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8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2106 Ratings

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  1. Sep 11, 2012
    9
    There's tons of first-person and third-person shooter games around these days, but Fallout 3 is 5th best shooter I've ever played after Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Metal Gear Solid, and Snake Eater. The only problem I have with this game is that they went a little crazy on it being non-linear. A mini-map would have been nice to include in the gameplay, for example.
  2. Aug 1, 2012
    10
    Fallout 3 is possibly even better on the Xbox than on the PS3. It is the greatest gaming experience ever created, and blows all other game series out of the water.
  3. Aug 14, 2012
    9
    Every once in awhile you get a new game that completely sucks you in, and you become completely immersed in a world for hours on end. Other games eventually follow that are similar, and might even have better graphics, but these "landmark" games are the ones that rejuvenate your gaming enthusiasm and will always stick with you. This is one of those games, and I haven't even played theEvery once in awhile you get a new game that completely sucks you in, and you become completely immersed in a world for hours on end. Other games eventually follow that are similar, and might even have better graphics, but these "landmark" games are the ones that rejuvenate your gaming enthusiasm and will always stick with you. This is one of those games, and I haven't even played the DLC. Four years after the initial release, I'm still thinking about picking up the GOTY edition and having another playthrough. Expand
  4. Dec 15, 2012
    7
    I'm not going to try to compare this game with the previous Fallout expansions, considering that converting from a isometric view to a full on First Person Shooter completely falters the arguments between each two. In an open-world setting, Fallout 3 is quite like Skyrim or Oblivion in a lot of ways, since Bethesda knows how to make an RPG setting, with interesting locations, dynamicI'm not going to try to compare this game with the previous Fallout expansions, considering that converting from a isometric view to a full on First Person Shooter completely falters the arguments between each two. In an open-world setting, Fallout 3 is quite like Skyrim or Oblivion in a lot of ways, since Bethesda knows how to make an RPG setting, with interesting locations, dynamic settings (at some points), and curious characters. Apart from Skyrim and Oblivion's leveling system, you gain experience based on finding locations, completing quests, or just killing creatures. At leveling up you can spend your points freely on any skill set, and you can choose a perk based on your level and your skill set. This is a great quality that Skyrim borrows from, and in a good way at that. Although, you will have to face having to talk to NPC's by directly staring at you to death from Oblivion, but dialogue options are more enhanced from just making a sentence from one word. Onto the negatives. the biggest annoyance I've had with this game was that you can't aim down the sight of any gun other than the ones with a scope. All that happens is that you zoom in while awkwardly shooting creeps from the hip. A lot of the weapons you'll find regularly break down (except for the Hunting Rifle, which will be your best friend for a while) and are hard to repair, because you can only repair a weapon's quality equivalent to your skill set, so if you have 30 repair you can only repair a weapon up to 30% quality, which is annoying as hell and makes you want to get repair to 100 immediately. Most unique weapons you find have the same model as the normal gun, like a Terrible Shotgun to a Combat Shotgun. When night falls, it can be especially painful to traverse around the wasteland as the graphic feel for the game is also quite choppy too, making everything blend, and your Pip-Boy light won't do much else to improve upon that. The combat itself is quite static, with the guns feeling often glued onto you, and the movement impaired and the VATS becoming a little tired and repitive with your motions. On a Story level, though, the game is interesting, and how you begin the game is quite clever and thematic as well. It doesn't overburden you with everything at hand, and manages to introduce to you the lore of the game in a realistic settting. Also, exploring the wasteland does make you feel like you are exploring a wasteland, with so many ruined buildings of old, crawling through the many interlayers of metro stations. But, the metro station also causes a lot of issues with using markers or waypoints, as they will needlessly through theirselves all over the map to get to a location that would be much easier to get to directly on foot. Rad will become a constant issue to you if you are not wary, and many hostile creatures and mutants shall try anything they can to destroy you. This franchise had to take a big step from simple PC computersto more complex systems, with a new development team and all to make sure that everything about the lore from the original was kept sacred, and for the most part, it has. It has some choppy motions and awkward combat situations, but Fallout 3 will be interesting to partake in the story behind it all. Expand
  5. Jul 20, 2013
    10
    There isn't much more I can say than Fallout 3 is genuinely my favourite game of all time and that if you haven't played it, you are missing out. Buy this game!
  6. Dec 9, 2014
    10
    This is as about flawless as a game can get. Sure there are some glitches here and there, but the sheer scope of this game is unmatched. The hours are limitless that you can spend on this and still find something new. Easily one of the top games of all time.
  7. Jan 28, 2013
    10
    One of the best RPGs on Xbox 360. You can start off on the main quest line but I can easily get sidetracked through exploring unknown location throughout the map. Yet again with any Bethesda RPG the odd glitch and bug but once you get past that you can truly appreciate what s superb game Fallout 3 really is
  8. Feb 15, 2013
    8
    There is no doubt that allot of love went into making this game. The story is brilliant and fits the universe perfectly. The first person (elder scrolls-esque) perspective fits in really well and is an improvement on the old turn based system of Fallouts 1 and 2. Stunning visuals and an impressive post apocalyptic rendition of D.C. So why don't I sound more excited by it? Because,There is no doubt that allot of love went into making this game. The story is brilliant and fits the universe perfectly. The first person (elder scrolls-esque) perspective fits in really well and is an improvement on the old turn based system of Fallouts 1 and 2. Stunning visuals and an impressive post apocalyptic rendition of D.C. So why don't I sound more excited by it? Because, generally speaking, it is a bit bland and can be a little boring at times. The dull colors really do add to the atmosphere and set the mood nicely, however, they also make everything look the same. Again I state this is a great game that just really needs a bit more color and life to it. Because as it stands, it feels like a black and white version of the Mona Lisa. Overall: A fantastic game that falls just under brilliance thanks to its overdone monochromatic and dirty tones. They're done well, and serve their intended purpose well, but perhaps a bit too well. Thanks Bethesda for keeping the series alive, and making such a great game. Expand
  9. Dec 26, 2012
    10
    The first fallout I have played, and I instantly became a fan. I like the whole skills, perks, and SPECIAL system, and even just how the game felt as I was playing. How you could be good or evil was also something I enjoyed (and I was always evil). Great open world game.
  10. May 7, 2013
    9
    I was bored2my ass at the end of 2009, watched youtube videos of fallout 3, then decided I have to play this game, at that time my laptop was too crappy to run the game, I either should buy a new PC or a XBOX360 console (dont like PS3) and I went with XBOX360, and officially start my gaming hobby. So, this game is the reason why am i here, checking and rating video games.
    Rated 9 for GOTY
    I was bored2my ass at the end of 2009, watched youtube videos of fallout 3, then decided I have to play this game, at that time my laptop was too crappy to run the game, I either should buy a new PC or a XBOX360 console (dont like PS3) and I went with XBOX360, and officially start my gaming hobby. So, this game is the reason why am i here, checking and rating video games.
    Rated 9 for GOTY version. Love the wasteland DC, so bloody violent, three dog is awesome. the beginning part of the game is the best among other games, directly took you into the character and the game sitting.
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  11. Apr 20, 2013
    9
    Easily one of my favorite games of all time! I could go into details why, but Fallout 3 is basically FUN and over 500 hours in-game kinda speaks for itself. A modern classic!
  12. Apr 16, 2013
    9
    An all time classic video-game that must be played! Besides some glitches, there are no discerning issues. It's a near perfect game with an great plot, captivating game-play, and beautiful geography and music. 9.5/10
  13. Oct 19, 2013
    10
    Fallout 3 is a strong contender for the greatest game of the generation. Everything about the game, from the enemies, to the characters, to the settings, to the story, to the music, are all so captivating that, when combined with the atmosphere Bethesda have created, makes it near impossible to put the controller down. With story missions and side missions coming out of its ears, Fallout 3Fallout 3 is a strong contender for the greatest game of the generation. Everything about the game, from the enemies, to the characters, to the settings, to the story, to the music, are all so captivating that, when combined with the atmosphere Bethesda have created, makes it near impossible to put the controller down. With story missions and side missions coming out of its ears, Fallout 3 will provide players with entertainment for months and is a truly amazing masterpiece. Expand
  14. Apr 27, 2013
    10
    Fallout 3 is without a doubt my favourite game of this console generation. I have put easily over 100+ hours into this game and I've enjoyed every moment of it. Fallout 3 is a game that encourages you to go off the beaten path and is far from a linear experience. While there is a clear main story, there are multiple ways to get to the end. Although, the side quests are where Fallout 3Fallout 3 is without a doubt my favourite game of this console generation. I have put easily over 100+ hours into this game and I've enjoyed every moment of it. Fallout 3 is a game that encourages you to go off the beaten path and is far from a linear experience. While there is a clear main story, there are multiple ways to get to the end. Although, the side quests are where Fallout 3 shines. There are tons of marked and unmarked side quests that keep you exploring the Capital Wasteland. To a degree, Fallout 3 can also be a fairly emotional experience as well. In spite of the game being obviously fictional, I particularly enjoyed exploring the abandoned buildings and subway tunnels and reading up on the game lore and learning what led to the events that created the Fallout world.

