User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 91
  2. Negative: 13 out of 91

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  1. RowanF
    Apr 17, 2009
    6
    I completely agree with J G and Dom M. I too love Fallout 3, but this DLC just wasn't Fallout 3, or at least not as we know it. The great thing about Fallout 3 is that it seamlessly blends FPS and RPG aspects, but if you remove one aspect then the other one seems comparatively weak - they're only good when they are together. What Operation Anchorage does is quite cleanly remove I completely agree with J G and Dom M. I too love Fallout 3, but this DLC just wasn't Fallout 3, or at least not as we know it. The great thing about Fallout 3 is that it seamlessly blends FPS and RPG aspects, but if you remove one aspect then the other one seems comparatively weak - they're only good when they are together. What Operation Anchorage does is quite cleanly remove the RPG aspect: Instead of having use your hard earned cash to buy health, there are health dispensers, ammunition is found in massive dumps, and guns don't need to be repaired. There is none of the 'traveling the wasteland' aspect or finding unique and interesting quests and locations. It's just a massive linear combat section with some poorly implemented squad mechanics. Truth be told, i couldn't wait to get out of there and do some more of the other, more interesting quests. And why do some of the Brotherhood Outcasts attack you at the end with absolutely no explanation whatsoever?! I kept on re-loading the game because I thought it was a glitch. Expand
  2. Nov 15, 2010
    6
    Fallout 3 is all about exploring and character customization, so if there is going to be DLC for it, that download should give us more of those two primary things. But Operation Anchorage is just a lot of shooting mindless enemies. It's worth playing for the items you get at the end, but only that.
  3. Mar 20, 2012
    6
    I love Fallout 3, it's easily one of my favourite games of all time. Operation: Anchorage was decent for me; it kept me interested long enough for better DLC to come out, and it provided some interesting back story. The items included were a good addition. But overall it was just a bit clumsy. It didn't really feel like Fallout as presented in the core game. Still, being a falloutI love Fallout 3, it's easily one of my favourite games of all time. Operation: Anchorage was decent for me; it kept me interested long enough for better DLC to come out, and it provided some interesting back story. The items included were a good addition. But overall it was just a bit clumsy. It didn't really feel like Fallout as presented in the core game. Still, being a fallout fanatic, I played this to it's extreme and if you are like me you will enjoy it, if only the one time. Expand
  4. JG
    Feb 8, 2009
    6
    Even as I love Fallout 3, the Operation Anchorage wasn't for me. The feeling of "Okay, it's a sim," was constantly there. Mostly I just wanted to get it over fast, so that I could get that stuff in the armory. And when I finally got there and took the stuff, I ended up putting it straight to my safe at my suite. Thanks for nothing! (Expect the white t51b power armor.) At the Even as I love Fallout 3, the Operation Anchorage wasn't for me. The feeling of "Okay, it's a sim," was constantly there. Mostly I just wanted to get it over fast, so that I could get that stuff in the armory. And when I finally got there and took the stuff, I ended up putting it straight to my safe at my suite. Thanks for nothing! (Expect the white t51b power armor.) At the bright side, I gained some levels while there, and the end was really fun at some parts. Expand
  5. Rhinocat
    Jan 29, 2009
    7
    This is simple and straight foreward, but lots of fun that is to be expected from anything in the game of Fallout. They could have done more but with set dates for new content and those being the next two months, its worth it. People complain price, I say, "DLC is the new money maker of games, just get used to it."
  6. AnonymousMC
    Jan 31, 2009
    7
    The attempt to throw in some differing gameplay to the Fallout 3 world works - it does feel like taking a break from the main game to enter a holographic minigame. A little too easy perhaps, and not worth the points to some people, but it's refreshing and the gear rewards are excellent ^_^.
  7. vind4loob
    Mar 16, 2009
    7
    It was a small-medium sized DLC and was dissapointingly only 2-3 hours long, the need to loot was constantly there and being unable to use your own armour wasnt the best of feelings, however it was surprisingly fun fighting a war and choosing your own squad was great. it missed sum of the charm of fallou but for a fiver i definatley recommend picking this up.
