
    8
    The day Bethesda can release a glitch free game is the day they finally earn a real 10/10. It is a shame that a company with the potential to make such amazing games cannot manage to clean them up. The size of the game is not an excuse, it is pathetic.
    Despite its share of bugs, Fallout 3 is a hugely refreshing change from the "swords and boards," "dungeons and dragons" style rpg's that I    The day Bethesda can release a glitch free game is the day they finally earn a real 10/10. It is a shame that a company with the potential to make such amazing games cannot manage to clean them up. The size of the game is not an excuse, it is pathetic.
    Despite its share of bugs, Fallout 3 is a hugely refreshing change from the "swords and boards," "dungeons and dragons" style rpg's that I am sick of.
    The story and world are entertaining. Could have been a 10/10 if not for bugs.    … Expand
  16. dylster11
    Oct 6, 2010
    10
    this is a great game for anyone who likes to explore large areas and this game is easy to play due to the targeting system making it much easier for people with even the WORST aim in the world to pick up the game and get into it imediantly.
  17. TheFiddler
    Jul 1, 2012
    8
    Fallout 3 was my introduction to the Fallout series and the first time I took note of Bethesda's name (I had played the Elder Scrolls game, but just didn't follow developers then the way I do now). When I first played this game it was on a family member's PS3. I had no current generations at the time and this game made me realize I needed a new console because I HAD to play this game.Fallout 3 was my introduction to the Fallout series and the first time I took note of Bethesda's name (I had played the Elder Scrolls game, but just didn't follow developers then the way I do now). When I first played this game it was on a family member's PS3. I had no current generations at the time and this game made me realize I needed a new console because I HAD to play this game. Personally, I found the beginning of the game's story line very engaging. You are born in a vault in a post apocalyptic future, your father vanishes having escaped the vault which is unheard of, but you can't believe he'd leave for no reason. The rest of the game then rests on you escaping and tracking down your dad while unveiling what has happened in the years since the Vault first became inhabited as you meet side characters and find information throughout a battle-torn, nuclear radiated Washington D.C. The graphics at the time seems amazingly cool, they still stand up as being good quality, but I can't say they're the best or anything.

    The side quests alone can have you playing this game for several hours, and it did, and if there's anything I'd say I don't like about this game...it's how many hours you're going to have to spend on it, and how much time you're going to waste travelling around just trying to do everything it has to offer. Maybe it reveals a horder side of me, but I'm over encumbered every couple minutes and have to figure what to do with the crap I'm carrying. The VATS is kind of cool, yet it also takes away from the realism of battling a horde of mutants when you can stop to fix weapons, switch them out, and slow time to make sure you're aiming your grenades at their feet...It definitely has some flaws and glitches, but over all I find it a very fun game that I don't mind loading up two years after buying it just for some running around and mutant destroying.    … Expand
  18. chvyalthan
    Dec 24, 2012
    10
    Fantastic game when it came out and even better now, As with most Bethesda titles they are very buggy when they come out but these past 4 years have served FO3 well. A great modding community has provided FO3 with a range of high fidelity face lifts as well as tonnes of new custom animations, quests and items. Since its an older game the GOTY edition can be picked up for a low price andFantastic game when it came out and even better now, As with most Bethesda titles they are very buggy when they come out but these past 4 years have served FO3 well. A great modding community has provided FO3 with a range of high fidelity face lifts as well as tonnes of new custom animations, quests and items. Since its an older game the GOTY edition can be picked up for a low price and you get great value for money with the amount of time you can spend in it.

    It is great fun to explore the post apocalyptic DC and finding all the unique and bizarre characters that live there. Lots of entertaining quests, characters and items to use with great voice acting and story. The vanilla game does have its issues with it being quite easy for experienced players and the animations messing up slightly but for those who like a challenge there are lots of mods available like FO3 Wanderers Edition which provide a gritty hardcore experience for this game.

    Without the modding community this title atm would be around an 8 given whats available at a similar price but there is no excuse not to pick up a few staple mods like MMM and a HQ texture pack if you PC can handle it - all made considerably easier with Fallout Mod manager.

    You will struggle to find as much entertainment and Hardcore RPG gameplay for as good a price as you can at the moment with a Modded FO3 a must buy if you haven't already picked it up.    … Expand
  19. Reboh79
    May 6, 2012
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Wait, scratch that, THE best game I've ever played. The open world with great atmosphere, the people who look and act like they should, the weapons that aren't overpowered yet effective, and to top it all off, the DLC is excellent.

    This game looks just right. If I imagine a nuclear wasteland of DC, Fallout 3 portrays that exactly as I    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Wait, scratch that, THE best game I've ever played. The open world with great atmosphere, the people who look and act like they should, the weapons that aren't overpowered yet effective, and to top it all off, the DLC is excellent.

    This game looks just right. If I imagine a nuclear wasteland of DC, Fallout 3 portrays that exactly as I imagined. The people in the game look great. The creatures you face are varied and challenging, and graphically spot-on.

    The music, oh the music, is overwhelmingly great. It matches the atmosphere precisely. Dialogue is great, I love the system.