    The character creation is fairly detailed, you can choose between a male or female character in addition to several facial options. You can also customize your character as you progress to fit your play style. You can invest in points to increase your melee damage, increase your accuracy in VATS or raise your charisma if you prefer to talk yourself out of situations.

    Furthermore, with the addition of the Broken Steel add-on the "ending" of the game is removed and you can continue to play and explore the world. There are also four other DLCs that contribute to the length of the game while giving you access to new perks, items and weapons. I occasionally ran into the odd technical glitch that ranged from a texture pop-in to the game outright freezing. I would highly recommend anyone who plays Fallout 3 to save often to avoid the latter occurring during their game and losing their progress.

    Overall, Fallout 3 is truly a must have for any gamer who enjoys open world games and in spite of technical problems I experienced I have to give it a 10 out of 10 based on sheer amount of content that is packed into this game.
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  15. Apr 18, 2013
    10
    One of my top 5 games of all-time, great and huge open melancolic-postnuclear work of art, the graphics are good for the time it was released, with some bioshock silimiliarities in some parts, great scifi wasteland legend, love the liam neeson voice acting, sounds like god of heaven in your game
  16. Rem
    Oct 15, 2014
    8
    Stepping out of the Vault, players undertake a breathtaking journey through the Wasteland in Bethesda's rendition of the Fallout series. One thing that Bethesda always promotes with each of their games is the growing amount of freedom to play the game how you want. Go anywhere, befriend or kill anyone, ignore the main quest altogether it's up to you. Along the way you soak in the stunningStepping out of the Vault, players undertake a breathtaking journey through the Wasteland in Bethesda's rendition of the Fallout series. One thing that Bethesda always promotes with each of their games is the growing amount of freedom to play the game how you want. Go anywhere, befriend or kill anyone, ignore the main quest altogether it's up to you. Along the way you soak in the stunning view of a decimated Washington D.C., but look too closely and you'll see that the textures are rough and pop-ins are frequent. Many complain about technical problems ruining their games like corrupted files and freezing, but none of those were present for me. Instead I only got clipping, pop-ins, and excruciatingly long load times, nothing good but they're not as bad as people say. Expand
  17. Jun 12, 2013
    10
    this game is one of those classic games that you might pick up not knowing much about but end up just completely falling in love with. I highly recommended it to anyone
  18. May 14, 2013
    10
    It's been almost 5 years since Fallout 3 came out and yet it remains my favourite game of all time. If you weren't already convinced by the list of prestigious award the game has won, the fact that in 5 years no other game has come close to giving me such an enjoyable experience should tell you all you need to know.

    Listing all the game's qualities would take too long so I'm going to
    It's been almost 5 years since Fallout 3 came out and yet it remains my favourite game of all time. If you weren't already convinced by the list of prestigious award the game has won, the fact that in 5 years no other game has come close to giving me such an enjoyable experience should tell you all you need to know.

    Listing all the game's qualities would take too long so I'm going to apply a broader approach to this review by simply telling you that you MUST buy this game. As long as you aren't a simpleton who needs a game to have shiny visuals to keep you entertained, you will LOVE this game. And I don't mean how you love chips, I mean actual, true love. To paraphrase Chad Michael Michaels from Blades of Glory, I could not love a human baby more than I love this game...

    The world in which Fallout 3 is set is quite simply the coolest environment I've ever experienced in any game. It will draw you in and make you wish you could be part of a nuclear apocalypse (despite all the obvious draw-backs). The wild, mutated animals roaming the wasteland, the unique settlements and factions dotted around the map, the eccentric characters you meet, the amazingly rich side quests that have such a great story behind them that you will want to complete all of them; there is something around every corner that will make your jaw drop.

    I am convinced that all the negative reviews this game has received on this website are from people who are either fans of the original Fallout games (Fallout and Fallout 2) who automatically wrote Fallout 3 off because it is so radically different from its predecessors, or people who are too impatient to play an RPG. So if you don't fall into either of those two categories, GO AND BUY THIS GAME. And even if you do, GO AND BUY THIS GAME.

    Safe.
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  19. Jun 3, 2013
    10
    It's hard to pick one, but I can safely say Fallout 3 is my favorite game of all time. It's an open world of discovery in an ideal apocalyptic setting. I've put hundreds and hundreds of hours into it, but there is so much I haven't done (I only just got the last of the achievements).

    The amount of loot and guns you can find is mind-boggling. The VATS system is innovative. Deaths are
    It's hard to pick one, but I can safely say Fallout 3 is my favorite game of all time. It's an open world of discovery in an ideal apocalyptic setting. I've put hundreds and hundreds of hours into it, but there is so much I haven't done (I only just got the last of the achievements).

    The amount of loot and guns you can find is mind-boggling. The VATS system is innovative. Deaths are deliciously gruesome. True, there are glitches, but I think it adds seasoning and a little fun to the game (as well as a sense of dread). And did I mention the story? It's right up there close to the likes of Bioshock.

    The only possible things that could be improved are the graphics and the ability to play with friends. But otherwise, zero complaints. Fallout 3 is the standard in gaming.
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  20. Jun 5, 2013
    9
    Great Shooter RPG! A interesting story and great RPG Elements. every 2 level a bonus)
    A big world full of interesting places and cool characters.
    And I LOVE THE RADIO Thrrreee- DOoog :D
  21. Jul 20, 2013
    9
    Fallout 3 is in my opinion the greatest game Bethesda made ever (and they make loads of these)
    pros: story is great, combat, plenty of fun side missions, vats mode, customization, ammo is expensive and since caps are hard to come by early in the game though by the time you finish it you will be filthy stinkin rich) so you will be looting enemies and searching for ammo increasing your
    Fallout 3 is in my opinion the greatest game Bethesda made ever (and they make loads of these)
    pros: story is great, combat, plenty of fun side missions, vats mode, customization, ammo is expensive and since caps are hard to come by early in the game though by the time you finish it you will be filthy stinkin rich) so you will be looting enemies and searching for ammo increasing your post apocalyptic survival feeling, rather good voice acting (it has Liam Neeson) dlc like broken steel or the pit
    cons:I said the story was great I never said it was life changing (like how you go from finding your dad to working on a science project, to fighting an evil government basically put into the game so it would have a villain) melee combat is rather bad, like skyrim there is a rather large count of bugs, dlc like mother ship zeta
    Once again Fallout 3 is the greatest of Bethesda's large collection of awesome games and if you don't buy I'l will find you and I will.............. KIDDING but seriously get it. NOW! THAT'S AN ORDER SOLDIER!
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  22. Jun 26, 2013
    10
    This is quite possibly the best game I have ever played. It has great graphics, talented developers and voice actors, a deep and interesting main quest line, along with well written side quests and DLC. The open landscape is beautiful, and the time the developers put in to the smallest details makes the game, in my opinion, the game of the decade.
  23. Aug 6, 2013
    10
    My review for the amazing game known as fallout 3:

    SINGLE PLAYER (STORY)- 10/10. an outstanding story that has the best backstory i have seen in years. it has great storytelling, and lots of side missions as well. GRAPHICS- 9/10. outstanding visuals, and great draw distance and ragdoll physics. character animations are very wooden, however. SOUND- 10/10. exceptional voice acting, and
    My review for the amazing game known as fallout 3:

    SINGLE PLAYER (STORY)- 10/10. an outstanding story that has the best backstory i have seen in years. it has great storytelling, and lots of side missions as well.
    GRAPHICS- 9/10. outstanding visuals, and great draw distance and ragdoll physics. character animations are very wooden, however.
    SOUND- 10/10. exceptional voice acting, and great sound effects. no problems here.
    GAMEPLAY- 8.5/10. combat is simple, but fun. can be very glitchy sometimes, but rarely takes away from the fun. no control issues.
    FUN FACTOR- 10/10. the best RPG i have played in a LONG time.
    OVERALL- 10/10
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  24. Dec 22, 2013
    10
    The plot is incredibly interesting, the setting is wonderful, with a very enjoyable gameplay and it's incredibly captivating. The GOTY edition actually might lower the score since the DLCs are sub-par when compared to the game itself
  25. Sep 7, 2013
    8
    ---Rating---
    Design: 4 /5 (slightly incoherent mechanics, the narrative falters after a good introduction)
    Polish: 4 /5 (the grey-brown color palette detracts from the otherwise interesting visuals)
    Value: 4 /5 (open world with more replay value than most "shooters", but less than most RPGs)

