Alright, the abridged version then.
Basically, Fallout 3 plays like a Bethesda RPG and the Fallout series had a baby, and that baby became the savior of the Oblivion engine.
If you weren't that big a fan of Oblivion, don't fret you'll still most likely like Fallout. Like previous Bethesda titles, Fallout 3 allows you to play the game the way you want to play it, the decisions your make in game will change the outcome of your game. A karma system allows you to keep track of how famous or infamous your character has become. Playing the game as good or evil will obviously result in different dialogues, different perks, and in some instances different cities being nuked (sometimes by you). Also, like in previous fallout titles, certain followers will only affix themselves to you if your karma is aligned with theirs. Playing one way or the other isn't necessarily harder, its just different, so obviously there is alot of incentive to play through the game multiple times (or play it like I am with 2 different characers at once trying out different dialogues and methods for accomplishing my goals).
Characer development is slightly different in F3 than in previous betheda titles. Like in other Bethesda games, you'll assign your initial career points in stats in the direction you want your character to play in. There are a few preset type classes, or you can simply choose to mix and match your points in whatever skills fit your playstyle. Unlike morrowind and oblivion, your skills won't level up by swimming in one direction for hours, or hopping everywhere you go. Instead when you level up, you'll simply be assigning points into the areas you wish to improve. There are many different skills in this game, each one allows you to play the game slightly differently so really... there's almost infinite replay value to this game as long as you have the stomach for it.
The world is beautifully realized to say the least. It looks every bit as impressive, depressing, creepy, and intriguing as you could possibly imagine a post nuclear apocalyptic world would look. There are tons of optional side quests, which are deffinately worth doing if for no other reason than it sends you to areas on the world you wouldn't normally travel to and really helps you to explore your surroundings. I really never get tired of just exploring the world. I could wander around for hours just looking at shit and dying to random high level wasteland dwelling enemies. The wastelands really just feel very alive, and eerily realistic. Being caught outside city gates after night fall definately invokes a feeling of dread. The Wasteland feel every bit as wild and untamed as a lawless land of raiders and super mutants should feel.
Combat in the game is extremely fun. It plays out almost like a first person shooter, except your range, accurracy, and damage with certain weapons is mostly dependant on your stats. On top of this, they've also implemented the VATS system, which allows you to freeze time and target specific limbs of your enemy's body. Doing so uses action points, which recharge over time. The NATS system is nostalgic of the old turn based combat from the previous fallout games, additionally killing someone in this combat mode is very graphically rewarding. For example, getting a direct hit on someone's head from close range with a shotgun blows it off. Getting a critical hit with a lazer incinerates them into a pile of ash. The slow motion death animations almost never get old.
Overall, the game is just excellent. I have my copy as an indeffinate rental for the time being, but i can deffinately see myself adding it to my collection after i''ve played through it once.
(maybe not so abridged)
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