    In summary, this game is the best game I've ever played. Every aspect of the game is perfect, 10/10.    … Expand
  20. JGo
    Aug 1, 2012
    10
    One of the best games ever. Absolutely genius.
  21. Bernkastel12
    Jun 9, 2017
    0
    FALLOUT 3 EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING!! After countless hours trying to fix this miserable pile of feces,and reading at least 3 trillion ''solutions'' to stop the ungodly amounts of crashes, this piece of badly programmed garbage just refuses to work. I truly believe (and im not even exaggerating in the slightest when i say this) that a **** armless and mentally challenged bonobo could haveFALLOUT 3 EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING!! After countless hours trying to fix this miserable pile of feces,and reading at least 3 trillion ''solutions'' to stop the ungodly amounts of crashes, this piece of badly programmed garbage just refuses to work. I truly believe (and im not even exaggerating in the slightest when i say this) that a **** armless and mentally challenged bonobo could have done a MUCH BETTER JOB optimizing this gonorrhea than the reincarnations of Alan Turing that work at Bethesda.… Expand
  22. RMW_Critic
    Oct 11, 2010
    9
    This game is pure epic. It had nothing that I didn't like. Great story, great ACTING, great horror themes, great gunplay and combat. It was beautiful. The weapons were intriguing, the hardware support made me think that Bethesda still love us and the DLC's were brilliant. At least 60hrs of gameplay for the completer, and I went back to it loads more times just for the sake of it. Then IThis game is pure epic. It had nothing that I didn't like. Great story, great ACTING, great horror themes, great gunplay and combat. It was beautiful. The weapons were intriguing, the hardware support made me think that Bethesda still love us and the DLC's were brilliant. At least 60hrs of gameplay for the completer, and I went back to it loads more times just for the sake of it. Then I met something I didn't like. It had Games for Windows Live integration for achievements and such, so I tried it out and I hated it. I had to use a "storage device" when I wasn't logged in. Garrrg! Stupid Microsoft. Anyway, great game Bethesda!… Expand
  23. 1SpizyChicken
    Jan 8, 2011
    8
    Huge game with tons of playing hours. If you don't have time to put into this game for a long time don't get it! It's easy 100 hours of playing time and very involved. Huge maps, clues, tidbits, secrets, missions, etc. It is a Roll Play Game but adds first person and 3rd person shooter styles to it. It really LACKS in the shooting segments. The shooting is worthless unless you use theHuge game with tons of playing hours. If you don't have time to put into this game for a long time don't get it! It's easy 100 hours of playing time and very involved. Huge maps, clues, tidbits, secrets, missions, etc. It is a Roll Play Game but adds first person and 3rd person shooter styles to it. It really LACKS in the shooting segments. The shooting is worthless unless you use the special PIP BOY aiming system. You can't accurately hit anything with Iron sites with any weapon. It doesn't feel REAL. That's my main complaint about the game and it takes me out of it. There are a few glitches here and there that can cause a system to crash but no big deal. Also a few strange things that don't really fit realistically with the story they present. But it's a game. Enjoy it! Just make sure you have TIME!… Expand
  24. vaell
    Mar 30, 2011
    9
    I think i need to defend my score for this game, this was my first Bethesda game to play since oblivion, so the retro style, the gameplay elements, the RPG backbone and the well crafted story caught me by surprise. Still, i have to recognize it gets repetitive and buggy at times, and that it was probably the game responsible for the actual stupidity of many game developers, with itsI think i need to defend my score for this game, this was my first Bethesda game to play since oblivion, so the retro style, the gameplay elements, the RPG backbone and the well crafted story caught me by surprise. Still, i have to recognize it gets repetitive and buggy at times, and that it was probably the game responsible for the actual stupidity of many game developers, with its interest in making money by DLC and beating franchises with sticks to see how much money they can get away with before having to start making decent (and complete) games again.… Expand
  25. Perelie
    Jun 29, 2011
    0
    It wasn't a real Fallout game, nor was it an RPG.
    Everything imaginable was done wrong, Bethesda have proved that they can't make a real Fallout game.
    It was just dumbed down into a shooter with stats slapped on.
  26. Mark
    Jul 22, 2009
    6
    What a mixed bag this game is. Pros: Interesting premise, good graphics, expansive world, (some) interesting characters, unique soundtrack, nice retrospective about your character at the end of the game. Cons: Crashes way too much (PC), really annoying repetitive dialogue, awkward control scheme, odd ending, and you need to use the craptastic Games for Windows Live systems for getting What a mixed bag this game is. Pros: Interesting premise, good graphics, expansive world, (some) interesting characters, unique soundtrack, nice retrospective about your character at the end of the game. Cons: Crashes way too much (PC), really annoying repetitive dialogue, awkward control scheme, odd ending, and you need to use the craptastic Games for Windows Live systems for getting expansions. If it didn't crash and require GFWL for expansions, it probably would have rated an 8.… Expand
  27. TestECull
    Sep 26, 2010
    7
    Fallout 3 is the best game I've played. Ever. I have a feeling only it's successor, New Vegas, will dethrone it. It's horribly buggy, though, and I hate buggy software. So I knocked three points off for that. Still, you should buy this.
  28. vhscampos
    Dec 31, 2011
    9
    One of the best games of all time. I mean it. Gameplay can go over a hundred hours if you want to finish all quests this game offers. The ONLY drawbacks of this game are: - few kinds of enemies; - bad movement's mechanics. But all the superb positive features make this game a joy to behold.
  29. pepikJS
    May 13, 2014
    2
    When I've had Vista on my computer, I played this game, but it was so boring I wasn't able to finish it. It's some sort of pseudo-open world, it's repetitive, every location looks the same. Now I decided to play it again, but NOW I have Windows 7 on my computer and guess what? This piece of flip is crashing because of 2 two things - Windows 7 and Windows live. Windows live is lame as flipWhen I've had Vista on my computer, I played this game, but it was so boring I wasn't able to finish it. It's some sort of pseudo-open world, it's repetitive, every location looks the same. Now I decided to play it again, but NOW I have Windows 7 on my computer and guess what? This piece of flip is crashing because of 2 two things - Windows 7 and Windows live. Windows live is lame as flip and not workin', and Windows 7? This game has compatibility of hamster. 10 year old games are perfectly playable even now on modern systems, but game made in times of Windows Vista has issues on Windows 7! So, basically, this (s)flip is crashing, playing it is a pure deprival. I destroyed my DVD and buried that crap in a sewer.… Expand
  30. Steamaddict3514
    Oct 28, 2010
    10
    Okay, lots of people gave this game bad reviews so I'd like to address some of those, First off to the hundred or so people who said "Its hard to find ammo" I say, Your playing in a nuceluar wasteland after a huge atomic war, ammo isn't really a main concern for people then. To the people who say i cant find anyone to interact with I say, GO TO A CITY!, For the game itself its gameplay isOkay, lots of people gave this game bad reviews so I'd like to address some of those, First off to the hundred or so people who said "Its hard to find ammo" I say, Your playing in a nuceluar wasteland after a huge atomic war, ammo isn't really a main concern for people then. To the people who say i cant find anyone to interact with I say, GO TO A CITY!, For the game itself its gameplay is amazing, the guns are realistic the textures are amazing the PC versions great because you can mod. Fight sequences are unique and challengeing and it is hard to kill thinkgs, guess why, THEY ARE MUTATED HUMANS! MUTATED! HUGE GREEN MUTANTS! Overall this game is definitly worth 50 bucks hell this games worth 100, ive got 800 hours for Fallout 3 on steam so thats gotta mean something.… Expand
  31. RobbinL
    Jul 25, 2012
    9
    Fallout 3 is a game that was pretty much abandoned by Bethesda a short time after hitting the shelves. The game did receive five DLC-titles but the lack of bugfixing patches made alot of people quit playing it. I gave Fallout 3 a chance, and i didn't like it. I thought that the game was too open, it didn't tell me where i needed to go. I've played a lot of single-player games and most ofFallout 3 is a game that was pretty much abandoned by Bethesda a short time after hitting the shelves. The game did receive five DLC-titles but the lack of bugfixing patches made alot of people quit playing it. I gave Fallout 3 a chance, and i didn't like it. I thought that the game was too open, it didn't tell me where i needed to go. I've played a lot of single-player games and most of them tell you exactly what to do, always. Fallout didn't, and it scared me to have so much freedom. It took me a somewhere between 8-10 of hours of gameplay to completely grasp the Capital Wasteland and it's sheer size. It is enormous. When i finally realized how fantastic Fallout 3 was, it had me in it's claws. And it hasn't let me go since. Fallout 3 has a pretty good main story, but the side missions are better. The RPG-elements are more than satisfying but the game's strong side is it's atmosphere. I think everybody should at least try Fallout. It is a beautiful game set in a horrifying world.… Expand
  32. nono5551212
    Jun 27, 2015
    2
    I know this is an old game but boy was it terrible. Go here do this... go here get that... I hate fetch quests and this game seems like one big fetch quest... I bet the story is horrible... I gave up...
  33. spartan-117
    Sep 26, 2010
    10
    This is Oblivion in future.I give it a 10 not only because i liked The elder scrolls 4 oblivion very much but for its nice game play elements as well as the exploring world.A nice game detailed and in which the atmosphere is very very realistic. You can see the elder scrolls elements in it like jumping at a place if you have discovered it or the usage and repair of items.But netherless isThis is Oblivion in future.I give it a 10 not only because i liked The elder scrolls 4 oblivion very much but for its nice game play elements as well as the exploring world.A nice game detailed and in which the atmosphere is very very realistic. You can see the elder scrolls elements in it like jumping at a place if you have discovered it or the usage and repair of items.But netherless is a solid game even if the main story is short has many side quests… Expand
  34. ivanvr
    Oct 24, 2010
    9
    A good FPS with some RPG elements. Pro: - Immersive, huge environments: you can play Fallout 3 for months before finishing it.
    - Good graphics: I really enjoyed the "comics-style" graphics.
    - Simple but not easy: yes, you have to use few commands but you have a lot of stuff to do. - For the beginner and for the pro: I enjoyed the simplicity of my first games then I switched to the "pro"    A good FPS with some RPG elements. Pro: - Immersive, huge environments: you can play Fallout 3 for months before finishing it.
    - Good graphics: I really enjoyed the "comics-style" graphics.
    - Simple but not easy: yes, you have to use few commands but you have a lot of stuff to do.
    - For the beginner and for the pro: I enjoyed the simplicity of my first games then I switched to the "pro" gaming LOL just joking but yes, the game was really hard and time-consuming.
    Cons:
    - Frustrating: and you can bet it, expecially the first games, when you learn that aiming can be used not only to eliminate your enemies but also to disarm them. - Time consuming: yes, Fallout 3 is simply a great game but you have to play it for hours - weeks - to finish it. And you have some fun DLC too so ... some more time.
    - Cartoon: it's a pro or a con, it depends.
    - Nukes: the game is about a post-nuclear war and you can use some "radio" equipment against your enemies. I know it's only fiction but someone said me he found it not good.    … Expand
  35. ns0l
    Nov 22, 2015
    4
    I decided to play this game once more, so I did. And what a surprise, I found out how stupid I was. How can I ever like that kind of crap. No I'm no longer an idiot.
  36. Bjorik
    Jul 17, 2011
    3
    As a stand alone its a great game, just by being plain fun to play. Boring main quest and, unkillable children (dont put them there if i cant shoot them in the face) and other idiotic flaws like that drags it down but overall its a good game.

    As a sequel it fails miserably, at least according to my personal definition of what a sequel is. This is a first person real time action/rpg with    As a stand alone its a great game, just by being plain fun to play. Boring main quest and, unkillable children (dont put them there if i cant shoot them in the face) and other idiotic flaws like that drags it down but overall its a good game.