    ---Review---
    To be added.
  26. Jan 1, 2014
    10
    Well writing this almost 6 years from its release, but I continue to play it, continue to find new things to do and continue to love it. I suppose it is slightly showing its age now, graphics wise, gamplay-wise it is still just as good to play as it was when I first ripped the packaging off 6 years(ish) ago. So if you have an xbox360 and love great gameplay then you should either haveWell writing this almost 6 years from its release, but I continue to play it, continue to find new things to do and continue to love it. I suppose it is slightly showing its age now, graphics wise, gamplay-wise it is still just as good to play as it was when I first ripped the packaging off 6 years(ish) ago. So if you have an xbox360 and love great gameplay then you should either have owned this or it should be still in your collection gathering dust. Simply fire up the 360 and get it running. There are still loads to do in my game (I saved at level 19, and yes I know we can go to 30). Expand
  27. Oct 18, 2013
    10
    PROS:
    story
    V.A.T.S.
    weapons
    collectibles
    huge world
    characters
    voice acting
    enemies
    CONS:
    no iron sights
    you cant explore after the final quest
    glitches

    much more pros i dont have the patience to discuss
  28. Oct 21, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I remember being at Walmart back in mid 2009. I was looking for Grand theft Auto IV Liberty City stories but it wasn't there. I decided to try Fallout 3 and oh I was impressed. The intro was just amazing The whole Growing up in the vault was just great and it felt real too! (Does get repetitive after a couple playthroughs) when I got out that door and saw the world, I was astonished on how well done it was. The graphics were amazing. By far some of the best in any game of that time. Only thing that was a little off were the facial models but that is Bethesda's weak point. Examples Oblivion, Skyrim. The gameplay was pretty good and the game had some memorable characters in it. Like Mr. Burke, Moira Brown,etc
    The storyline was probably the best part in the game. Finding your dad (Liam Neeson) watching him die, looking for GECK, fighting for the purifier and Broken Steel that added to it.
    The combat wasn't bad but could have been better. I think the only reason that the Vats thing was thrown it was to make it seem like the first 2 Fallouts and to take your eyes away from the mediocre combat. The
    game wasn't really buggy for me. Sometimes I may get stuck in a rock but that's about it. So I really would give this game a 9.5/10.
    Graphics: 9/10 impressive, looked realistic except the faces. Huge improvement over Oblivion.
    Gameplay 8.5/10 pretty good. Combat could have been better.
    Story 9.5/10 one of the best stories in any game in my opinion. Though Broken Steel kinda twisted it a little.
    Fun: 10/10 I have spent over 150 hours in my latest playthrough and over 600 total hours. You still find new things and the game has high replay value.
    I also loved the music. Wished that they could've added more but it added to that 50s theme.
    Also get the goty edition if you ever buy it.
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  29. Feb 21, 2014
    10
    Taking place in post-apocalyptic Washington DC, Fallout 3 takes you through a journey you never thought possible. This game allows you to do literally whatever you want. Want to be evil? Go for it. Good? That's just fine. What separates this game from so many other however is all the gray area in between. You start as a baby and the game quickly accelerates and allows you to choose whichTaking place in post-apocalyptic Washington DC, Fallout 3 takes you through a journey you never thought possible. This game allows you to do literally whatever you want. Want to be evil? Go for it. Good? That's just fine. What separates this game from so many other however is all the gray area in between. You start as a baby and the game quickly accelerates and allows you to choose which S.P.E.C.I.A.L. abilities you wish to have. This is great because the different SPECIAL abilities you choose will affect the way in which you play the game, which equates to near infinite replay value. Personally, I have played through this game probably 6 six times, logging on average over 50 hours of gameplay each turn. Every time you play, you find something new in the game. It is so vast and even the DLC is worth buying (especially point lookout). There is so much to this game and the plot that it is mind blowing. I won't give away any spoilers, but check out literally every vault that you can find. Each one has it's own story. I could not recommend this game more. Just be careful - when you start playing, you will not stop for hours and hours. Fantastic. Get Fallout New Vegas as well. It updated a lot and made things a bit more difficult and allows crafting of certain items and chems. Expand
  30. Nov 20, 2016
    8
    My perspective here may not seem the same as many others mainly because I had played this game for the first time several years ago and had gotten stuck within the first half hour or so and then ended up playing Fallout 4 on Xbox One soon after it was released for that console. My review here would be different if I had played this Fallout game (Xbox 360) for several hours and had madeMy perspective here may not seem the same as many others mainly because I had played this game for the first time several years ago and had gotten stuck within the first half hour or so and then ended up playing Fallout 4 on Xbox One soon after it was released for that console. My review here would be different if I had played this Fallout game (Xbox 360) for several hours and had made significant progress before playing Fallout 4 on Xbox One. Since I had played that for several hours and made significant progress before doing the same on Fallout 3 for (Xbox 360), I can't help but compare this to Fallout 4 on Xbox One which may make it easy for me to be overly critical here.

    The game play / controls for this game do seem a bit dated when comparing to Fallout 4 on Xbox One. For starters, you can't sprint unless your weapon is holstered. This is especially frustrating and impractical when you wish to get behind cover or simply run away from enemies while engaged in combat. You can't always successfully fight back while in the open especially when you're outnumbered or outgunned. Secondly, you can't aim down the sight of any weapons, (even rifles) which is especially important or needed when shooting from far away. Holding the left trigger will only zoom in on the target a little bit and this is not nearly as effective as using your sight unfortunately since your still looking at the same cursor. This brings me to my second point. The cursor will only light red while aiming at a target when your approximately thirty feet away. This is also frustrating and impractical considering enemies will more likely be able to attack your or shoot you several times before you can do any real damage to them. It also doesn't help that you weapon will not fire until the right trigger is held down practically all the way for most weapons. This is especially frustrating since it makes it that much easier to miss your target and, in a game where ammo can be scarce at times, this makes achieving progress in certain areas that much more challenging when ammo is required to successfully win in combat. What makes the game a little easier but still somewhat unrealistic is that the A.I. is not nearly as intelligent as those in Fallout 4 on Xbox One. Feral Ghouls are especially a good fit for this example as they will walk out from a room or area and attack you and then run back from where the came from. This should look silly to most games although they can at least breathe a sigh of release if there health or ammo happens to be low at that particular time. Also, the stealth bar on the top center of the screen is not nearly as helpful or innovative as the one in Fallout 4 on Xbox One. In that game, the brackets will move closer to the center of the word indicating how soon or likely an enemy will be alerted and the word will change to caution once they are alerted. Once the word changes to caution, the brackets will move closer to the center of the word indicating how likely they will actually spot you and that attack you soon after.

    The rest of the game play should mostly fit or seem fairly comparable to that of Fallout 4 on Xbox One. Your character still has a pip boy on his wrist to access his status including at least health points and radiation, skills, attributes, items including weapons, aid, miscellaneous or junk and also quests and both the local and world maps. The controls are somewhat similar in that you have access to the V.A.T.S. targeting system which involves which target to shoot at, where to shoot them and also how many times to shoot them and the ability to switch targets as well. Targeting specific body parts is especially helpful should you wish to wound them but not kill them. The story is pretty similar in that your involved in an open world role playing game but this time, you're in Washington D.C. instead of Boston. What's also different is that you're looking for your Dad and ultimately the truth as to why he intentionally disappeared instead of looking for your son who was captured. Both of these instances occur fairly early in the game's story-line and gives you motive to not only survive, but also seek answers from those you encounter around the capital wasteland or areas within.

    Game play / controls aside, the sound in this game should meet a gamer's standard expectations or possibly even exceed their expectations. The sound of the game could get mixed reviews. Although most of the weapons and enemies sound realistic, your character has no voice in this game. This is not necessarily a huge let down but misses out on some added realism offered in Fallout 4 on Xbox One.

    This game is worth your while whether you're experienced for this genre or not but it may seem underachieving when comparing to the much newer Fallout 4 on Xbox One. The stories are somewhat similar. The game play may be far different in some ways although this should't detract from how enjoyable it is in it's own right regardless.
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  31. Nov 6, 2013
    9
    This is one of the most fun experiences I've played in a while. For one, this game is set in a post-apocalyptic time era, and Bethesda pulls it off better than i expected. The way it played out really made you feel like you, specifically, were the one trying to survive, making you very careful with how you use your limited equipment. And in a game where it's not so difficult to die, youThis is one of the most fun experiences I've played in a while. For one, this game is set in a post-apocalyptic time era, and Bethesda pulls it off better than i expected. The way it played out really made you feel like you, specifically, were the one trying to survive, making you very careful with how you use your limited equipment. And in a game where it's not so difficult to die, you can't just run around like an overpowered god like in other games. This along with the barren environments and city ruins you'll be walking through, fighting off oversized bugs and animals, large beasts known as Super Mutants, Centaurs (not man-horse breed, but things that i can only describe as mutated what-the-F***s) and sadistic survivalists who wish to make your life a living hell, all work together to build a realistic idea of what America would be after a nuclear war breaks out. This game takes place in a 1950's view of the nuclear future, which factors into the presentation of it, including shiny futuristic cars and a jolly radio station that plays 50s music.

    I actually want to take time to admire the radio station. It is run by a DJ who calls himself Three Dog. He's energetic, exciting, and he is the voice of the Capital Wastelands that you will be roaming. He is who summarizes to you, the gamer, what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. He can either make you feel like an awful human being or a heroic inspiration to civilization. On top of that, the music that he plays for you and everyone else is a selection of cheerful music from the 1950's. Some might find this soundtrack as inappropriate for the mood of the game, but i find it to be brilliant. Think about it: if you were walking through a land of death trying to survive, wouldn't you want to listen to something that lightens the mood and takes your mind off of the loneliness of it all?

    The story is of an individual, you, who escapes from his Vault (large underground bunker) to search for his dad who left without a trace. The storytelling of this game is immersive, getting you attached to characters within 15 minutes of meeting them. The twists and turns of this game are cinematic and exciting, and it has a few unforgettable moments. Throughout the game, you can make choices that can determined how you are viewed or approached, and you can be the deciding factor of what happens to certain settlements. No need to say you can play an important role in a large majority of the world. Despite the fact that this game has an array of choices you can choose from and many ways you can go about situations, the story and the ending don't really change for you, which takes away from the feeling that you do have control of your surroundings, but i don't mind, as the story is good anyways. Not to mention, even though there are many side missions you can partake in, and even though the open world is massive and with many places to discover, the game's story only takes about twenty hours to get through, which truly disappointed me.

