Slug Camargo (583) on 10/8/2010 11:18 PM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Due to the sheer scope of the game, it would be advisable to have a lot of saves in different places. Not sure about dead ends, but there are surely plenty of uncomfortable situations. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Oh, I hear you there. I actually do that, the manual strongly advises as much, but I did it already because it's what I usually do in every game --mostly because I like to have records of every cool moment, I even collect the saves after I beat each game and whatnot. Anyway, that crazy habit is paying off quite handsomely now :D

By the way, I haven't found the game as funny as FO3 so far, but then I'm at a pretty early point, so I can't make a judgement yet. The manual, on the other hand, is hilarious. Never before a game has made me want to have the full boxed, printed package like this one: They really outdid themselves in that aspect.

[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] I don't think the writing is so much better. What's definitely better is the role-playing aspect. Quest structure, character development, possibilities, etc. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Definitely. I actually don't see that much of a difference because I've been playing an insanely modded version of FO3 for over a year now, but I do remember pretty much breezing through the vanilla version my first time through just randomly choosing perks and skills, and only wearing this or that clothing for cosmetic purposes, as well as going anywhere and picking any quest just like that --No such thing in this one, though. I need to be really careful with the quests I take at these early levels. Even with a companion helping me, a bunch of raiders can become quite the challenge.

I really hope New Vegas has this kind of challenge out of the box.

[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Though I found Fallout 3 a very enjoyable and thoroughly engrossing game, I don't get all this bitching about how they "destroyed the franchise" or whatever. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Glad to hear I'm not alone then. I was actually meaning the people over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun. I usually agree with pretty much everything up there, but I never could understand their hatred towards FO3, especially when they specifically berate its writing.

Unicorn Lynx (181780) on 10/8/2010 3:44 PM · Permalink · Report

and most importantly it was more adult-oriented

Yup, that was the thing that bothered me most in Fallout 3. It was... mild. Too mild for a Fallout game.

Otherwise, I think it was a much better game than most Fallout fans made it out to be...

Slug Camargo (583) on 10/8/2010 11:34 PM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start Zovni wrote--]If I had to justify it in some way I would say that's where the "realism" of the game butts head with having fun. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] See, this is the kind of reasoning (and wording) that makes me love your reviews above pretty much anyone else's. How is it that you're not being paid for writing like this is beyond me.

[Q --start Zovni wrote--]and overall nastier shit that came through on the writing, not just through the conversations but even through things as subtle as the damage reports. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] Oh, now that you mention it, that's one thing I hate: The small, tiny reports screen down there on the left. I completely forget about it half the times, and more often than not I have to go scrolling up because the text is larger than the display. That's one thing that could certainly have been managed better.

But back on the point, I have to agree there: I did find FO3 really really funny, but its general tone is definitely rather light-hearted, cursing and gibbing notwithstanding --I mean, I play it with my 9 year old daughter.

[Q --start Zovni wrote--]The villains are also much better characterized on the original than in F3, but you probably missed on much of that from what I can gather. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] As I said elsewhere, I guess I'm at a very early point in the game to make much of a judgement regarding specific characters. I do have to admit that characters weren't the strongest part of Fallout 3 at all. In fact, in terms of writing the best part to me was the backstory to the quests --and not the ones related to the main story either, but the more obscure ones: The logs at the Nuka Cola plant regarding the Nuka Quantum or that company in the middle of DC that was developing a weapon for the Chinese.

Indra was here (20756) on 10/11/2010 6:18 AM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start Zovni wrote--]As for the writing it seemed to me that the classic games were not as aware of their heritage or their need to live up to anything, so they took a more carefree attitude. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] If only this line could slap the face of every developer in existence now and then.