Fallout 3 (PS3)

Fallout has courted a lot of controversy even before the games release. The controversy was leveled at the fact that some were accusing various newspapers of deliberately stoking up fear by using graphics from this game to depict a horrendous terrorist attack.

The plot for this game however has nothing to do with a terrorist attack but you do enter the heartlands or should I see the wastelands of what was formerly America prior to a nuclear war between China and America. However there have been a few survivors in the horrific aftermath due to the fact that the extremely wealthy were protected by underground vaults. However several generations on from what is now left standing on the earth, your character discovers that his father has gone missing and sets out to find him.

Society as we have known it has broken down and so with it has formed a number of groups. There is a working community, a group of bandits, the unfortunates who could not hide from the blast but who survived have been mutated due to the radiation they have been exposed to. Your character will set out on a journey of discovery and one where he will make choices along the way. Will he work for the betterment of what remains in society or will he sell his soul for riches? your decisions will have a direct impact upon how this game unfolds.

Of course along your journey it will be necessary to defend yourself against potential hostiles and although you do not start off with many weapons to write home about, you can obtain some extremely powerful weapons.

During fights you can manually aim and fight in real time or with enough points, you can target a particular body part of the enemy, in which case time freezes while you pick your spot. Needless to say the outcome of some of these shots is very bloody and someone a little stomach churning.

Another aspect of realism which has been introduced is the potential for your character to become addicted to alcohol. The alcohol for a short while will actually be of benefit to you because it will improve your confidence but too much will leave your vision impaired and your health will deteriorate. Similarly you will need medication to heal you from the radiation which your body will absorb but if you take too much you will again become addicted.

This is a very savage game and can appreciate why it will be off putting to some people. However it is certainly not without it's technical faults. While the magazines have been quick to praise this game's originality it is beset by glitches. These glitches include weird incidents in which things suddenly fly off into the sky such as buses as well as a buying glitch which guarantees you more money.

Graphically the game is quite impressive, there is a lot of detail both on the landscapes and on the characters you will encounter. The game can immerse you in the action but somehow it seems to be lacking something. The plot is quite good, the characters you encounter each have their own traits but somehow it lacks the sheer excitement of a shoot them up and lacks the depth of a genuine rpg.

A good game but doesn't for me live up to the hype