    There were some things that could have been improved about the gameplay. For one, this game gives you the option to view yourself in third person, but seeing as not only does your characters animation look sloppy when running and jumping and moving in general, and that it makes aiming at something a lot more difficult, you'd be spending most, if not all, of your time in first person anyways. It's a waste of a button that could've been put to better use. Speaking of aiming, while you can aim at enemies yourself, there's also a VATS system, which means the game will aim and attack for you. During melee fighting, this is a blessing, but when using a long ranged weapon or fire arm, depending on your ranks in these areas of combat, the VATS will just be a waste time.

    The leveling up system is easy enough. Each time you level up, you get to chose what skills to improve on. If you realize you want more money or want to be a talker rather than a fighter, you could put more ranks in Barter and Speech. In comparison, if you want to raise hell and beat everyone you meet to a bloody pulp, you could put the ranks into Melee, Unarmed, Small Guns, etc. There are other useful ranks and it really gets you to think about what is most important to you and how you want to play, again adding on to the fact that you are not an overpowered god.

    In conclusion, this is a game that everyone should play or at least attempt to play once. It's an experience you won't find in any other game. Is it a perfect game? No. But the flaws it carries don't take away from the overall enjoyment of it.
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  32. Nov 20, 2013
    10
    Oh. My. God. Fallout 3 is an absolutely phenomenal game, I love it so damn much. It's definitely in my top 10 games ever. If you like RPGs, then get this game, if you like GAMES, then GET. THIS. GAME. Stop reading my review (if anyone is even reading this...) and go play Fallout 3!
  33. Nov 21, 2013
    10
    I highly recommend you pick the GOTY right now, it's that good! The story follows a vault dweller who is growing up in a Vault, because of the atomic bombing that China did to the United States in 2077. Now it's 2277. Your father voiced by Liam Neeson decides to leave the vault, something that no one ever does as the vault is supposed to be permanently shut. However, your character choosesI highly recommend you pick the GOTY right now, it's that good! The story follows a vault dweller who is growing up in a Vault, because of the atomic bombing that China did to the United States in 2077. Now it's 2277. Your father voiced by Liam Neeson decides to leave the vault, something that no one ever does as the vault is supposed to be permanently shut. However, your character chooses to follow him. Not exactly sure where to go. you go to the nearest town Megaton to find some clues. This is where the game really get's started as you are thrown in the post apocalyptic wasteland. There is hundreds of hours of content in this game to keep anyone interested. This game has a very 30-40s vibe and the music on your pipboy fits this game perfectly! There are all kinds of strange creatures, people, places, and weapons to keep anyone satisfied. This game does have its problems though, it can crash at any time and pretty often too. Some things just maybe won't trigger for a quest, making it impossible to complete and that can get pretty annoying. Overall this game is great! I suggest everyone give this game a try it will really be worth your time. Expand
  34. Dec 23, 2013
    10
    Fallout 3 is an action packed role playing game that never leaves the player bored. With the new cinematic way of combat (V.A.T.S) fighting off feral ghouls never gets old. The quests are always new and fun to complete and the weapons are always fun to use, and destructive. This is the best game I have ever played and I hope you play it as well, if you don't, well your missing out on theFallout 3 is an action packed role playing game that never leaves the player bored. With the new cinematic way of combat (V.A.T.S) fighting off feral ghouls never gets old. The quests are always new and fun to complete and the weapons are always fun to use, and destructive. This is the best game I have ever played and I hope you play it as well, if you don't, well your missing out on the best game ever. Expand
  35. Jul 26, 2014
    8
    This game's big, and it will last you a long time in playability. For me though it felt like Oblivion in a lot of ways. Gameplay, graphics, and the leveling system in general feel like Oblivion. Yes, Fallout 3 is set in a wasteland, but I was disappointed because both games don't seem to far apart. The game runs the successful formula, but for me it offered nothing new and not a lot of innovation.
  36. Dec 31, 2013
    10
    Okay, we all know Fallout 3's clunky combat isn't the best, but if you look at the rest of the game, WOW. Fallout 3 is truly an amazing and beautiful game that can be revisited tons and tons of times. The RPG elements are heavy and your choices matter, the characters are interesting, the leveling system is complex, the sound design is mysterious, this game is an experience you have to see.Okay, we all know Fallout 3's clunky combat isn't the best, but if you look at the rest of the game, WOW. Fallout 3 is truly an amazing and beautiful game that can be revisited tons and tons of times. The RPG elements are heavy and your choices matter, the characters are interesting, the leveling system is complex, the sound design is mysterious, this game is an experience you have to see.

    Fallout 3 gets 9.8/10
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  37. Jan 2, 2014
    9
    This game, is one of the best games ive ever played. The intricate backstory and the development of your character throughout the game is amazing. However, it lets itself down because its glitchy, and its weapon targettings a little off.
  38. Jan 6, 2014
    10
    One of my favorites SSOOOOO good anyone who gives this game a bad rating doesn't understand gaming. One of the best rpg ever made the world was by far the most fun to explore bethesda makes me horny
  39. Jan 19, 2014
    10
    For me Fallout 3 is the best game available on 360, it is so immersive and chock full of surprises. The setting is fantastic and the surrounding of 50s style propaganda really adds to the games character. There is a vast amount of fun weaponry and ways to use them, the character building is top notch with some very fun and interesting perks. The world is full of wonderful characters (theFor me Fallout 3 is the best game available on 360, it is so immersive and chock full of surprises. The setting is fantastic and the surrounding of 50s style propaganda really adds to the games character. There is a vast amount of fun weaponry and ways to use them, the character building is top notch with some very fun and interesting perks. The world is full of wonderful characters (the "super heroes" at war with each other using giant ants and robots spring to mind) with many problems across the game world that need sorting, it's the exploration that really makes this game, there are some very interesting buildings around that can really come in useful while some serve as sheds for plungers and lead pipes. The main story is good and gripping but the same could be said about the majority of side quests. This game is excellent, the standard by which all other games should be striving to achieve, It gets my 2008 game of the year and also stands as my game of the generation. Expand
  40. Jan 13, 2014
    10
    This is a great game. Whether you play all day or just 3 hours it is still a great game you will fall in love with. This game can help you get through hard times.
  41. Feb 14, 2015
    10
    I'm not one of those guys who just throws around 10's. As someone who has gotten the full 100% on this game, I can say that it truly is one of the best games ever made. Fallout 1 and 2 had the old isometric, top down rpg style. These games were great, amazing even, but they weren't like this. This game defined what a western rpg can really be. From the depressing to the utterly hilarious,I'm not one of those guys who just throws around 10's. As someone who has gotten the full 100% on this game, I can say that it truly is one of the best games ever made. Fallout 1 and 2 had the old isometric, top down rpg style. These games were great, amazing even, but they weren't like this. This game defined what a western rpg can really be. From the depressing to the utterly hilarious, to the incredibly rewarding feeling of leveling yourself up from a nobody to a walking wall of death, everything about this game is just done perfectly. Expand
  42. Nov 26, 2015
    10
    If you buy Fallout 4 for XB1 after 10 days you get a code to redeem this game for free, as part of the backwards compatible 360 games for XB1.

    I love Fallout 4 for XB1, but getting Fallout 3 for free 10 days later just puts it over the top. Just more Bethsaida open world, rpg, post apocalyptic game to love. If you love these types of games you will love Fallout. A perfect series to
    If you buy Fallout 4 for XB1 after 10 days you get a code to redeem this game for free, as part of the backwards compatible 360 games for XB1.

    I love Fallout 4 for XB1, but getting Fallout 3 for free 10 days later just puts it over the top.