    As a sequel it fails miserably, at least according to my personal definition of what a sequel is.
    This is a first person real time action/rpg with pause bullet time. (NO GROIN SHOTS WTF)
    It fails to capture the spirit of its predecessor, not saying Fallout 2 is a better game, but fallout 3 is a horrible sequel.    … Expand
  37. Rivethead
    Feb 7, 2014
    0
    This game is **** Starting since player born till the player death at the end it looks like The Elder Scrolls Spin-off. The storyline is boring, game has some quests but they are crappy. When you want to buy the REAL FALLOUT you must buy Fallout: New-Vegas.
  38. phildog
    Sep 10, 2010
    2
    This game sucks ass. If it weren't for the awesome user made mods I never would have bought the game. In no way is it anywhere near as great as the originals. **** writing, **** storytelling, **** graphics, **** fps integration. Just a horrible, horrible game.
  39. TheMitherer
    Sep 30, 2011
    8
    An excellent game let down spectacularly by its main quest. Atmospheric, visually fascinating and manages to maintain your curiosity at high levels. Can't say I met any NPCs with anything resembling a personailty (with the possible exception of Moira) but that's not uncommon nowadays. Sniping with the dart gun was great fun, but the tube stations got irksome quickly. I don't see what allAn excellent game let down spectacularly by its main quest. Atmospheric, visually fascinating and manages to maintain your curiosity at high levels. Can't say I met any NPCs with anything resembling a personailty (with the possible exception of Moira) but that's not uncommon nowadays. Sniping with the dart gun was great fun, but the tube stations got irksome quickly. I don't see what all the fuss about VATS is - to me it just seems like cheating so I never used it. There is a lot here to interest the casual FPS and RPG fan but perhaps not enough to interest the hardcore elements of both factions. The main quest is totally uninspiring and (maybe thankfully) a fair chunk of it can be missed without warning. Plenty to see and do and I finished it 3 times which probably says more than any of the above. Definitely worth a try.… Expand
  40. Awesomegamer7
    Jan 7, 2012
    8
    The game of the year was really, really good.
    The radios are very good, the musics from the 30's and 40's accompany the game very well, the game-play is epic and the world is vast, you can investigate everywhere.
    But I'm not going to give this game a higher then 8 because of the bugs,the game is full of them, you can't run the game in Windows 7 and some times it crashes you're PC. If you    The game of the year was really, really good.
    The radios are very good, the musics from the 30's and 40's accompany the game very well, the game-play is epic and the world is vast, you can investigate everywhere.
    But I'm not going to give this game a higher then 8 because of the bugs,the game is full of them, you can't run the game in Windows 7 and some times it crashes you're PC.
    If you want this game buy it for the XBOX 360 and not the computer.    … Expand
  41. H4XINGTIMZ
    Jan 28, 2012
    9
    This game is amazing! A lot of quests and interesting enemies/locations. This is extremely worth the money, you wont regret you bought it...

    The story is pretty great, you get born in Vault 101, but when you're 19 years old, you're dad leaves the vault and you have to go look for him. The graphics is Decent, I would say they are much better than Oblivion. Fallout 3 had also some little    This game is amazing! A lot of quests and interesting enemies/locations. This is extremely worth the money, you wont regret you bought it...

    The story is pretty great, you get born in Vault 101, but when you're 19 years old, you're dad leaves the vault and you have to go look for him.

    The graphics is Decent, I would say they are much better than Oblivion. Fallout 3 had also some little bugs, the game crashes sometimes, but it was still enjoyable!    … Expand
  42. CasperD.
    Feb 12, 2010
    10
    Fallout 3 is the best game ever after what i mean it got every thing cool places really cool places you can explore in hours i have played 51 hours on my man and not have seen all places around that the cool you need to move around and find places you never thougt would be there and when you find those places there will sjour be something to figth or get and that i love moust of the game Fallout 3 is the best game ever after what i mean it got every thing cool places really cool places you can explore in hours i have played 51 hours on my man and not have seen all places around that the cool you need to move around and find places you never thougt would be there and when you find those places there will sjour be something to figth or get and that i love moust of the game is the end where it ends whit saying (War war never change us) That did mean so much to me i would hope all in the world would buy the game and see what there mabye could happen if we did throw atombombs after hicother but not where there is gonna come monsters out of it but the hole map is incredible and can show something about the future watere there mabye not can be drinket and food there is bad for you i love the game. Thanks for you guys created the game i hope there will come a fallout 4 Multiplayer where you can play whit your friends in normal singleplayer places or campaigns where you begin a place and figth monsters there come from every where or just Team deathmach figthining mabye super mutant against raiders or vault members. But i moust say that you guys have made the game there inspired me and manny others keep going that way that is the rigth way.… Expand
  43. TemplarGR
    Sep 9, 2016
    9
    Back when it was released, it was really fun. As a Fallout series fan since the original, i was very eager to play this. While not a true Fallout 2 sequel, it was fun and immersive, and i enjoyed it despite its faults.

    Make no mistake, this is little more than Oblivion with guns, but at least it doesn't have the level scaling... The story is mediocre, there are few memorable    Back when it was released, it was really fun. As a Fallout series fan since the original, i was very eager to play this. While not a true Fallout 2 sequel, it was fun and immersive, and i enjoyed it despite its faults.

    Make no mistake, this is little more than Oblivion with guns, but at least it doesn't have the level scaling...

    The story is mediocre, there are few memorable characters, and the game is not that hard or complex to play, but it is fun to explore the capital wasteland, and back in the day, when the PS360 era was fairly new, this game was revolutionary.

    So, all in all, while i wouldn't replay it today, i believe it was worth the praise it got, despite tis faults.    … Expand
  44. keefbaker
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    Probably Bethesda's finest hour. The absolute.. hands down.. best first person open world game on the planet. Blows everything else away and also carries on a universe I'd already fell in love with while playing the previous titles in the series. Magnificent.
  45. Pitonas
    Apr 22, 2017
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fallout 3 is not really a fallout.... It's just a pitiful spin off in same world.... Main char sacrificing himself for free clean water.... Yeah right.... creators of this should have tried playing originals....… Expand
  46. LauraE.
    Nov 5, 2008
    10
    Fallout 3 is a fantastic game. I loved the fantasy world of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and this game brought me out of the fantasy magic world into the nuclear war torn future world. I also love the interactive AI in the game, because unlike Oblivion the speech choices depend on your abilities and your sex. I personally enjoyed Fallout 3!
  47. ErixisBlade
    Nov 5, 2008
    9
    This game is beautiful--I don't fully understand what some people are saying about it being last gen. No, it's not Crysis, but it is gorgeous, meticulously detailed, and totally atmospheric. I didn't play the original Fallout games until recently, so I don't have some of the nostalgic attachment to them that some have--yes, I would have appreciated more humor (though This game is beautiful--I don't fully understand what some people are saying about it being last gen. No, it's not Crysis, but it is gorgeous, meticulously detailed, and totally atmospheric. I didn't play the original Fallout games until recently, so I don't have some of the nostalgic attachment to them that some have--yes, I would have appreciated more humor (though there are many genuinely funny moments in the game, some of them very dark indeed), and yes the difficulty is a bit uneven--but on the whole, this game is completely faithful to the spirit of Fallout. Awesome game, a blast to play. The best thing about this game is the attention to detail and the incredible stories that each of the game's areas tell--there are no bland run of the mill dungeons or towns or anything--every place has a story waiting for the observant explorer to discover it. This it the beauty of that game, and it's what keeps me up regularly til 4 in the morning playing. A few bugs (all of which I have faith will be quickly addressed--Bethesda is pretty good about such things) keep it from being a 10 from me, but make no mistake--this is not a game you should miss.… Expand
  48. AndréL.
    Nov 8, 2008
    9
    This game is excelent, the targeting system allied with the camera movement is very well balanced, history is good, with many possibilities, imense territory to explore, oh, and the songs from the radio are very addictive! I just don´t give 10 because they copied many things from oblivion, but im my personal analysis, this didn´t damaged the game! Resuming: Good RPG and This game is excelent, the targeting system allied with the camera movement is very well balanced, history is good, with many possibilities, imense territory to explore, oh, and the songs from the radio are very addictive! I just don´t give 10 because they copied many things from oblivion, but im my personal analysis, this didn´t damaged the game! Resuming: Good RPG and shooter(the body´s can blown and splice in so many ways!)… Expand
  49. AnonymousMC
    Nov 3, 2008
    1
    Oh dear oh dear. A risible runner shooter. RPG elements all but destroyed.

    Thje music sounds like a remix of Oblivions (esspecially the "plonk plonk plonk" slow morose piano intro followed by low key strings and wind. It might as well be a remix. The game feels and plays like a poor mans Oblivion..and all the text and menu's are in VERY low resolution -showing to be the poor    Oh dear oh dear. A risible runner shooter. RPG elements all but destroyed.

    Thje music sounds like a remix of Oblivions (esspecially the "plonk plonk plonk" slow morose piano intro followed by low key strings and wind. It might as well be a remix. The game feels and plays like a poor mans Oblivion..and all the text and menu's are in VERY low resolution -showing to be the poor console port that it is.

