14 DAY TRIAL // It could be argued that the failings of Fallout 3 stem from the inherent split personality of the game. It needs to appeal to old fans and wants to be considered a Fallout title while it also has to draw in modern gamers, more accustomed to quick titles because they lack time.
The big draw to Fallout 3 is, paradoxically, not the fact that it's a Fallout game. To those who really loved the first two titles in the series, Bethesda's game could come across as being untrue to the cannon and the standard of excellence already established. Fallout 3 is great because it shows the modern gamer why the role playing title can be enjoyed without worrying about stats, gear or very long dialog tree.
The game felt easy after a certain point. Ammo was plentiful, as were medical supplies. Most enemies were easy to take down in VATS, with only Deathclaws, Radscorpions or large groups of Super Mutants posing a real threat. Yet, the beauty of the landscapes and the question “What's beyond that hill?” will never get old. Bethesda has really put something interesting in every cluster of abandoned houses and looking around for the next landmark (an antenna, a church, the Lincoln Memorial) is sure to appeal to those who have learned to search for a new Achievement everywhere. Veterans of the series will be drawn by the lore, the SPECIAL system and the wasteland.
Sure, the story appeared rushed and some plot holes still remain unanswered directly by the game. Yet, today's player who has little time at their disposal can get a good feel of Fallout 3 in no more than 30 hours. If you focus on the main quest you can blow through the game in as little as 15 hours probably only taking the time to solve what needs to be solved and traveling only to where you really need to go. If the Capital Wasteland doesn't draw you in until then, you can finish the game and get a cool experience out of it. If the setting and the post nuclear conflict world work for you, there's always the option to search around for all locations, bobble heads, and unique weapons.
The two audiences Bethesda had to think about were so different that the end product, Fallout 3, became a compromise. And it works without a hitch most of the time. Just load up the game and play it however you want while understanding that no videogame can be the same to everyone.