    Just more Bethsaida open world, rpg, post apocalyptic game to love. If you love these types of games you will love Fallout. A perfect series to keep you busy as you wait for the next Elder Scrolls installment for XbI.
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  43. Mar 13, 2014
    9
    Easily my favorite game of all time along with Fallout New Vegas!!!Provided me with hours and hours of immersive enjoyment. I just can't give it a 10 though because of all the glitches but everyone should try this game!It may take a while to get into it but once you do you can't put down the controller down!
  44. Apr 22, 2014
    10
    I fell in love with fallout the second i started playing. Fallout does everything right that a post apocalyptic game should. The game does have its instances of morbid humor that maybe the more messed up person enjoy (I am that person). The game offers up to over 200+ hours if you're like me and enjoy just walking around and trying to get everything in the game. I can recommend this to anyI fell in love with fallout the second i started playing. Fallout does everything right that a post apocalyptic game should. The game does have its instances of morbid humor that maybe the more messed up person enjoy (I am that person). The game offers up to over 200+ hours if you're like me and enjoy just walking around and trying to get everything in the game. I can recommend this to any RPG fan as the game does very well. The game is perfect if you own all the dlcs which you can get in the game of the year edition which goes for around $15 at Gamestop. Just pop that bad boy in and let the slaughter of Enclave and super mutants begin (Recommend the bloody mess perk for a good laugh). The game isn't just fun it's very beautiful to look at, the visuals are stunning and even the depressing sea of brown and destroyed buildings still leaves me in awe. Weather you're good or evil the choice is yours. Help a town out or murder its residents and take the loot you earn for yourself, but be warned you don't want to mess with the wrong people. Or you might find yourself dying quite often. If your a fan of the RPG genre or a fan of post apocalyptic genre I can recommend this game %100. Now sit back relax and open up nice cold Nuka-Cola. Expand
  45. May 11, 2014
    10
    If Bethesda had taken the easy route, 'like Oblivion with guns', this would be a solid game well worth the $60. But, Todd Howard and Bethesda chose to innovate, and bring the Fallout license to the next level. The complete sense of emptiness and despair isn't video game-y. It feels like post-apocalyptia. Sure, there might not be any grand vistas or mountain ranges like Fallout's successor,If Bethesda had taken the easy route, 'like Oblivion with guns', this would be a solid game well worth the $60. But, Todd Howard and Bethesda chose to innovate, and bring the Fallout license to the next level. The complete sense of emptiness and despair isn't video game-y. It feels like post-apocalyptia. Sure, there might not be any grand vistas or mountain ranges like Fallout's successor, Skyrim, but nuclear bombs desecrated the land not two centuries before! This doesn't feel like a video game. It feels real. Granted, the voices are samey, and V.A.T.S. does get monotonous after a few hours, and glitches that break immersion are a part of the deal, but with a Super Mutant with a Gatling laser following me, I couldn't care less. Expand
  46. Jun 7, 2014
    9
    *..a sublime game, rich and deep.*

    Fallout 3 remains one of my favourite games of all time, set in a post apocalyptic world you are the would be hero or murderer of hundreds of people and creatures. This is a free-roam game where you decide where to go and what missions to complete. And is in my opinion the finest example yet made. To say this game is big would be an understatement!
    *..a sublime game, rich and deep.*

    Fallout 3 remains one of my favourite games of all time, set in a post apocalyptic world you are the would be hero or murderer of hundreds of people and creatures. This is a free-roam game where you decide where to go and what missions to complete. And is in my opinion the finest example yet made.

    To say this game is big would be an understatement! The world spans a huge wasteland with further expansions available through purchase.

    In some ways this is like Oblivion, in the sense you build up your character and take your own chosen path. But this is where the similarity ends. Whereas it takes a huge amount of time an energy to expand a character in Oblivion and to progress, Fallout is much more arcade style - quick and dirty!

    With this in mind, it is a shame that Fallout 3 starts off so slow. Leaving you with that ebbing feeling of slow, painful gameplay. Far from it, turns out the first 20 minutes of the game is all about creating your character from birth to the current state, picking skills, traits and the start of your evil, good or don't give a dam path.

    Once through the section the world is your oyster, pick a path and try your luck!! When it comes to missions and locations, they are almost endless. There are a huge amount of side missions with lots of "easter egg" type outcomes or locations, so many i'm not sure if I have ever found everything there is to do.

    The weapons array is vast, from fists, to clubs, to WOMD's! (If you can find them) The only limit you have is a weight limit on your character which can be expanded or extra items stashed away in a safe house or hidden caches.

    If you have always thought RPG's are slow, dice rolling type games. Think again, Fallout 3 delivers on all fronts and will keep you coming back again and again for months, if not years. Pick this game up in a bargain bin or cheap online and you will not regret your choice.

    On a side note, the music in Fallout 3 is eccentric but will have you humming the tunes and tapping your toes like a good time gal of the 40's in no time...
    As other have said, a masterpiece of goodness.
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  47. Jun 8, 2014
    10
    Fallout 3 is one of the greatest open world RPGs on the Xbox 360. With a vast, explore-able, post-apocalyptic Washington D.C., and a handful of memorable moments for you to uncover yourself, Fallout 3 is a must own. The DLCs are for the most part worth it, the game does not hold your hand through every section, and you can play it and enjoy what it offers without even doing a single story quest.
  48. Jul 2, 2014
    10
    I'll start by saying that if you liked Elder Scrolls Oblivion and Skyrim, Then you might like this as it was created by the same company. Anyway the game is an open world game based in a wasteland. The first time you see the massive area that you get to explore you will be shocked. With a good story and plenty of side quests, You will spend a load of time on this game. No matter whichI'll start by saying that if you liked Elder Scrolls Oblivion and Skyrim, Then you might like this as it was created by the same company. Anyway the game is an open world game based in a wasteland. The first time you see the massive area that you get to explore you will be shocked. With a good story and plenty of side quests, You will spend a load of time on this game. No matter which direction you decide to go, You will find something, It could be a destroyed building, a house, a sewer, etc. With plenty of perks to choose from once you level up and all kinds of enemy's to kill. Random events occur which could be simple like someone trying to rob you or give you a quest. Loads of weapons to use, Ranging from a pistol to plasma laser. Overall this game is one of the best games i have played. I have played since it was first released and went back to it plenty of times. This is my favourite game of all time. Expand
  49. Jul 20, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nothing says I love you than placing a grenade in someone's back pocket and watching them explode.

    Fallout 3 is by far THE BEST game I have played, one of my personal favourites that I have played and completed a numerous amount of times!

    You start off as a baby down in vault 101, sadly your mother dies not long after she gives birth to you. (All aboard the feels trip). James (Your father) leaves the vault when you grow up. The immediate thought is "what a complete **** but he leaves for the right reasons, so your job is to escape the vault yourself and go looking for your dad!

    Sounds simple enough? Nope... When you leave the vault you see yourself surrounded by a complete wasteland which stinks to high heavens of radiation in most parts, due to the "nuclear apocalypse".

    Fallout 3 takes place in the year 2277, it's a post apocalyptic sci-fi action role-playing open world game. It has multiple DLC's too, like that doesn't sound good enough right?

    Even though it's in the future, it still seems like an early 1950's era.

    There is so much to do in this game, from pickpocketing people, breaking into people homes stealing their supply of food or you can be a good person and leave their stuff alone, either way, it will effect your karma.

    Karma plays a huge roll in this game, if you steal from somebody, break into their apartment, lock-pick safes that you're not supposed to, you will get bad Karma from doing so. However... If you're being a little **** on the game there is always ways to get your karma towards the good side! This does not mean pleasuring a homeless man for a bottle of water... It certainly doesn't mean that at all...

    The life you pursue in the game has its advantages and disadvantages. Be careful what you do and how you do it, killing someone for their clothes is an acceptable excuse.

    If you haven't played it, get to it! You're missing out on such a huge fantastic game Bethesda has to offer!

    10/10. (Think I might go and play some of it now!)
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  50. Aug 6, 2014
    10
    Fallout 3 is an unforgettable experience. The setting of Fallout 3 is very unique, I haven't seen anything like it at all; it's a post-apocalyptic world set in Washington D.C. and other parts of the east. It does a very good job with the environment such as abandoned buildings, towns, and national monuments. There is so much to explore, and it's exciting to discover new places to scavengeFallout 3 is an unforgettable experience. The setting of Fallout 3 is very unique, I haven't seen anything like it at all; it's a post-apocalyptic world set in Washington D.C. and other parts of the east. It does a very good job with the environment such as abandoned buildings, towns, and national monuments. There is so much to explore, and it's exciting to discover new places to scavenge weapons, armour, and necessities that are needed to survival. The missions are fun and exciting and the characters you meet along the way are great in their own way. The combat system works great, and I haven't seen it in another game. The leveling system is great also with many skills to increase and perks to choose rom to make your character more powerful. Fallout 3 is an amazing adventure, and it's a must play. Expand
  51. Jan 16, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I playing Oblivion and Skyrim and falling in unashamedly falling in love with them both, I heard about their Bethesda sibling, Fallout 3. It was allegedly a game with a big reputation, and being made by Bethesda, I knew I would one day have to buy it, despite not being particularly partial to shooting / action games.
    Fallout 3 is of course far from being an all out blaster, and involves plenty of exploration and variation in its quests. The game backgrounds are also a feast to look at; majestic, atmospheric and brilliantly drawn.
    However, despite all of this I was still ever-so-slightly let down by the game. I just couldn't quite get into it in the same way as I had with the Elder Scrolls series. While not entirely dis-similar to those games, Fallout 3 feels like the slightly inferior distant cousin that you never quite got on with (?!).
    Graphic backdrops may be superb, but foreground objects that litter the game, such as shopping trolleys, rubble, boxes etc etc are often poorly drawn and blocky. Character animations could also have been better. Quests are a little repetitive and and the fighting sequences are often frustrating and not particularly imaginative, despite the addition of a specialized slo-mo style combat system.
    Overall, I found myself pleasantly occupied for quite a few days by this more than competent game, but I was never particularly immersed in it. I have since put in down and found myself with little urge to pick up where I left off.
    A decent but thoroughly over-rated game. Buy Skyrim instead!
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  52. Sep 25, 2014
    10
    This game is the best role-playing game ever, in my opinion. This game has the perfect blend of story, gameplay, atmosphere, weapons, characters, etc., and it also is a huge landmark for Bethesda, because the company was hardly even noticed until this came out, and helped with some of their biggest games like Skyrim. I do hope that their next Fallout will be will take a lot of hints fromThis game is the best role-playing game ever, in my opinion. This game has the perfect blend of story, gameplay, atmosphere, weapons, characters, etc., and it also is a huge landmark for Bethesda, because the company was hardly even noticed until this came out, and helped with some of their biggest games like Skyrim. I do hope that their next Fallout will be will take a lot of hints from 3, and even a few from New Vegas, if the do then I think that Fallout 4 will be the best role-playing game to date, and this, should obviously help. Expand
  53. Nov 1, 2014
    10
    Fallout3 is my favourite video game of all-time. It is an amazing experience with an awesome DLC and great character voice over. Sure there might be a few graphical errors, but the gameplay definitely makes up for it. A ten out of ten score from me. No question about it.
  54. Nov 15, 2014
    9
    Quick Review:
    Atmosphere: 9/10
    Game play mechanics: 7/10 Replay value: Moderate Overall Review: Fawkes good I'm going to start by saying I. Adore. This. Game. That being said, let me start. There are a few things that make this game a 9/10 for me. The thing that truly sells Fallout 3 for me is its beautiful atmosphere. I remember when I first walked into the crumbling and rotting
    Quick Review:
    Atmosphere: 9/10
    Game play mechanics: 7/10
    Replay value: Moderate
    Overall Review: Fawkes good