    Maybe it's not awful, but in comparison with 1&2 (and tactics) it's pretty close    … Expand
  50. DrCola
    Dec 1, 2010
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Brilliant. A 40-50's representation of a classic run down nuclear wasteland. The gameplay of combat is not as beneficial to the game. It never was for the fallout series. Its all about making decisions. the storyline is epic. Just pure epic. purify the water (or poisin it) for a nuclear wasteland while getting by a healthy amount of super mutant, irradiated freaks. with amazing views the entire way. Its like visiting washington DC! but.... in ruins. Anyway, Compared to the other fallout games. Its not really a fallout game. But this is made by Bethesda. what did you expect? A vast, continual RPG that is very, very, fun. (Thats if you dont mind easy head shooting) It is not as funny as the other fallout games. That is what new vegas is for. And it does occasionally have that feeling of a bare RPG. Whereas Fallout new vegas has the strip as a wierd contrast to the wasteland. A long, fun RPG.… Expand
  51. Morring
    Apr 7, 2013
    7
    This would have been a 10/10 BUT: Game for windows live is as painful as always, and lack of support for win 7. It behaves weirdly with some graphic cards, I keep having to reinstall the same drivers each time I want to play this game. Also some times you can feel the influence of the console version. Apart from these aspects the game is plain awesome: from the general atmosphere to eachThis would have been a 10/10 BUT: Game for windows live is as painful as always, and lack of support for win 7. It behaves weirdly with some graphic cards, I keep having to reinstall the same drivers each time I want to play this game. Also some times you can feel the influence of the console version. Apart from these aspects the game is plain awesome: from the general atmosphere to each single weapon, everything is how it should be. Don't expect an important main story tough: as with many bethesta titles this game is more about freeroaming. While the main campaing is still better than, say, oblivion, it is quite short.… Expand
  52. qwertyy
    Sep 8, 2013
    9
    although it is old,i played for whole 2008(that time i still not know what is authorized game or how to get,china is such xxxxx country(support pirated CD） ,at last at 2010 i s=know steam through cod6 then i bought fallout3 too at Christmas day and till now i want play it again)

    i prefer the main story of fallout3,better than FNV i think,and i prefer aim like this,though iron sight is    although it is old,i played for whole 2008(that time i still not know what is authorized game or how to get,china is such xxxxx country(support pirated CD） ,at last at 2010 i s=know steam through cod6 then i bought fallout3 too at Christmas day and till now i want play it again)

    i prefer the main story of fallout3,better than FNV i think,and i prefer aim like this,though iron sight is real,but it is more playable and comfortable to use without that.
    a freedom game and dlc is very nice,with mods it is better but unstable
    without the mods it is still very very nice,with the mod and if u can handle well without freeze or crash,it will be perfect    … Expand
  53. BlueRose
    Dec 26, 2011
    5
    The game is ok, graphics are pretty good. The detail and story line is so and so and can be messy. However, the game is very strung out, not much to do, characters have little to no facial expression or show of emotion and the game can be very melancholy. Its not the worst game I've played, it does have its good moments, but its not the best and can be a little depressing. But that's justThe game is ok, graphics are pretty good. The detail and story line is so and so and can be messy. However, the game is very strung out, not much to do, characters have little to no facial expression or show of emotion and the game can be very melancholy. Its not the worst game I've played, it does have its good moments, but its not the best and can be a little depressing. But that's just my opinion.… Expand
  54. distractonator
    Mar 15, 2012
    10
    really amazing game, sure its not as great at being a shooter as call of duty, and its not as time consuming as fallout 1 and 2, but its atmosphere really sets it apart from any other game on the market. the dungeons in fallout 3 have arguably more story then its main quest line, which may seem like a bad thing but for an open world rpg such as this it allows for a lot of replay value andreally amazing game, sure its not as great at being a shooter as call of duty, and its not as time consuming as fallout 1 and 2, but its atmosphere really sets it apart from any other game on the market. the dungeons in fallout 3 have arguably more story then its main quest line, which may seem like a bad thing but for an open world rpg such as this it allows for a lot of replay value and enjoyable exploration. i would also like to add that there is a tension added to this game if you play it on the hardest difficulty.… Expand
  55. Riddlefang
    Mar 19, 2012
    10
    The fallout universe is one of the gaming universes I love the most. The huge open wasteland is fun to explore and very well designed. The progression system is one of the best I've seen, rewarding you xp for killing, questing, lockpicking, persuading etc. If there's something I would like to see an improvement on it must be the combat. I would have liked to see more action oriented combatThe fallout universe is one of the gaming universes I love the most. The huge open wasteland is fun to explore and very well designed. The progression system is one of the best I've seen, rewarding you xp for killing, questing, lockpicking, persuading etc. If there's something I would like to see an improvement on it must be the combat. I would have liked to see more action oriented combat maybe a little more like an fps, but this is still an amazing game, and one of my favourite rpg's!… Expand
  56. RangerGxi
    May 10, 2012
    10
    Game of the Year 2000-2010. Take pride Bethesda. This is the holy grail of RPG's, except for maybe Skyrim but that came later. You start in a Vault and develop your character from being born, to a young man, before being thrust into the Capital Wasteland on an epic quest in search of your Father. Most of this game is exploration and questing. Immersion is deep and you will spend hoursGame of the Year 2000-2010. Take pride Bethesda. This is the holy grail of RPG's, except for maybe Skyrim but that came later. You start in a Vault and develop your character from being born, to a young man, before being thrust into the Capital Wasteland on an epic quest in search of your Father. Most of this game is exploration and questing. Immersion is deep and you will spend hours upon hours of your time simply exploring caves and ruined metro systems. Bethesda gives you many opportunities to deal with problems. At the start of the game you are confronted with a Bully. Now you can simply beat the crap out of him but you can also talk to his friends and convince them to rebel against him. You can kill hoards of enemies to get into a secret room, or simply fix some gears to open the door and just walk in easily. 10/10
    The game has no flaws even worth mentioning.    … Expand
  57. Amig
    Jun 18, 2012
    5
    While Fallout 3 isn't a bad game overall, as a sequel to Fallout 2 it just fails tragically. It's inconsistent with lore, primitive and illogical in many places. Overall, for a long time Fallout veteran such as myself, this game was a huge disappointment. If you haven't played the previous installments or are just looking for some cheap entertainment, you can go ahead and give it a spin.While Fallout 3 isn't a bad game overall, as a sequel to Fallout 2 it just fails tragically. It's inconsistent with lore, primitive and illogical in many places. Overall, for a long time Fallout veteran such as myself, this game was a huge disappointment. If you haven't played the previous installments or are just looking for some cheap entertainment, you can go ahead and give it a spin. Otherwise, you'll be better off with New Vegas. Actually, scratch that. You'll be better off with New Vegas either way.… Expand
  58. ReubenIsAGod
    Oct 8, 2012
    10
    This is a great game from start to finish the fact that you can do what ever the FU*K you want made for me one of the best games ive ever played, the only down side to this game was the story and the ending i hated the fact that the game just ended, their was so much more i would have liked to do also running this game on pc is very diffecat and time consuming, LOVED THIS GAME AND WOULDThis is a great game from start to finish the fact that you can do what ever the FU*K you want made for me one of the best games ive ever played, the only down side to this game was the story and the ending i hated the fact that the game just ended, their was so much more i would have liked to do also running this game on pc is very diffecat and time consuming, LOVED THIS GAME AND WOULD RECAMED IT TOO EVERY BODY… Expand
  59. NooblordFocker
    May 26, 2014
    10
    Fallout 3 equals pure nostalgia for me. It was probably the second RPG game I payed, after KOTOR. I recently replayed the game and yeah, I did notice flaws,quite a bit of them,that I hadn't taken into account when I was younger. However, the game is still a wonderful, immersive open world experience. A lot of the criticism stemmed from the fact, that many game mechanics were taken fromFallout 3 equals pure nostalgia for me. It was probably the second RPG game I payed, after KOTOR. I recently replayed the game and yeah, I did notice flaws,quite a bit of them,that I hadn't taken into account when I was younger. However, the game is still a wonderful, immersive open world experience. A lot of the criticism stemmed from the fact, that many game mechanics were taken from "TES IV: Oblivion". I think that was a good decision though. Bethesda took the good elements from Oblivion and the original Fallout games and combined them to create a fantastic game. The progression system is the prime example of how well this worked out. There are many ways to develop your character and at the same time the games is free from the traditional class restrictions. I'm not saying the system is perfect, there are some perks,which are quite honestly useless, others are blatantly overpowered. At higher levels your character will become a little too powerful, having DLC installed can further amplify this effect. I remember during a playthrough with one of my stealth characters I had acquired the Chinese stealth armor and the Gauss Rifle from Operation Anchorage, at about lvl 22 (I had Broken Steal as well) I was able to one-hit-kill Super Mutant Masters and Glowing Ones using sneak attacks. This shows a recurring flaw in Bethesda's post "Morrowind" open world RPGs. The level progression is very unbalanced. At the start of the game you are quite underpowered and if you are unlucky enough to come across say, a deathclaw, then your private anal space shall be violated in a rather unpleasant way, however when you reach the higher levels you simply become too powerful as I stated above. For some reason Bethesda doesn't seem to be addressing this problem, in fact it's even more prominent in "Skyrim" then in any other previous game. Thankfully there exists a very large modding community for "Fallout 3", as well as all other Bethesda games, which is something the company should be given credit for. Not a lot of big Gaming companies support modding in such a way, unfortunately. Story was quite interesting ,though the main quest's short length did not allow for it to be developed as extensively as I would have liked. Another reviewer and clearly a hardcore fan of the Fallout series stated the game did not capture the feel of the original. While I really liked his review, as it was written very well and gave me another point of view on this game, I must disagree with him. It is true, that this was the first Fallout game I played, but It did give me a pretty good sense of what the Fallout universe was like. I like how Bethesda attempted social commentary through elements of the game's world, which was something present in the originals. It was subtle and done very well, but unfortunately I haven't seen Bethesda attempt this in any of their newer games. And although this element could not be developed very well due to the short and linear nature of the main quest and the fact that it feels so disconnected with the Side activities, the overall feel of the game was solid. "Fallout 3" succeeds in creating a haunting, post apocalyptic atmosphere, although at times the color gray is too overwhelming and one cannot help but feel that Bethesda was a little lazy in the interior design. Most importantly, though, the game was and for me still is very fun to play. No doubt, this is the game, in which i have invested the most gameplay hours. Wandering the wastes aimlessly, finding little oddities and wondering how they ended up where they are, or what exactly happened in the building. "Fallout 3" offers an incredibly immersive experience. It can also be a great stress relief if you're a sick f*** like me who likes to shred people to little peaces. Tell me my friends, has there ever been anything more satisfying than killing an oversized cockroach with a handheld nuclear weapon? To sum it all up, "Fallout 3" is an amazing game, despite it's flaws.… Expand
  60. Jonathan117
    Aug 5, 2013
    10
    Fallout 3 is and always will be one of the best RPG's of all time, it's amazing combat, cool graphics and great story all make up for an epic experience that almost no other games can topple.
  61. bespread
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    This is downright my favorite game of all time. Granted it didnt make me feel as much as some other games did, but the storyline, quests, choices, dlc, and overall gameplay made up for it greatly. Every quest i could feel myself really get into it. I can allways remember thinking to myself what would be behind the next corner, and when i think that the building i was exploring was depletedThis is downright my favorite game of all time. Granted it didnt make me feel as much as some other games did, but the storyline, quests, choices, dlc, and overall gameplay made up for it greatly. Every quest i could feel myself really get into it. I can allways remember thinking to myself what would be behind the next corner, and when i think that the building i was exploring was depleted of "goodies" id realised i missed an entire level. The map itself could win awards. Its vastness could make you lose yourself in it for hours on end. Ive beaten this game several times allready, and have accomplished every achievment for it including the dlc's, and have put well over 500 hours of gameplay into this masterpiece. For the people who say that its horrible because of its never ending glitches; i pity you. I can recolect on countless nights stayng up to 3 or 4 in the morining laughing histarically at the mysterious glitches this game has to offer. The fighting system is also top notch. This is the only game series I know that allows you to stop time and pick your target for your shot. Dont even get me started on the weapons, i would spend countless nights trying to find special weapons and ammunition. The leveling system is also just superb. Itd take me 10 minutes to just figure out which perk id want. "Do i want this one to get more xp, or this one to make myself a better fighter". Its just magnificent. And the companions uhhhhhhhhh the companions. I remember dogmeat specifically. He was the best friend a person could have wondering through the wastes. He fought enemies for you, found you ammo, and health, and he was damn near invincible. When i lost him for the first time it brought me to tears (thank god for his puppies!!!!). There is no other game i love more than this one, and i can not wait for four!!!!… Expand
  62. jseph1234
    Dec 23, 2017
    9
    This game is one of the Top 15 RPG of all-time. With the great Mods available for it and just the massiveness and content in this game, it will provide literally 100's of hours of enjoyment.
  63. Mahdiar
    Jul 6, 2016
    9
    Gameplay : 9
    Graphics : 9
    Story : 8
    Sound : 8
    **********************************************************************************
    Overall : 9
  64. Barby
    Dec 1, 2014
    8
    It was one of my best experiences in terms of immersion when I felt alone in the devastated Wasteland, its story is one of my favorites about leaving the innocence to a merciless adult world, I love the chance to choose to play in 3rd or 1st person (I prefer 3rd), also I love the free, open and endless world to do whatever I want.

