Fallout 3: Any Good?

"War. War never changes." A delightful throwback to reminisce about the first in line of a tremendous series that never failed to make your jaw drop into a "Wow!" sort of an exclamation. Fallout 3 delivers the same game with new twists which make this game an easy pick for many as the Game of the Year for all of 2008. This statement brings to mind that I am talking about the Xbox 360 version and if anyone has any statements against that, feel free to list them below. With such amazing competition that has yet to be seen (Gears of War 2) maybe I am speaking a bit too soon.
Opening with a familiar scene I saw in a commercial once, it then cuts away to a familiar voice uttering the very words that sent a chill down my spine the first time I touched this series. Only to come full circle to explain to you about Vault 101. Already graphically the game took my breath away. From thousands of textures to just the few nitty gritty details that is to be expected of such a company like Bethesda to one of the greatest beginnings this medium has ever seen. Then you start off in infancy only to flash forward a few years at a time developing the story to explain to you just exactly what is Vault 101 and how you got there...at least how you think you got there. Only then do you finally reach the age of approxiamately 19 and your father goes missing. Not only that but one of his trusted friends is dead, and it was the henchmen of your best friend's father who did it! Then the sh*t hits the fan.
I have had the satisfaction of blowing off innocent people's limbs...even heads, and I most certainly have done my fair share of bad things in this game already. You have your choice starting from the moment you wake up at age 10 to be who you want to be. You can live your life on the fine line of good or evil or take it to the extreme and have people practically trying to kill you (not that they aren't already) every time you step foot into a new town or building. The first place I stepped into I had a child chasing after me with a revolver yelling words I honestly couldn't imagine a child in real life knowing! For lack of a better word I have found more good than bad in this game. The good things cover up the mistakes so well.
Take it for what it is worth but the only gripe I have thus far on Fallout 3 is that fact that walking TAKES FOREVER! The least they could have done was put in a run button. They say you run faster with a gun holstered, but it doesn't seem any different for me unless the gun I am carrying weighs more than my character would if he were real. Hell, they have gotten everything right when it comes to mashing This year's Mass Effect with their (Bethesda) former glory Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. The upgrading and the ability to make your own weapons only gets sweeter as you move on. Unlocking perks helps your character move forward with additions to all of your stats and helps you get extra bonuses like even 10% extra XP (experience) when you get kills. When you get only a few experience for taking time to defeat monsters who are bigger, stronger, and faster than you...sometimes 10% ain't so bad. The abilty to have multiple weapons (8 to be exact) hotkeyed to the directional pad makes switching on the fly so much easier than having to bring up your Pip Boy arm band every time your shotgun gives out in the middle of a fight for your life against giant-sized roaches about to eat your brains. All in all the weapons, leveling up, monsters, and perks have gotten kind of addicting and are the only real reason to play, beyond just the story leading you through.

The Rundown:

Concept: Have an entire Washington D.C. stuck in the 1950's but based in the year 2277 to yourself. Decide to be good or bad, and level up while doing it. Kill EVERYTHING that moves and you've got yourself Fallout 3.

Story: Like I said, one of the best ones to date and even has throwbacks to the first two. Wonderfully written and it has enough openess to allow for your input into the saga to really create a character who will forever go down in Science-Fiction History.

Sound and Music: Eerie as all hell. Listen to Global Radio and hearing how if you don't hide in your house you'll die then only to hear some awesome 1950's soundtrack music...I want all this music on my iPod. It is fantastic. Even the ringing sounds of gunshots allow for such pulse-pounding action...and don't get me started on the footsteps...

Controls: On the fly weapon switches and great targeting that is adjustable to your liking...it doesn't get better.

Graphics: A lot better than Oblivion which already was beautiful. No way would I trade it for anything.

The Verdict: BUY IT NOW!

Score: 9.75/10 (Deal with it)