    I'm going to start by saying I. Adore. This. Game. That being said, let me start. There are a few things that make this game a 9/10 for me. The thing that truly sells Fallout 3 for me is its beautiful atmosphere. I remember when I first walked into the crumbling and rotting ruins of DC, and it blew my f'ing mind. I cannot have more praise for the landscape of the game, I think I spent more time just wandering around than I did anything else. Another great thing about the game is that it will keep you busy. With 59 quests (main, side and repeatable) in the main game, and with the DLC adding 35 more, you'll get you money worth from this game. I did all of them, and loved every second of it. No game is perfect though. The skill system can make the game slightly difficult at first, and fairly easy once you've reached the level cap. To me, though, this wasn't an issue. It just made the game seem a little more realistic. There's no true iron sights (you cannot look down the barrel of the gun), so if something like that really bothers you, sorry. There is a targeting system in place, making aiming slightly easier, though it momentarily pauses in game action and has been known to glitch. Speaking of which there are, of course, glitches (some of which cause you to turn your system off and back on again). The game freezes occasionally, so save often. Along with that, there's little character development with side characters. In a game like this, it didn't bother me, but knowing more would have been nice. Overall, I adore this game, and highly recommend it to anyone who's an RPG veteran or just wanting to try out the genre.
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  55. Dec 11, 2014
    10
    It's the best game I've ever played, I will spoil nothing, no matter who you are, or what type of games you like, it is worth getting, just get game of the year edition if you do,
  56. Feb 5, 2015
    8
    Fallout 3 How i adore thee still a great game even with all your technical problems. My question to you is. Will bethesda ever hire great programers? Caz they know how to make great rpgs. Or maybe they could atleast keep them in development until somebody play tests them? I know i know they're complicated games well so is my brain.
  57. May 27, 2015
    9
    Once again Bethesda the masterpiece maker has once again made another masterpiece: Fallout 3. This is the ultimate post-apocalyptic game, it's scary, intense and a lot like Mad Max. The only flaw I noticed was it's annoying difficulty, it got pretty hard sometimes. I really love how Fallout 3 is super realistic, I felt like an actual survivor in an apocalypse, scavenging items for yourOnce again Bethesda the masterpiece maker has once again made another masterpiece: Fallout 3. This is the ultimate post-apocalyptic game, it's scary, intense and a lot like Mad Max. The only flaw I noticed was it's annoying difficulty, it got pretty hard sometimes. I really love how Fallout 3 is super realistic, I felt like an actual survivor in an apocalypse, scavenging items for your survival. You will need weaponry, food, aid kits and plenty more things to survive in the unforgiving radioactive wasteland. Buy this game. Expand
  58. Aug 12, 2017
    8
    This post-apocalyptic action-RPG offers engaging gameplay, a great leveling system, an awesome targeting system (VATS) and a branching story that changes depending on your choices. However, the actual shooting mechanics are poor even for 2008 (and being an RPG doesn't excuse poor mechanics). Also, the story is quite a lot shorter than I expected and side quests are less abundant than I'mThis post-apocalyptic action-RPG offers engaging gameplay, a great leveling system, an awesome targeting system (VATS) and a branching story that changes depending on your choices. However, the actual shooting mechanics are poor even for 2008 (and being an RPG doesn't excuse poor mechanics). Also, the story is quite a lot shorter than I expected and side quests are less abundant than I'm used to from Bethesda. It's still very much worth a playthrough in 2017 but don't expect the amount of content from Oblivion for example. Expand
  59. Jul 21, 2015
    10
    I love this game I have put 40 hours into it without the DLC it so much fun I been staying up late just to play it. It's a must buy if you love fallout and if you are new to the fallout series.
  60. Aug 8, 2015
    10
    The best game we can have the best experience in the open worlds games awesome guns the pipboy everything its good i wait fallout 4 with the best hopes 10!
  61. Sep 7, 2015
    10
    Fallout 3 is An odyssey into A nightmarish reality in which Mankind's worst fear has been realized-Nuclear annihilation.This reality is set into the future,but with A 1950's motif where America fights A continued World War 2 ultimately against the Chinese.The American transition to Nuclear power puts A stranglehold on the Chinese as they grow ever desperate for Oil to fuel theirFallout 3 is An odyssey into A nightmarish reality in which Mankind's worst fear has been realized-Nuclear annihilation.This reality is set into the future,but with A 1950's motif where America fights A continued World War 2 ultimately against the Chinese.The American transition to Nuclear power puts A stranglehold on the Chinese as they grow ever desperate for Oil to fuel their Civilization and military campaign eventually invading Alaska and getting repelled back.After A small time of continuous peace the Chinese start World War 3.Those lucky enough to make it to Nuclear safe enclosure called 'Vaults' stay safe for several generations as the rest die whether from the initial blasts or radiation poisoning that was to come.200 Years later,you assume A role of A Son of An important Scientist in Vault 101 in what is now known as the Capital Wasteland.The game is essentially in first person,but thanks to V.A.T.S. (Vaulttec Assisted Targeting System) you can zoom in and depend on your weapon and skills of said weapon you can predict A particular shot with stunning effects.Your P.I.P. Boy is your ultimate guide and reference to everything in the world including yourself.The main quest is looking for your disappeared Father,however you will discover all kinds of side quests that will divert you for hours and hours on end.There is so much to d and explore it literally feels like you're actually experiencing all this for yourself.You meet new Allies,enemies and gain abilities to survive in A unforgiving world and you will shape the future of this land like any that has come before you or since.Can you survive the Wasteland Vault Dweller?We'll see. Expand
  62. Nov 5, 2015
    9
    Sure, the graphics maybe outdated, but Fallout 3 makes up for the best gaming experience still till this day.

    On the side note, please get Fallout 3: Game of Year edition for hours of your post-apocalyptic journey of the Capital Wasteland. Where do I start with this game? Fallout's combat system is really solid, if you're familiar with Oblivion imagine you can pause the fight, and
    Sure, the graphics maybe outdated, but Fallout 3 makes up for the best gaming experience still till this day.

    On the side note, please get Fallout 3: Game of Year edition for hours of your post-apocalyptic journey of the Capital Wasteland. Where do I start with this game? Fallout's combat system is really solid, if you're familiar with Oblivion imagine you can pause the fight, and pin-point attacks by using this unique mechanic called, "V.A.T.S."

    I would gladly summarize the game's story, but luckily, I'm not that type of person. Please check Fallout 3. I highly recommend it.
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  63. Nov 19, 2015
    8
    While Fallout 3 was a fun game and a nice "Elder Scrolls" approach to the Fallout series, I still felt like I was playing "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion with Guns." Don't get me wrong, "Oblivion with Guns" is a fantastic concept, but much of the game's mechanics are derived from a game I already played in 2005 (Oblivion), so to say Fallout 3 was innovating the industry would be ignoringWhile Fallout 3 was a fun game and a nice "Elder Scrolls" approach to the Fallout series, I still felt like I was playing "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion with Guns." Don't get me wrong, "Oblivion with Guns" is a fantastic concept, but much of the game's mechanics are derived from a game I already played in 2005 (Oblivion), so to say Fallout 3 was innovating the industry would be ignoring history. Many of my friends who believed Fallout 3 was a revolution never played Oblivion. Many of my friends who believed Skyrim was a revolution never played Oblivion. The Fallout 3 experience was not a ground-breaking one for me. Was it fun? Of course. Was it ground-breaking? Not at all. Expand
  64. Jan 6, 2016
    9
    About a decade after it was released, Fallout 3 is still one of the most fun, immersive video games ever produced -- a terrific blend of role-playing games, open world adventures and first-person shooters in a beautifully-realized post-apocalyptic setting. It is easy to get the hang of and incredibly addicting once you do.

    There's a pretty compelling main storyline but as in the best
    About a decade after it was released, Fallout 3 is still one of the most fun, immersive video games ever produced -- a terrific blend of role-playing games, open world adventures and first-person shooters in a beautifully-realized post-apocalyptic setting. It is easy to get the hang of and incredibly addicting once you do.