  8. Corvette55
    Mar 24, 2009
    5
    Alright, here is a real forum review for those of you who want to know what the addon Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage was like. I paid 25 dollars for 2000 Microsoft points so i could also get the next add-on for F3, but when I finished the Operation Anchorage, I contemplated buying GTA San Andreas in the marketplace because i didnt want to waste more money on another Add-on. Anchorage Alright, here is a real forum review for those of you who want to know what the addon Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage was like. I paid 25 dollars for 2000 Microsoft points so i could also get the next add-on for F3, but when I finished the Operation Anchorage, I contemplated buying GTA San Andreas in the marketplace because i didnt want to waste more money on another Add-on. Anchorage starts out and its really cool, graphics rock, kind of a cool idea with a new ammo system, and you get to the next quest and things are still going great. the quests are fun, the action is fun, the strategizing is fun, you finish 3 out of the 4 quests, and then BAM! Its freaking over. and you just spent 10 dollars on an Add-on for 2-3 hours max, when you paid 60 bucks on a game that you can get over 60 hours on easily. Plus the whole time you know that its a simulation, and it is a little strange the way they tried to fit it in. maybe there is something im missing about the story with it, but i doubt it. In all it was not worth it to me, skip the Addon DLC Operation: Anchorage for Fallout 3 and just buy the second one. 10 dollars for 2-3 hours of decent action sucked, im not cheap, i just like to get what i paid for. Oh and did i mention that there are never any major/awesome battles? its just a bunch of fights against like 3 or 4 people. That is all. Thanks for reading this and I hope it helped. Expand
  9. dddfds
    Apr 30, 2009
    7
    STFU WITH THE "U GUYS R JUST STUPED FOR RATING THE ADD-ON SO LOW" GOD. the expansion is NOT the way of gameplay that fallout was made for. OF COURSE some people won't like the different idea. i get what bethesda was thinking "lets put a little twist in the gameplay so it gets more interesting'. but some people didn't want it to change. SO STFU michael. s.
  10. DomM
    Feb 14, 2009
    5
    Completely removes the mechanics of aid/weapons management (except for the basic weapons set choice) and funnels you down a two hour corridor. It's not Fallout 3 but is way better than Oblivions smaller DLC offerings.
  11. Oct 16, 2010
    7
    I thought that this DLC was pretty good. Operation Anchorage was different compared to the regular Fallout 3, the gameplay was lot more action based.The plot was nothing special,defeating the chinese in a simulation about operation anchorage.This DLC is pretty short, compleating it will take 3-4 hours.But in the end of the Operation Anchorage you will get the Best armor, and one of theI thought that this DLC was pretty good. Operation Anchorage was different compared to the regular Fallout 3, the gameplay was lot more action based.The plot was nothing special,defeating the chinese in a simulation about operation anchorage.This DLC is pretty short, compleating it will take 3-4 hours.But in the end of the Operation Anchorage you will get the Best armor, and one of the best weapons in Fallout 3.So overall this DLC was pretty good. Expand
  12. May 16, 2012
    7
    This is the second dlc I have played for fallout 3, and after a crap dlc [Mothership Zeta] This dlc was much better than the last one I played. Operation Anchorage was more like a FPS than a RPG if you ask me, but it was cool. You can choose what units you want in combat which was cool. Operation Anchorage has a bit too much combat like Mothership Zeta but din't really care about that inThis is the second dlc I have played for fallout 3, and after a crap dlc [Mothership Zeta] This dlc was much better than the last one I played. Operation Anchorage was more like a FPS than a RPG if you ask me, but it was cool. You can choose what units you want in combat which was cool. Operation Anchorage has a bit too much combat like Mothership Zeta but din't really care about that in Operation Anchorage. Some very cool new weapon's like the Guass rifle or the Chinese offieir's sword and some good power armor which beats Mothership Zeta's weapons going down the plug hole. It was also a bit short but worth buying. Fallout 3 - Operation Anchorage 7.8/10
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  13. May 29, 2013