    But it feels mostly oriented to casuals, it can't be    It was one of my best experiences in terms of immersion when I felt alone in the devastated Wasteland, its story is one of my favorites about leaving the innocence to a merciless adult world, I love the chance to choose to play in 3rd or 1st person (I prefer 3rd), also I love the free, open and endless world to do whatever I want.

    But it feels mostly oriented to casuals, it can't be played without DarNified, Fallout Wanderers Edition, NMCs Texture Pack, Mart's Mutant Mod, Fellout, DC Interiors Project, Reanimated, EVE, Project Beauty, Hair packs, male and female body replacers, weapons and armor additions, homes, Pip Boy replacers, or better, build your own mods!

    Vanilla it deserves not more a 6, but modded is a solid 10, yes, the polishing work have done by the community but this is possible because it has one of the bests toolset out there, well thought Bethesda!    … Expand
  65. Chrisisoslod
    Aug 11, 2015
    9
    I am over 110 hours in and still finding things that i have not seen. This game is HUGE. Not only is it huge but it is a world worth exploring. This game is a Post Apocalyptic RPG and depicts the Future in Downtown Washington DC after WWIII. The charm of this game comes from the Retro 50's style the game has. The game does have a few problems.While it truly shines in Exploration,I am over 110 hours in and still finding things that i have not seen. This game is HUGE. Not only is it huge but it is a world worth exploring. This game is a Post Apocalyptic RPG and depicts the Future in Downtown Washington DC after WWIII. The charm of this game comes from the Retro 50's style the game has. The game does have a few problems.While it truly shines in Exploration, Memorable Sidequests and an unforgettable soundtrack you will sing along to in the entirety of your journey in the Wasteland. The game does not have a Sprint Button which makes it more difficult to traverse this huge Game World. It also suffers from Clunky Combat and Animations like plenty of Bethesda games have in the past. The community in this game is still pretty alive thanks to plenty of mods adding content and keeping the game up to date. This game is truly a MUST HAVE Action RPG for PC Gamers and Console Gamers alike. I must say this is my Favorite Game Of All Time despite some of its glaring problems.… Expand
  66. LegionIscariot
    Oct 7, 2015
    9
    I love this game.

    Growing up in a vault, all hell breaks loose and you take your first steps out into the world.

    The Lone Wanderer from vault 101 they call you.

    A big world to explore and alot of fun to be had.

    You are equipped with the Pipboy, one of the coolest gadgets in gaming, really helps this game be even more fun.