    There's a pretty compelling main storyline but as in the best open world games, you can also just explore and generally dick around without incurring any penalty if you'd rather do that. The gameplay mechanics, especially the "VATS" combat system, are fun and the writing and voice acting are solid. There's all manner of amusing, eccentric characters to meet and several fearsome badguys to fight. You gotta love that wacky, old-time music on the radio too.

    The Washington, DC setting is a great part of it. It allows for some truly stunning visuals as you explore the national mall and this apparently sparked some really clever writing in the storylines as well.

    As a resident of the D.C. metro area, I have a particular love for it. Holding off hordes of badguys is especially fun when you realize you are literally standing in your own backyard. Including a cool DLC adventure set in what was obviously inspired by Maryland's eastern shore, where I used to live, is just the icing on the cake.

    There are some downsides. The graphics are still good but the animation sometimes shows its age and odd glitches happen periodically. While the game's DC wasteland is appropriately stark and eerie for a post-apocalyptic world, the fact that pretty much everywhere in the game uses the same desaturated grey-green color palette does wear on you after a while. And while the game starts off pretty challenging, it gets progressively easier as your character levels up and develops a fearsome arsenal of weapons and high-tech armor, ultimately draining some of the fun.

    Still, this is an essential part of any gamer's library.
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  65. Jan 15, 2016
    10
    Play this game in 2016, and what i have been missing. An awesome game and with the dlc´s a long and very good one.

    Everything you can want in an action/adventure/fps game
  66. Mar 6, 2017
    10
    This game seems like Oblivion with guns at the start, but you will soon realise that it is so much more. What an amazing game this is and if you pick up the GOTY edition then you will not be disappointed as it adds 5 full storyline DLC's to the already great game that is Fallout 3. A game that must be played.
  67. Jun 7, 2016
    10
    When this game came out, it was better than sex. Seriously, I played through this game literally 9 times and only cheated once so that I could get the Experimental MIRV early in the game for... an experiment. This game was like sex, except I had it.
  68. Sep 30, 2016
    8
    Shotguns. One of the types of guns there are, but there aren't much shotguns at all. In fact, including the other DLC's there are only three types of shotguns it seems. I'm just going to hope that there will be more shotguns, or at least more things to do to help modify it to my liking.
  69. Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Fallout 3 proves to be one of the best open world games of all time, and while it has many problems that can easily be argued that Fallout New Vegas does better, the world and content was just unmatched for me. After spending 300 hours doing all the main quests and side missions (base and all dlc included), I spent 300 more just going on my own and doing my make believe adventure andFallout 3 proves to be one of the best open world games of all time, and while it has many problems that can easily be argued that Fallout New Vegas does better, the world and content was just unmatched for me. After spending 300 hours doing all the main quests and side missions (base and all dlc included), I spent 300 more just going on my own and doing my make believe adventure and having such fun doing it. I truly felt that the game had the best way to bring out exploration and reward the player well. It holds a special place in my heart for just how fun a post-apocalyptic survival game could be even when the content would run dry. Expand
  70. Apr 6, 2017
    10
    Never doubt the addictiveness of Fallout 3.
    I did not play this game until last year (2016) for various reasons I won't put in this review. But suffice to say, from the moment I got out of vault 101 I was absolutely hooked, and for the next 129 hours I traversed, explored and experienced a world so bleak, with a story that's even bleaker, that it kept me thoroughly engaged in and effort
    Never doubt the addictiveness of Fallout 3.
    I did not play this game until last year (2016) for various reasons I won't put in this review. But suffice to say, from the moment I got out of vault 101 I was absolutely hooked, and for the next 129 hours I traversed, explored and experienced a world so bleak, with a story that's even bleaker, that it kept me thoroughly engaged in and effort to help anyone I could by any means necessary.

    If you pick this game up and get at least a couple hours into it, I doubt you will will put it down.
    This IS the greatest open world RPG ever made.
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  71. Mar 7, 2022
    10
    Amazing game growing up for me. It was the first time i could find guns enjoyable in a RPG. The shooting wasnt great but you worked with it.
  72. Jul 26, 2017
    8
    This is a great game but it does have its flaws. I love the Fallout series and as this being Bethesda's first attempt at the Fallout series they succeed with flying colors, even though the game is grey and green. Overall Fallout 3 gets an 8 out of 10 in my book and my Buy it Seal of Approval.
  73. Nov 20, 2018
    9
    controls are really the only problem with this game that is my only complaint
  74. Nov 16, 2017
    9
    "Fallout 3" is quite simply one of the best games that I have ever played. Exploring the Capital Wasteland and historic landmarks in Washington D.C. is an absolute joy, and the characters you will run across in your journey are memorable. The quests presented are also unique and differ from destroying a whole town to having to stop super-heros from fighting in the town square. If there is"Fallout 3" is quite simply one of the best games that I have ever played. Exploring the Capital Wasteland and historic landmarks in Washington D.C. is an absolute joy, and the characters you will run across in your journey are memorable. The quests presented are also unique and differ from destroying a whole town to having to stop super-heros from fighting in the town square. If there is any downside to this game, it is that the graphics aren't quite what they used to be, and the sewer system can become very confusing and frustrating at times. With all of that being said, Fallout 3 is a game that I have been playing since 2011, and I have had multiple playthroughs. With each play-through, I have found something I appreciate more about the game then dislike about it.

    DLC: Fallout 3 the main game is great, but with five DLC packs as well, there is plenty of content that will keep you occupied. Point Lookout is my personal favorite, as the gloomy atmosphere, open exploration, and great climax are among Fallout 3's best moments. Operation Anchorage is a decent expansion with fun stealth elements, but is over relatively quickly. The Pitt offers some great moments, with some real moral dilemmas, and also great gladiatorial fighting. Broken Steel is noteworthy thanks to its raising of the level cap, and completing the Fallout story-line.