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. what do you get when you put a pretty decent remake of a popular isometric shooter and make a dlc that is completely linear and unchallenging? THIS DLC. The appearance of the Outcast Brotherhood had raised my eye, hoping that this DLC would have a lot packed in for me to assist the brotherhood. But no, all I do for them is to open an armory for their materialistic pleasures with this "simulation" that sends me to what I would think EA or Activision would've done to Fallout if they owned the rights to it: Linear Shooter it the up, make it incredibly easy, not to mention sucking america's patriotic with all of the whole "america yeah and communism can go to hell" monotomy. Still, I can forgive that fortunately this is just a DLC And that the simulation IS a simulation of a completely fictional war. Still, it doesn't make it any more of a bore. Yes, it is somewhat difficult in the start, as you are left with little ammo and a pea shooter and only like 2 stealthboys to try to push your way through parts of chinese-controlled Anchorage. The biggest issue with this game, however, is it's difficulty. NO matter what level you are, you will have a breeze through this game, as there is auto-health and auto-ammo stations plentiful throughout the game, which will replenish your ammo and health an unlimited amount of times, not to mention there is an actual ammo cap in this DLC and intel just like any COD fanboy will wet their pants for. The DLC is short, and to some who complained it, I'm actually glad for it, as I didn't really wanted to be pandered any farther with the patriotic or how I was pushed down a corridor going rambo on a bunch of chinese soldiers because "they aren't american". Admittedly, there was some highlights on this DLC, the Gauss Rifle is a fun weapon to use short and or long range, and you get to fight big ****ing transformer's as well. still, what infuriated me the most was that the Outcast really only had depth in this simulation, as you complete it, there is an argument going on that automatically eliminates them. I never got a idea where they came from or how they were made, and that it seemed they were just organized chaos hoping to grab some guns. This was not the way for bethesda to go with a DLC like this, especially when I was looking forward not to have a Modern Military Shooter in my FPS RPG. Expand
  14. Oct 29, 2013
    5
    Operation: Anchorage is a very neutral DLC. The DLC itself is not particularly good, but also has no glaring gameplay flaws and doesn't really outright bore or annoy the player. It feels more like a few more quests added to the game. The only major issue is a lack of RPG characteristics, a key part of Fallout 3. Even this is not a crushing blow, though it certainly makes the DLC lessOperation: Anchorage is a very neutral DLC. The DLC itself is not particularly good, but also has no glaring gameplay flaws and doesn't really outright bore or annoy the player. It feels more like a few more quests added to the game. The only major issue is a lack of RPG characteristics, a key part of Fallout 3. Even this is not a crushing blow, though it certainly makes the DLC less interesting and rather forgettable. The real benefit of this DLC is the loot you gain at the end, which are more than worth slogging through the DLC itself. Expand
  15. Mar 31, 2015
    5
    Basically a FPS with unlimited ammo and health refills. It was way too easy. Very light on story and character development. I felt they wasted a chance to do something really special with the Fallout lore.
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 29
  2. Negative: 1 out of 29
  1. The changes in gameplay are refreshing and the challenge level which results from them make it a satisfying experience. It is not painfully difficult, just pleasantly so, and its running time of roughly three hours is long enough to be enjoyable without becoming monotonous.
  2. I love Fallout 3. I love it to an almost indecent extent. It was far and away my game of 2008, and doesn't look like being knocked out of my personal top spot for a good while yet. But when you sift out its role-play, the ammo-box inspection and the exploration and draft in a fleet of health and ammo regeneration points to compensate... well, affairs just feel shallow and somewhat naked.
  3. 70
    Ultimately, it's the die-hard Fallout 3 fans that should enjoy this new chapter in the series' history, and those same fans who may end up slightly annoyed after the fact. Operation Anchorage doesn't answer many questions regarding the lead-up to the big war, but it's an interesting piece of the puzzle that fits into the overall game without feeling out of place.