    Good or evil, you choose your path.
  67. AnonymousMC
    Dec 9, 2008
    0
    I would have given this game a 10, IF I COULD PLAY IT!!! This game is so buggy you can breath without it crashing. See for yourself go tot he official website, forums and PC issues, You will find page, after page after page after page of glitches, bugs, hardware issues, Software issues, and all around bad programming on Bethesda's part. Seriously, Bethesda makes awesome games if youI would have given this game a 10, IF I COULD PLAY IT!!! This game is so buggy you can breath without it crashing. See for yourself go tot he official website, forums and PC issues, You will find page, after page after page after page of glitches, bugs, hardware issues, Software issues, and all around bad programming on Bethesda's part. Seriously, Bethesda makes awesome games if you could actually play ANY of them, all of their games are so buggy and they never even bother to fix any of it, they just release one or two patches to fix small problems like a particle of dust going in the wrong direction on some obscure level you have never been to and will probably never find, and just forgets that game exists, moves on to their next horrible game and make more money. Bethesda should get off their butts and fix this game, or give it to someone who knows what the hell they are doing! They really are AWESOME games during the 10 minutes you can actually play them before it decides that you're stepping on too many cracks in the pavement and kicks you back to your desktop.… Expand
  68. VoodoojedizinZ.
    Jan 5, 2009
    5
    My opinion, it's a ok game that has some severe technical problems a very lame plot but that's OK. The Ai are no smarter than the ones used in oblivion. There are some path finding issues for npc's. The dialog is very childlike but tries to be adult. Obviously there trying to appeal to all ages. Story is not very well presented. Low on believability. They overdo the go My opinion, it's a ok game that has some severe technical problems a very lame plot but that's OK. The Ai are no smarter than the ones used in oblivion. There are some path finding issues for npc's. The dialog is very childlike but tries to be adult. Obviously there trying to appeal to all ages. Story is not very well presented. Low on believability. They overdo the go fetch that item as usual. Some of the quest were very lame. The entire time line there trying to present seemed a bit off 200 years my eye! There's nothing to make me believe that. Graphics are good but not that good, low resolution textures. Typical Bethesda they don't give a damn about the PC. This game was made for Xbox. Sadly Bethesda seems to offer no technical support or any kind of contact at all. Once again everyone is left wondering when is the patch coming out and what will be in it.… Expand
  69. RonI
    May 4, 2009
    9
    I am very surprised by the other users' ratings of this game. IMO, this is the best game I've played in a really long time. If you are used to a scripted/linear game, you may not like it because the entire premise of the Fallout series is that it is non-linear. You can do a huge variety of things from being good, evil, neutral, mechanic, gun specialist, energy weapons, melee, I am very surprised by the other users' ratings of this game. IMO, this is the best game I've played in a really long time. If you are used to a scripted/linear game, you may not like it because the entire premise of the Fallout series is that it is non-linear. You can do a huge variety of things from being good, evil, neutral, mechanic, gun specialist, energy weapons, melee, etc. If you think the game is too easy, I'd be curious to know what difficulty level you are playing. I do admit that the Super Mutants should be a bit tougher than they are, but they're not easy especially if you run into a whole patrol. To each their own I guess. As a huge fan of Fallout and Fallout 2, I really give this a major thumbs up.… Expand
  70. Jamesg
    Aug 9, 2009
    10
    The best graphics by far and an awesome game play. Even in the wasteland you can just take time and look around at how amazing it is. The game play is good to. With the vats even new people can be good at it. A good story line where you can choose to be good or evil. I played it more then twice to see what would happen as playing it evil then good.There is also a bunch of side quest in The best graphics by far and an awesome game play. Even in the wasteland you can just take time and look around at how amazing it is. The game play is good to. With the vats even new people can be good at it. A good story line where you can choose to be good or evil. I played it more then twice to see what would happen as playing it evil then good.There is also a bunch of side quest in case u beat the main one.If you like shooting then you definitely should get it.… Expand
  71. ar
    Jan 4, 2010
    10
    I really did not have a problem with this game. Not a huge gamer; it was definitely entertaining to me. Interesting story line (what would it actually be like after nuclear fallout?), although it CAN become repetitive after a while. All in all a ten for me.
  72. AurelianoF
    Nov 10, 2008
    10
    One of the best game i have ever played. Awesome environment with stunning graphics, sounds and atmosphere. What i liked about this game it's the oportunity of do whatever you want, go to any place you want, and especially the oportunity of take different decisions. At the beginning i didn't hold hope for this one since i never played Fallout 1 and 2. But then i gave it a try One of the best game i have ever played. Awesome environment with stunning graphics, sounds and atmosphere. What i liked about this game it's the oportunity of do whatever you want, go to any place you want, and especially the oportunity of take different decisions. At the beginning i didn't hold hope for this one since i never played Fallout 1 and 2. But then i gave it a try and i realized how amazing it is.. This is a ''MUST HAVE''..… Expand
  73. DavidB.
    Nov 1, 2008
    9
    I'm an old gamer who started playing games in 1984 and few games have surprised me so well like Fallout 3. It has great graphics, a huge game world full of side quests that will entertain you for hundred hours, cinematic combat, good weapon choices, detailed scary monsters and much much more. But most of all, the gameplay immersion.... oh God, the immersion with this game is I'm an old gamer who started playing games in 1984 and few games have surprised me so well like Fallout 3. It has great graphics, a huge game world full of side quests that will entertain you for hundred hours, cinematic combat, good weapon choices, detailed scary monsters and much much more. But most of all, the gameplay immersion.... oh God, the immersion with this game is absolutely wonderful: the breathtakin' nuclear landscape of D.C., the sad '50s retro-music and the attention put on details are all amazing and makes you feel like you were really left alone wandering around in that raped postnuclear world. Even the sophisticated AI routines of the NPCs make them look alive and real. What more could you ask from a game? Nothing is my answer. I thank and bow to Bethesda team for this gorgeous game that will enter the videogame history for sure. Now come with me into the Wastelands.… Expand
  74. AnonymousMC
    Nov 20, 2008
    4
    This game is pretty and all but, buggy, buggy, buggy. It is completely infuriating. Load, take two steps, crash. Repeat over and over again. patching that they came out with makes it worse. everyone says wait for the real patch? They should have fixed it before they released it. Last game I buy from Bethesda.
  75. BobB.
    Nov 2, 2008
    10
    Holy heck, I'm surprised you guys gave it a low rating. I played Fallout 2, and personally I find Bethesda did a great job switching Fallout over to more action oriented. It is in fact different than Fall0out in multiple ways, but it's better to think the game as its own. Great graphics, achievements are there, role playing to boot. I have experienced no bugs other than having Holy heck, I'm surprised you guys gave it a low rating. I played Fallout 2, and personally I find Bethesda did a great job switching Fallout over to more action oriented. It is in fact different than Fall0out in multiple ways, but it's better to think the game as its own. Great graphics, achievements are there, role playing to boot. I have experienced no bugs other than having to turn of DotNet3.0 in control panel, and it runs incredibly smooth on my average comp (at least 40fps). I recommend this game to anyone who hasn't played fallout, i think bethesda targeted you for the game. However, if you are a fan of the old games, there is plenty enough in here, but remember, it's not the west coast in the game, things must be a little different.… Expand