    These fist four expansions range anywhere from great to just good, but then there is the final expansion Mothership Zeta. This expansion is horrible for a number of reasons. For one, ending the whole Fallout 3 game with a terrible DLC is really not the way to go out. While there is an interesting premise here, and some genuinely cool moments with being out in outer-space, the game-play for the most part is terrible. There is no exploration available as you are restricted to just a single ship, the weapons the aliens provide are not that imaginative, and the difficulty is much too extreme. The final "boss" battle is incredibly weak also.
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  75. Jan 22, 2018
    7
    Un Skyrim pero post-apocalíptico en la ciudad destruída de Washington D.C. Muchas misiones secundarias. Graficamente no sorprende. Mundo abierto muy grande, muchos objetos, muchas horas de contenido pero puede llegar a aburrir.
  76. May 21, 2019
    8
    The story was kind of meh, but there were plenty of outstanding side quests that made up for it.
  77. Mar 7, 2018
    10
    Fallout 3 is an absolutely amazing game, and I'm still playing it in 2018. It has a style of gameplay that will never grow old for me, the fact that you can make every character different. One time I could play as a scientist and then the next time I could play as a scavenger. This formula is what keeps the game relevant today, the utter replay value. I also really like the way there areFallout 3 is an absolutely amazing game, and I'm still playing it in 2018. It has a style of gameplay that will never grow old for me, the fact that you can make every character different. One time I could play as a scientist and then the next time I could play as a scavenger. This formula is what keeps the game relevant today, the utter replay value. I also really like the way there are so many quests and each one has it's own spin on Post-Apocalyptic life in the wasteland. I would recommend that you would buy the GOTY Edition so you can continue your adventure through The Capital Wasteland and enjoy all the amazing DLCs. Expand
  78. Feb 25, 2019
    10
    I spent near 200 hours of my life playing this. I started playing it after TES IV : Oblivion, and the similarity of controls made it easier to me just as the interactions with NPC's. It is a really good RPG: good quests and important decisions can affect in a severe way, good customization... I miss the old times in which bethesda made jewels like this... MUST-PLAY
  79. Aug 6, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I admittedly have not played very many RPG games, but I recently picked up Fallout New Vegas and I loved it! I was really excited to play Fallout 3, because I loved how I got to pick what team to be a part of. On my first New Vegas run, I sided with the Legion, and it was awesome. So when I played Fallout 3, I was very underwhelmed. Not because I was comparing it too harshly to New Vegas, but because I can't stand the Brotherhood. They are annoying and I just flat out don't like them. So seeing that is the only team you can join, I was very disappointed. BUT, the world is gorgeous. I absolutely felt immersed in the barren, dark and desolate world of Fallout 3, but that was all there was to offer. The locations were pretty bland, I did not care for its "dungeons" which were just halls of super mutants to kill. The quests were pretty boring, but admittedly I did not do as much exploring as I could have. I had a very hard time stocking up on things like bombs, bullets and caps, which I appreciated so that I didn't feel like a god in the wasteland. But overall, I was pretty unimpressed. I won't play it again, but I can understand why somebody else might enjoy it. Expand
  80. Aug 10, 2018
    8
    This was my first time entering the Fallout universe. I was not disappointed. I really had no idea what I was getting into, but once I left the vault and saw the Capitol Wasteland for the first time, I was blown away. This adventure took me on an emotional rollercoaster and I loved every second of it.
  81. Dec 28, 2022
    8
    In my opinion, this game is still superior to Skyrim. It's a fantastic post-apocalyptic RPG with that Bethesda-style freedom and storytelling that everybody loves. Go anywhere, build your character, loot and explore. Become a hero, a mercenary or a heartless murderer. Fallout 3 has its fair share of bugs, glitches and visual limitations, but it's still a must-play for fans of massive openIn my opinion, this game is still superior to Skyrim. It's a fantastic post-apocalyptic RPG with that Bethesda-style freedom and storytelling that everybody loves. Go anywhere, build your character, loot and explore. Become a hero, a mercenary or a heartless murderer. Fallout 3 has its fair share of bugs, glitches and visual limitations, but it's still a must-play for fans of massive open worlds that will take you hundreds of hours to fully experience. Expand
  82. Nov 17, 2018
    10
    Amazing. So immersive I lost approx 180hrs !! Nothing else needs to be said
  83. Jul 21, 2020
    4
    This game is incredibly buggy. But I think anyone who knows anything about Bethesda knows that their games are complete bug-fests.
    Now with the obvious out of the way, I honestly have only done a full play-through once, I have tried to play through the game over, and over, but I can’t bring myself to do it. The beginning is really boring. Most side-quests weren’t interesting to me. And
    This game is incredibly buggy. But I think anyone who knows anything about Bethesda knows that their games are complete bug-fests.
    Now with the obvious out of the way, I honestly have only done a full play-through once, I have tried to play through the game over, and over, but I can’t bring myself to do it. The beginning is really boring. Most side-quests weren’t interesting to me. And near the end I just wanted to finish the game.
    And especially now that time has passed, this game has not aged well, even though Fallout: New Vegas which uses the exact same engine and with almost the exact same mechanics still somewhat feels fresh.
    I would give this game a 5 if the game wasn’t so buggy. But since it is 4/10.
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  84. Jun 11, 2021
    9
    not the goat fallout game but its up there. revolutionized open world rpgs and still holds up to this day.
    the real great stories i think are in the side quest. the main quest isnt as good as nv. but still one of my all time fav games.
  85. Dec 17, 2019
    6
    Fallout 3 started of very well with high potential. I instantly became addicted to playing and enjoyed it right up until near the endgame which was when I realized how incredibly short the main story is, then there's the side missions which really aren't that interesting to play as well as that they aren't worth the rewards. This really took the fun out of it for me. I got tired goingFallout 3 started of very well with high potential. I instantly became addicted to playing and enjoyed it right up until near the endgame which was when I realized how incredibly short the main story is, then there's the side missions which really aren't that interesting to play as well as that they aren't worth the rewards. This really took the fun out of it for me. I got tired going through the same formula. So after I finished the game I uninstalled it. To me Fallout 3 is good but forgettable at best. I really don't think it's worth all the praise. Expand
  86. Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Its like new vegas in the sense that it is in my top 5 Favorite Games of All Time but is not as great as fallout new vegas. Still a must play. Amazing game.
  87. Oct 20, 2019
    10
    Top 5 games of all time hands down. The characters, quests and enemies are absolutely endless. There’s so much content, but it never feels like filler, just hundred of hours exploring and discovering every inch of what this game has to offer. Best.Game.Ever
  88. Sep 19, 2019
    10
    This game is phenomenal. If you see it, pick it up immediately. No second thoughts, just do it. The VATS, to the attention of detail in the world, you could play for hours.
  89. Sep 22, 2020
    9
    Fallout 3 does an excellent job of telling it's story, add a good amount of content to keep the player going, and adds so much re playability. It's truly my favorite in the series.
  90. Sep 30, 2019
    10
    My favorite game of all time. Gameplay, characters, and the world is so interesting. I lose track of time playing any fallout game, but more so in this one
  91. Jul 19, 2020
    9
    Took me forever to play this back in the day on my Xbox 360 but damm. 264 hours i invested in this gem of a game.
  92. Nov 19, 2021
    10
    One of the best games to the series and an All-time Classic. Also, the last Decent Fallout Game!
  93. Jun 9, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is amazing! I absolutely loved the fact that it changed according to the choices you made. I also loved the fully-fleshed out characters even the crazy one! As a former disc jockey, I got a kick out of the multiple radio stations available too, I especially liked Three Dog! That actor was spot on as a disc jockey!!!! I'm aware this game is inspired by Harlan Ellison's "A boy and his dog", but wow, it also echoed "Book of Elijah" and "Mad Max" as well. Really well done !!! Expand
  94. Mar 5, 2020
    7
    While I did enjoy parts of this game, one thing that quickly became very obvious was that this was a dumbed down and shallow action-oriented world compared to the bizarre worlds of Fallout 1 & 2 which were ripe with black humor, cultural references and moral ambiguousness. Bethesda essentually made a sci-fi action rpg and placed it within the Fallout universe, while ignoring many keyWhile I did enjoy parts of this game, one thing that quickly became very obvious was that this was a dumbed down and shallow action-oriented world compared to the bizarre worlds of Fallout 1 & 2 which were ripe with black humor, cultural references and moral ambiguousness. Bethesda essentually made a sci-fi action rpg and placed it within the Fallout universe, while ignoring many key concepts of what was defining elements of Fallout in terms of storytelling, dialogue and style. As part of this, different factions, groups and characters were reimagined in a way that I do not consider to be coherent with what was presented in the original games. All in all, it is obvious the target group for this game wasn't fans of the original Fallout games, but rather fans of Bethesda games. If playing Fallout 1 & 2 was like reading a captivating russian sci-fi novel, playing Fallout 3 was more like watching a hollywood action movie. Expand
  95. Jun 22, 2020
    9
    Excellent open world, fun story and an overall great RPG. The music is also amazing and weirdly works perfectly for destroying mutants and raiders.
  96. Jan 31, 2021
    6
    There are features that come to mind when it comes to Fallout. Nothing less, no more. The dark theme is a bit annoying, but of course it would be absurd to be chirping after nuclear. However, they could not achieve that balance. I think it's better to play NV and 4 instead. But maybe you can really like the story. Then this game would be very good.
  97. Jun 28, 2020
    7
    Não sei muito o que achar desse jogo, ele me inseriu no mundo de Fallout antes de começar a jogar o 4. O sistema de mira é muito precário, mas as main quests e side quests são muito bem feitas e como você pode ESCOLHER como fazer algo é muito bom! A missão de explodir ou não a cidade é questão de como você pode seguir o jogo sendo o anjinho e fazendo o bem a todos ou diabo na terra pósNão sei muito o que achar desse jogo, ele me inseriu no mundo de Fallout antes de começar a jogar o 4. O sistema de mira é muito precário, mas as main quests e side quests são muito bem feitas e como você pode ESCOLHER como fazer algo é muito bom! A missão de explodir ou não a cidade é questão de como você pode seguir o jogo sendo o anjinho e fazendo o bem a todos ou diabo na terra pós apocalíptica. Expand
  98. Jun 27, 2020
    9
    This game is fabulous. If you haven't played it, you should. The gameplay is top notch. However there are some minor problems that keep it from being perfect. They are strictly related to the nature of a console based game. If you want the very best experience and mod options play it on PC.
  99. Sep 28, 2020
    10
    Fallout 3 is a masterpiece. Fallout 3 is a open world role playing game set in a post apocalyptic Washington DC with a retro futuristic style. The main quest is great and the side quests are also great.
  100. Oct 2, 2020
    7
    Fallout 3 was the long awaited return of the post apocalyptic role playing series that had been locked away in a vault for over 10 years. Under new developer and publisher, Bethesda, the series was changed to a first person roleplaying game with heavy emphasis on real time combat. It was critically acclaimed at the time but has since dwindled in reputation and I can honestly see why.

    I
    Fallout 3 was the long awaited return of the post apocalyptic role playing series that had been locked away in a vault for over 10 years. Under new developer and publisher, Bethesda, the series was changed to a first person roleplaying game with heavy emphasis on real time combat. It was critically acclaimed at the time but has since dwindled in reputation and I can honestly see why.

    I first played Fallout 3 in 2008 and had honestly never played a game like it. I played it very consistently on Xbox 360, not doing much outside of exploring. This is why I never beat the main quest until now. Upon playing it, I definitely wasn't blown away. I played through this game the day after I beat Fallout: New Vegas and that might be the worst thing you can do if you want to appreciate this game. It's by no means a bad game but with a mediocre story, less interesting environment and worse combat than New Vegas, I have little reason to go back to this one.

    Fallout 4 may have even less roleplaying elements than Fallout 3 but at least it offers me things that New Vegas can't such as building settlements and the vast character customization. Sadly, despite it's obvious quality, I can't see myself revisiting Fallout 3 very often.
    I beat this game in November of 2019.
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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 84 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 84
  2. Negative: 0 out of 84
  1. Fallout 3 is an experience in itself, and while it may not offer as much replay value as Oblivion, it’s so much more then an “Oblivion with guns”.
  2. 90
    From the hollow wind blowing down through subway tunnels, to the radioactive dust clouds swirling throughout the wasteland, up to the buzzards circling the encampment where the bodies of 30 slave traders lie; Fallout 3 is as much a game as it is a training sim for the coming apocalypse.
  3. In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way.