Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Description official descriptions
After the great war, the wasteland is inhabited by a wide variety of mutated species... And one force of order and justice: the Brotherhood of Steel. As a new initiate to the Brotherhood, you will undertake different missions to take on Raiders and such as you attempt to protect the fragile respawning of civilization... and discover the new threat to the west...
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel is essentially the combat portion of the original Fallout series, with a new campaign, graphical polish, a set of random encounters, and a world map. The emphasis is on squad tactics and tactical combat, though your characters will grow like in any RPG.
Spellings
- 異塵餘生戰略版:鋼鐵兄弟會 - Traditional Chinese spelling
- 辐射战略版:钢铁兄弟会 - Simplified Chinese spelling
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Credits (Windows version)
199 People (195 developers, 4 thanks) · View all
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 79% (based on 35 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 93 ratings with 10 reviews)
The Good
(see bellow)
The Bad
(See bellow)
The Bottom Line
Fallout tactics is a good game, let me just say that first.
Now, to the actual review.
Fallout tactics is NOT fallout 3. It is not a RPG. it is a tactics game, based in the fallout universe.
The storyline goes, that at one stage, in order to find other civilisations, stop the eastward-headed mutants, and get rid of some brotherhood members with radically different idealogical ideas, the brotherhood sent a few airships east.
As always, nothing went to plan, and a few went off course, landing near what was once Chicargo.
Cut off from HQ, this allowed the survivors to do what they always wanted to do, radically overhaul the brotherhood into more of a police/defence force, getting fresh recruits in exchange for protection, and trading more strongly, as well as the usual mutant and vault hunting.
If you've played fallout before, the idea of Continous-turned-based may totaly turn you off the game, luckily you can switch to totaly turn-based, as each PC, or Player taking turns. I recomend Individual-turned-based just to start with, and changing modes for special occasions (switch to CTB when you arent in a battle (like when 2 computer opponents are duking it out, and squad when you are only using a couple of your entire squad. to change modes in battle, press "O", change the mode, return to the game, then end-combat if you are in TB, or press "O", change to either squad or individual, return to the gane, then press enter if you are in CTB)
So, is it any good? the answer is, yes and no.
like Fallout 2, Tatics does try and poke fun at the fallout universe, and sci-fi in general, but not nearly as strong as in fo2. Nuka-Cola has branched out into new flavors (Nuka Cola, Classic Nuka Cola, Cherry Nuka Cola, and a yellow one are all that I have found so far).
The Entire Item list has been redone. Instead of running out on a random chance, First aid kits, and Doctors bags now have a set number of uses before they run out. most food heals hitpoints (although some will take away a few attributes temporarily), the list of chems has been expanded, as have the types of stimpacks and books (including "Murdocks Tricks and Traps", and "Zen and the art of Driving").
Weapons are totaly redone. Hunting rifles now use 7.something mm ammo, .303 is now in the game (instead of all .303 weapons being "rechambered" in the other FO games), more guns, hth-weapons (including a HTH weapon that uses shotgun shells, and a whole range of gloves).
It also runs in higher resolutions (either 800x600, or 1024xwhatever), with more colours. Towns now only have one map (for better or worse), with most having many levels.
But, I dunno, it just doesnt have that fallout-rpg style feel.
Windows · by Chad Henshaw (27) · 2002
Great until the final missions.
The Good
I don't care if Fallout Tactics isn't Fallouty.
I don't care that Fallout Tactics isn't an RPG.
Most people seem to care a great deal about those two areas. Fallout Tactics is a squad-based strategy game set in the Fallout universe. It takes place between the first and second games, but takes place in the Midwest rather than the West Coast. While not an RPG, FT does use the SPECIAL attribute system and the other RPG devices used in the Fallout games. At times, FT feels like it could be an RPG, with your squad acting as a party, but the linear design and lack of conversation options will remind you that this is a combat centered game.
FT supports three modes of gameplay. A turn-based mode similar to the original games, a squad turn-based mode (where all your members move then the enemies move), and a real-time mode called the continuous turn-based mode. Each method has its advantages, the turn-based mode allows for complete control over your squad while the real-time mode makes for white knuckle game playing.
There are 20 primary missions in FT and they show some variation early on in the game. One mission has your squad escorting a supply vehicle down a sniper alley, another one has you defending a town. The best mission involves a series of hostage rescues which must be carried out covertly or the enemies will sound an alarm.
Fallout Tactics preserves the wide range of weaponry and armor, it favors combat centered characters, although you'll want a medic along most missions. They also have a number of vehicles. Sadly, only a few levels actually allow for vehicle use, usually they only help in getting around the map faster.
The Bad
I loved the early part of the game and disliked the end. At the beginning, you can only withstand a few hits. Caution and stealth are rewarded, once you get towards the end of the game, your characters are basically tanks. Enough shots will kill them, but it's rare. Level design reflects this too. Early missions are varied, later missions are all about combat. Early missions seem to have more avenues towards completion, but end levels are extraordinarily linear. My biggest complaint is that missions never deviate from what is stated in the briefing. Some games (Tie Fighter comes to mind) had missions that varied wildly from the briefing, you had to use your best judgment and play it by ear, not here.
Squad members are personalized by portraits, but don't have any personality. At least in the earlier Fallout games they used floating text to communicate. Because they aren't personalized, it really doesn't matter which ones you pick. Even the nonhuman characters that open up don't matter. Mech Commander, flawed as it was, personalized the characters with animated faces and messages. Also, while in turn-based mode, you have complete control, there is no control in real-time. Fallout 2 had a customizable combat option of members of your party, I wished that I could have told Jax to stop hitting me with the damn Uzi. Also it would have been nice if they had the initiative to heal themselves or switch weapons if they ran out of ammo.