  76. JanJ.
    Nov 4, 2008
    5
    Unfortunately, a big disappointment to many. This game is a GOOD example of BAD design. Graphics and sounds are poor, which doesn't help much. Everything is dumbed-down. This game has more common with Bethesda's other game - TES: Oblivion, than with previous Fallout games. Story is nice. Some of the quest ideas and some of the dialogue humor is OK. An average game with a lot of Unfortunately, a big disappointment to many. This game is a GOOD example of BAD design. Graphics and sounds are poor, which doesn't help much. Everything is dumbed-down. This game has more common with Bethesda's other game - TES: Oblivion, than with previous Fallout games. Story is nice. Some of the quest ideas and some of the dialogue humor is OK. An average game with a lot of hype. It's not worth the money, believe me.… Expand
  77. DerekT.
    Nov 9, 2008
    2
    So, I just tried this game on the 360(too bad i couldn't get to try the pc version.) and at first, I was interested in the story, gameplay, graphics ect. but I must say, pretty much everything people say that is flawed about this game is true sadly. It would seem that Bestheda Studios really doesn't A) Care all that much about the franchise, or B) They can't make games So, I just tried this game on the 360(too bad i couldn't get to try the pc version.) and at first, I was interested in the story, gameplay, graphics ect. but I must say, pretty much everything people say that is flawed about this game is true sadly. It would seem that Bestheda Studios really doesn't A) Care all that much about the franchise, or B) They can't make games worth shit. I did play Oblivion(on the 360) and noticed that all this game really is, is a poorly made mod of the oblivion engine. Characters, boring and forgettable. Movements and animations, total shit. All around, this game resembles nothing of the Fallout franchise. And if the pc version is the same as the 360, i would never even pay $20 for it.… Expand
  78. AnonymousMC
    Oct 28, 2008
    3
    i thought this was going to be a rpg. i was apparently mistaken. i am 2 hours after the intro, in the game. have still not met anyone i could talk to. just random shooting. gush the genre tag is a major lie. this does really not deserve to be part of the fallout franchise.
  79. TS
    Oct 29, 2008
    10
    This game accomplished one of the goals I never thought it could: I felt like I was in the world of Fallout I and II. The atmosphere of the first few levels inside the vault was as expected, quirky and a time to learn how to play. Once outside I saw the same landscape you would expect to see in the first two games, but from a powerhouse FPS perspective. That's a compliment if anyone This game accomplished one of the goals I never thought it could: I felt like I was in the world of Fallout I and II. The atmosphere of the first few levels inside the vault was as expected, quirky and a time to learn how to play. Once outside I saw the same landscape you would expect to see in the first two games, but from a powerhouse FPS perspective. That's a compliment if anyone is wondering. Dogmeat makes a return appearance (as he did in Fallout 2) and the brotherhood of steel are still there, as are supermutants, ghouls, molerats, giant ants, ridiculously overpowered weapons like the nuclear catapult and rockitlauncher. While some might complain that the game feels a bit like Oblivion (there is something about how the texture work was done that shows Bethesda's fingerprints a bit too much) I would say that is nothing to complain about. The controls are tight and the rather well done VATS system (which makes every bullet a ballet) gives perfect moments of gore in the middle of frenzied firefights. My one qualm might be with the inclusion of housing and upgrades for housing which brought me out of the fantasy a bit. This forces you to sleep in beds to regain health rather than simply resting. The enemies do get a bit dull at lower difficulties too. The first time I saw a group of gangers fighting supermutants I was level 4 and remembered Fallout 2's rather difficult to kill supermutants. So I turned tail and ran like hell only to discover, much later on, that the green beasts are a bit of a push over. Same with Ghouls (who could be found in the second fallout as zombie-like enemies). I was frightened at first (a creature screaming and running at me without skin reminded me of Oblivion's rather hard to kill zombies) But then I blew its head off and kept going. For those who have fond memories of Fallouts of the past (and are not as obsessed as mr. SUX) this will feel like going home all grown up. For those who enjoyed Oblivion, enjoy the better story and firearms. For those looking for a good game, enjoy.… Expand
  80. JonathanS
    Oct 29, 2008
    10
    Amazing game that has managed to keep most of the elements from fallout that I loved. Only problems I've found is the inability to remap keys properly (some keys don't work, and defaults are kept despite changing them). I can explore seemingly endlessly and run into different tribes, factories, etc.
  81. DanQ.
    Nov 10, 2009
    10
    Absolutely amazing! Plays much more like Oblivion (drastically improved in every way, mind you) in a futuristic-setting rather than a true Fallout game, but it is an incredible experience nevertheless. I can't believe people are actually saying the graphics are mediocre. In my opinion, the graphics of this game are right up there with Crysis, Call of Duty: WAW, and whatever the Absolutely amazing! Plays much more like Oblivion (drastically improved in every way, mind you) in a futuristic-setting rather than a true Fallout game, but it is an incredible experience nevertheless. I can't believe people are actually saying the graphics are mediocre. In my opinion, the graphics of this game are right up there with Crysis, Call of Duty: WAW, and whatever the current standards for graphics are today. But unquestionably, it's the exquisite, open-ended gameplay that makes this game so memorable. A game for the ages!… Expand
  82. IanW
    Nov 10, 2009
    9
    I REALLY want to give this game 10 as I'm pretty sure that it's the best that I have ever played (X-Com being the other contender)! I was completely drawn into the game, its storyline and the whole environment and it genuinely felt like I had bought an awesome 40 hour film ... that I could take part in! Every single detail was addressed. I dont think I'm giving much away I REALLY want to give this game 10 as I'm pretty sure that it's the best that I have ever played (X-Com being the other contender)! I was completely drawn into the game, its storyline and the whole environment and it genuinely felt like I had bought an awesome 40 hour film ... that I could take part in! Every single detail was addressed. I dont think I'm giving much away when I say that hearing the radio presenter talk about what is going on in the world ... and then hearing him report something that you just did is awesome. Even more impressive was that he died (well, I killed him), and then a cleaner was left to try and take his place. Awesome little touch! However ... The game does crash and I actually created a condition that meant that it would always crash. However, given how utterly breathtaking the rest of the game is I can forgive it entirely. Also, anyone complaining about WFGL should just shut up. I'm guessing your using a pirated copy ...… Expand
  83. lucky
    Jan 12, 2009
    10
    This game is fantastic .the whole freedom thing is awesome .I had a crash in 15 hours of the gameplay.But that doesn't mean u give a 0 to such a good game.The graphics are good if not awesome . The music and sounds really well done. We should not miss a game like this.Simply the best game of 2008.
  84. AnonymousMC
    Jan 13, 2009
    4
    horrible buggy game. Does not work on Windows Vista 64bit at all. Constant crashes and no support from software developer. They told me to install it on Windows XP. I asked if it was suppored under Windows Vista and they said yes but then told me to install it on Windows XP.