RANTS
Bandaging isn't funny! Performing first aid a lot does NOT turn people into mummies.
Enough with the random encounters! I would have loved to have adjusted the frequency of random encounters.
Four endings is nice, but getting the best ending is so hard I consider it a major bug!
WORST MANUAL EVER! Fallout games should at least have kick ass manuals. This one sucked. Cheaply made, lacks vital information, and has many typos (as the in-game text has too). "Levle 9"?
SPECIAL NOTE- The game has a tough guy option that gets rid of in-mission saves in return for much more experience. While missions are very long, I can see using this option for all the extra xp BUT this game tends to crash so keep that in mind if you choose that option.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line, Fallout Tactics is mostly good, and well worth the $20 I paid for it. It isn't an RPG, but were you pissed when LucasArts released Dark Forces instead of another X-Wing game?
Oh, get the latest patch (God help you if you need the 80 meg one) the game will still be buggy, but at least it's playable.
Windows · by Terrence Bosky (5397) · 2005
A fairly good continuation of the Fallout Series.
The Good
This grime, continuing in the tradition of Fallout 1 & 2, is gritty, grimy, and dirty (in more ways than one). Having control over an entire squad of characters enables you to realistically change the environment of the wasteland without having to play a Messionic character. The plot is fairly strong and, though it has its occasional holes, it provides a nice backdrop for splattering mutants.
The Bad
Unfortunately, you don't have as much control over your squad as might be nice some times. There is a formation system, but it falls short of being as useful as it could be. Additionally, you can go through a good 2/3 of the game and find yourself with totally inadequate characters for completing it. With some careful planning you're alright.... but the first time through can be murderously difficult without that foresight
The Bottom Line
A tactically-based combat game with just a pinch of roleplaying, Fallout : BOS is a continuation of the acclaimed Fallout series. Prepare to roll up your sleeves and do some dirty work, as you get the "opportunity" to duke it out with several mutated creatures and races of the wastelands, some of whom are smarter than others.
Windows · by Michael Miller (2) · 2001
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
never played fallout, start with fallout tactics? | cow (333) | Dec 22, 2007 |
Trivia
Art
Fallout Tactics did NOT use any of the arts used in previous Fallout games. Interplay was unable to retrieve the archive of previous art on the backup tape. This caused quite a bit of problems for the developer as extra artists had to be hired to redo all the art from scratch.
Corrupt files
Following the tradition of "fatal bugs" that have plagued the Fallout series and which prompt you to get a patch right from the start, Fallout Tactics was initially released with some corrupt files in a batch of "bad" CDs that make it literally impossible to play. The only fix for this is to download a 85MB file from the Interplay's FT:BOS site and replace it following a series of precise instructions. That is in addition to the regular bug patches.
Development
MicroForte was contracted by 14 Degrees East to do Fallout Tactics. They caught Interplay's attention when they demoed a game featuring their isometric game engine. Interplay didn't like the game, but liked the engine well enough they suggested MicroForte to do Fallout Tactics instead.
Endings
There are four different endings, depending on your final choices. Destroy, send someone else, or submit? The last depends on how much karma you got.
Extras
Fallout Tactics had a special bonus mission CD that was available only by pre-ordering the game from Interplay or certain outlets (Amazon, etc).
German version
In the German version all blood and death animations were removed.
GOG release
In December 2013, Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics were given away for free on the download distribution platform GOG. This was the last month Interplay had the distribution rights for the games before they went to Bethesda. The games were pulled from GOG on January 01, 2014. They were readded to the catalogue with Bethesda as publisher on August 26, 2015.
Photoshop
If you try playing Fallout Tactics with Photoshop running, you'll be told Fallout Tactics cannot run "due to Photoshop's evil presence."
References
The "stinky meat platter" you find in various places throughout the game is probably a nod to Mahlon Smith's "StinkyMeat Project". As of 2001 it was available at http://www.thespark.com/science/stinkymeat/
References
- The game has many pop-culture references that mentions everything from Diablo (the game) and Everquest (the game) to the movies The Terminator, Die Hard, The Sixth Sense, The Space Race, Pitch Black (the character Riddick makes an appearance) and plenty of things in between.
- Morte from Planescape: Torment, does a little cameo in a special encounter. As you can see in the screenshots section.
Information also contributed by Kasey Chang, kbmb, Kyle Levesque, Zovni and Evolyzer
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Related Sites +
-
Duck and Cover
An extensive Fallout fan site with information on all the Fallout games and the Fallout Bible. -
Fallout Wastelands - The Vault Dweller's Survival Guide
An excellent unofficial fan site for the Fallout series. -
No Mutants Allowed
Real Fallout fans never die - they just get a little radioactive after a while! NMA is the most comprehensive unofficial Fallout series site on the internet. -
The Vault
Wiki based encyclopedia about all things Fallout.
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Kartanym.
Windows Apps added by Koterminus.
Additional contributors: Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe, Kasey Chang, Unicorn Lynx, Apogee IV, Vaelor, LepricahnsGold, 6⅞ of Nine, Paulus18950, Patrick Bregger, Evolyzer, Đarks!đy ✔.
Game added April 3, 2001. Last modified April 13, 2024.