    Now that that is out of the way, the story line, graphics and sound are outstanding. The game really    horrible buggy game. Does not work on Windows Vista 64bit at all. Constant crashes and no support from software developer. They told me to install it on Windows XP. I asked if it was suppored under Windows Vista and they said yes but then told me to install it on Windows XP.

    Now that that is out of the way, the story line, graphics and sound are outstanding. The game really captures you attention and doesnt let go. Watching the nuke detonate in the story line was fantastic and a little scarry. As with all Bethesda games, the voice acting and NPC interaction is excellent. However the story was too short. I finished the game in just under 12 hours of total play time. I wish it could have been longer as I was totally immersed in the post war world.

    My recommendation would be NOT to buy this game, at least until they manage to work out the bugs.    … Expand
  85. ChaseF.
    Jan 2, 2009
    10
    This game is awesome. Thats the main word for it, awesome. The graphics are great, but no one really pays attention to that after a couple hours. The game has so much in it, and everything about it is fun. People are complaining about problems that i plain don't see. It'll quit out sometimes, big deal; that's what the auto save is for. Plus you could play the whole game This game is awesome. Thats the main word for it, awesome. The graphics are great, but no one really pays attention to that after a couple hours. The game has so much in it, and everything about it is fun. People are complaining about problems that i plain don't see. It'll quit out sometimes, big deal; that's what the auto save is for. Plus you could play the whole game over as the opposite karma and get a different storyline completely.… Expand
  86. SteveS
    Jan 23, 2009
    6
    This game is like any of the last three Star Wars films: Flashy? Yes. True to the original? No. The simple fact that you can hit the level cap barely halfway though the game is insight into just how little the forethought of play atmosphere went into design. The ending is one of the worst I have seen in a long, long time. Any thought that this is the game of the year means that the This game is like any of the last three Star Wars films: Flashy? Yes. True to the original? No. The simple fact that you can hit the level cap barely halfway though the game is insight into just how little the forethought of play atmosphere went into design. The ending is one of the worst I have seen in a long, long time. Any thought that this is the game of the year means that the industry is at such a low and disgusting level of ingenuity that I'm better off replaying my old games than buying anything new. Anyone who thinks this is role-playing must also worship at the alter of World of Warcraft, king of all RPG's ever. Better yet, just go play the first Fallout, still the best.… Expand
  87. William
    Jan 28, 2009
    10
    To those who think the game sucks because of crashing on your PC: get a friggin X-Box, or a better PC. You ineptitude should not reflect in your gamer rating. As for the game itself, this is probably the first RPG I have ever liked, mostly because it plays both as a shooter and as a quest-based role-player. The side quests, while not all linked or necessary, make the replay value of the To those who think the game sucks because of crashing on your PC: get a friggin X-Box, or a better PC. You ineptitude should not reflect in your gamer rating. As for the game itself, this is probably the first RPG I have ever liked, mostly because it plays both as a shooter and as a quest-based role-player. The side quests, while not all linked or necessary, make the replay value of the game huge, not to mention the customization.… Expand
  88. GordonF
    Apr 19, 2009
    4
    I was eagerly waiting for this game, in fact it was one of the main reasons that I bought a new PC. I love fallout 1 and 2 because of the at(o)mosphere of the game. F3 has got great graphics, but it contains only a small part of the prevoius games' goosebump effect. Combats are quite boring, and in my opinion there is way too much grinding in it. If you know F1 and F2, you know that I was eagerly waiting for this game, in fact it was one of the main reasons that I bought a new PC. I love fallout 1 and 2 because of the at(o)mosphere of the game. F3 has got great graphics, but it contains only a small part of the prevoius games' goosebump effect. Combats are quite boring, and in my opinion there is way too much grinding in it. If you know F1 and F2, you know that you could complete it with talking. I miss this now. So F3 is the perfect example that graphics are not the main importance. I give this game a 4 because it has ruined the original and incomparable fallout-feeling. Sad.… Expand
  89. KirkC
    Jun 8, 2009
    10
    The game is vast, lanscapes changed all the time. Characters have a good standing with the rest of the game. The vault was once your home and now the rest of the wasteland is and will become. Although the game has various bugs which I experienced, including getting stuck in rocks, moving weird. Plus some others. Although being able to kill the same characters over and over again was The game is vast, lanscapes changed all the time. Characters have a good standing with the rest of the game. The vault was once your home and now the rest of the wasteland is and will become. Although the game has various bugs which I experienced, including getting stuck in rocks, moving weird. Plus some others. Although being able to kill the same characters over and over again was interesting. Further on in the game missions do become a bit tedious, but the game has unlimited potential. Overall; gameplay decent. Graphics awesome, sound great. Using a catapult nuke is the most amazing thing I have yet to see.… Expand
  90. NickM
    Jul 26, 2009
    1
    I thought this game was pure garbage. It was dull, so dull I played it for 30 min and gave up. I love the Idea of RPG/SHOOTER but this didn't do it for me. I think the models look like trash. The gameplay, meh.. Overall I gave this game a whole 1 point for effort. I hope borderlands is better.
  91. Silentkiller
    Jul 3, 2009
    10
    This game is amazing. It deserves better than a 91. Everything about this game is amazing. The people who rate this a bad game are people who do not like RPG'S and/or live under a rock. If you loved or at least liked Oblivion this is a must buy!
  92. Tongs
    Jul 5, 2009
    9
    Overall, a great game. I struggled with a rating, but in the end went with a 9 because despite its flaws, it's really a very fun and addicting game that still keeps me coming back to play it. The main storyline isn't thrilling, but the numerous side quests and unmarked side activities hold the player's interest and are far more fun than the main quests. Tons of stuff to Overall, a great game. I struggled with a rating, but in the end went with a 9 because despite its flaws, it's really a very fun and addicting game that still keeps me coming back to play it. The main storyline isn't thrilling, but the numerous side quests and unmarked side activities hold the player's interest and are far more fun than the main quests. Tons of stuff to find and explore, lots of situations to deal with. The game's problems are significant, though, and this is where rating it is difficult. The graphics are pretty good on the highest settings, but I've noticed that it slows down computers (sometimes even the consoles) more than it ever should. A machine that runs Far Cry 2 flawlessly will still have trouble with F3 from time to time. Lots of oversights; floating objects/debris piles/buildings/etc. Many bugs and glitches that are potentially game-breaking. Character animations needed some work, and I did not like the built-in inaccuracy of the weapons. The fact that I still give it a 9 out of 10 shows that I think the gameplay is solid, and the game, at its core, is a great one.… Expand
  93. RasmusE.
    Jul 5, 2009
    10
    Word's cant describe how much fun I've had with Falout 3. At the very moment i sav it was 75% Off i had to buy it! I didn't regret the buy as I've done with so many other games because right now I've spent more than 50 Hours playing and Exploring Washington DC and its surroundings.
  94. Dom
    Jul 6, 2009
    10
    Excellent game. It brings the amazing features and qualities Bethesda brought with Oblivion, and melds them with the Fallout world. This game is tons of fun to play, and has a great story.
  95. JF
    Aug 9, 2009
    6
    I played this game for a while on the 360, got bored and annoyed. Bought it again on special for the pc. I thought mouse and keyboard would make this game's UI easier to handle, but I think it's actually worse. Having loved 1 and 2, I can't help but feel that 3 is a 3d skin over the same gameplay mechanic. I actually hate the realtime combat and the VATS system. I loved it I played this game for a while on the 360, got bored and annoyed. Bought it again on special for the pc. I thought mouse and keyboard would make this game's UI easier to handle, but I think it's actually worse. Having loved 1 and 2, I can't help but feel that 3 is a 3d skin over the same gameplay mechanic. I actually hate the realtime combat and the VATS system. I loved it when the combat was all turned based. Now it makes for a frustrating mix. Not quite an action shooter and not quite a tactical rpg. Frustrated and bored is my overall reaction to the game, even more so on this second try (and I'm sorry I bought it...).… Expand
  96. MattiD
    Sep 7, 2009
    9
    As a fan of the fallout series, I really enjoyed this game. Despite the vastness of the landscape the surroundings still has a handcrafted touch - the world is full of small details, hidden caches and interesting locations to discover. What finally won me over, however, was the dialogue and plot content - finally a computer rpg that in some how resembles actual pen-and-paper rpg:s! Quests As a fan of the fallout series, I really enjoyed this game. Despite the vastness of the landscape the surroundings still has a handcrafted touch - the world is full of small details, hidden caches and interesting locations to discover. What finally won me over, however, was the dialogue and plot content - finally a computer rpg that in some how resembles actual pen-and-paper rpg:s! Quests that are unique and consist of more than the usual "kill 100 monsters", "find item x" or "deliver a message to npc y" -stuff. To sum it up, the game looks fine, dialogue is good, skills are useful and going up levels is fun since all skills are equally useful.… Expand
  97. DaveO
    Jan 1, 2010
    10
    This is one of the most imaginative games I've played in my 15 years of playing computer games.While I was disappointed by some of the limits of the features in the game, it didn't really compare to the amount of GOOD that was in the game.
  98. DanielD
    Mar 29, 2010
    7
    A shame to the fallout franchise. Plastered by fancy graphics, the most idiotic dialog I have ever seen in a fallout game, horrible voice acting(though a step up from oblivion), idiotic main quest that basically copied fallout 1 and 2, idiotic oblivion-escque physics that will have your legs flying off after being headshotted, a ridiculously easy shoot-em-up(even on hard difficulty, I had A shame to the fallout franchise. Plastered by fancy graphics, the most idiotic dialog I have ever seen in a fallout game, horrible voice acting(though a step up from oblivion), idiotic main quest that basically copied fallout 1 and 2, idiotic oblivion-escque physics that will have your legs flying off after being headshotted, a ridiculously easy shoot-em-up(even on hard difficulty, I had to download the zombie craze and more enemies/enemy rebalancing mods to even break a sweat) FPS style combat system combined with an ill-executed turn based combat novelty(VATS is effectively useless if you look at it from what it was implemented for. Shooting a super mutant in the eyes does nothing to stop it from pummeling you, it just stops for a split second and puts its hands over it eyes). Stopping here, enough headaches caused from playing this chore of a game, let alone thinking about it. … Expand
  99. VidM.
    Nov 12, 2008
    8
    Great game! Exceeded my expectations, which were damned high considering the countless times I played through the original games, loving every minute of it. Bethesda did a good job of mixing Fallout with what they do best in Elder Scrolls. Nice attention to detail and making good on the little things. Some broken quests and quirky graphical flaws keep an otherwise great game from being a Great game! Exceeded my expectations, which were damned high considering the countless times I played through the original games, loving every minute of it. Bethesda did a good job of mixing Fallout with what they do best in Elder Scrolls. Nice attention to detail and making good on the little things. Some broken quests and quirky graphical flaws keep an otherwise great game from being a perfect masterpiece. Another gripe is the needless watering down of the Fallout character building system. Tagging skills no longer spurs growth in those skills (no more two-for-one point-buy while under 100). Also, skills can no longer exceed 100, even though 100 does not guarantee success for any skill. However, the game is more accessible now that it stands up as a full-blown FPS, as well as an RPG with flavorings of survival horror at lower levels (no follower, no ammo, braving the ghoul-infested metro tunnels with a flashlight).… Expand
  100. P.Sh.
    Nov 12, 2008
    10
    This game is almost better than part 2 of the Franchise. I say "almost", because it tries to send a message and doesn't quite succeed. The ending is as linear as that of Fallout 2, only more visually impressive and a dozen times worse. The lack of post-game gameplay is disappointing, considering this is a Bethesda game, and the lack of a narrated epilogue detailing the future of the This game is almost better than part 2 of the Franchise. I say "almost", because it tries to send a message and doesn't quite succeed. The ending is as linear as that of Fallout 2, only more visually impressive and a dozen times worse. The lack of post-game gameplay is disappointing, considering this is a Bethesda game, and the lack of a narrated epilogue detailing the future of the setting is disapointing, considering this is a Fallout game.… Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 48
  3. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. PC PowerPlay
    90
    Minor niggles aside, Fallout 3 is almost entirely spectacular. Everything from the graphics, to the sound, to the plot is first-rate. The VATS system worlds like a charm, and it’s so easy to get the hang of, you’ll be cracking skulls like there’s no tomorrow. [Dec 2008, p.55]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    100
    A vast and open world of unimaginable possibilities opens in front of you in Fallout 3. Great story, flawless combat system, and the option to choose your own way makes it a hot candidate for game of the year. [Nov 2008]
  3. Meristation
    95
    Fallout 3 is one of this year's best games. It's an unforgettable journey that lives up to the series. You are an ex-vault 101 inhabitant, and you discover a whole new world, full of zombies, mutants, raiders, aliens and all kinds of creatures. Welcome to this post-apocaliptic reality, where you are going to spend hundreds of hours.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »