Simply put, Fallout 3 is why I game.
Make no mistake, Fallout 3 is not an FPS, it's a RPG at heart and it pays careful attention to those elements that matter most. It's a completely open and non-linear experience. At the core of this are character skills (lockpicking, science, small guns, bartering, etc.) that you choose at the start and continually pour level up points into to mold your character to fit your needs. Want to resolve conflicts diplomatically? Up your speech skill. Want more bang for your buck and equipment at shops? Then the barter skill is where it's at. Want to become a proficient thief? Then place your points in lockpicking and stealth. This player customization is at the heart of what makes Fallout 3 so amazing. There are also what is know as "perks", of which you are able to select one per level. Some examples are Cyborg, which increases your science skills and makes you better with laser weapons, or nerd's rage, which increases how much damage you inflict as well as lowers how much you receive if your health drops below a certain point. The customization goes on and on. It's a game that bends itself to the gamer's wishes and allows multiple approaches to many situations in the world. And for the most part it works beautifully.
And what a world Bethesda has created. This is a world of desperation, of survival. It's tangible, feels lived in, and most importantly it DOESN'T feel like you are the center of the universe (aside from the occasional broadcast by a particular DJ on the radio.) NPCs have their own conversations, and you'll stumble upon random battles everywhere among other things. Detail has been paid the utmost attention to everywhere. It's stunning. Main characters are unique and memorable, which lends weight to the harder moral decisions throughout, and many of the choices have consequences to some degree or another. Every decision calls for special consideration, especially early on.
To be honest, Fallout 3 does takes a bit of patience and perseverance to get your character up and running (well, depending on your starting stats it may be sooner than later.) Early levels are best spent exploring and gathering, which works great because in addition to gaining experience, money, and equipment, you'll stumble upon side-quests which aid in leveling up quicker. Most of these are very in-depth and lead to new areas with new quests that help open up the world further. I spent a good ten hours on the game before I even did the second main story mission, and by that time I was around level 8. I've heard complaints from people who were annoyed by having to struggle to stay afloat, but personally I loved it. It's the nature of the game.
The presentation is overall very well done. Graphics are fine but not exceptional, and there is some late texture and building pop-in at times. The sound mostly consists of FX with the exception of a radio, but it only has very few songs, all golden oldies. The voice acting is very well done, with one exception of a particualar shopkeeper in Megaton. Let's just say I'm grateful Bethesda was gracious enough to allow me to blow her head off. Her voice acting is completely out of place and does NOT fit in with the feeling of the game at all. I don't know if it was some sort of joke to hire that actress (I can only imagine voice acting that bad is intentional), but she's horrible and it doesn't work. On another note, one thing I did wish for was weather. Does it never rain in D.C.? Is it always overcast? Seeing the expanse of the wasteland being lit up by a lightning storm at night wandering around would've been neat to see.
Combat is great. You are able to pause the action in V.A.T.S. (Vault Assisted Targeting System) and target individual body parts and weapons, and each part can be crippled and/or broken to various effect. It allows for an element of strategy and planning. The fighting outside of V.A.T.S. is average at best but workable. There's a cinematic camera whenever it's used which is cool, but it's indecisive and does get tiring after a while. All in all though the combat is very satisfying and never gets old.
As incredibly cool as Fallout 3 is, it definitely has its faults. This game is BUGGY, make no mistake, and the save option is your best friend. There's various texture glitching, game freezes, moronic NPC companions, random occurrences (weapons won't fire after entering a building), and more. Considering how large and dynamic the world is it is understandable however nevertheless annoying. If you forget to save often you will pay for it at some point. Another thing that I found bothersome is that you have SO much freedom from the get go that you more than likely will stumble upon areas where side quests take place without actually having initiated the quest beforehand (by talking to a certain character, etc.) More than once I went and explored an area, then found out about a quest later that occurs in that same place, and the novelty would be gone. Nothing major and not quite the game's fault, but still a bummer.
But these faults are a smudge on the surface of solid gold gaming. Fallout 3 is not to be missed, and even if you're not really a RPG or FPS fan it's still worth a rental. It's atmospheric, immersive, and one of the most engrossing gaming experiences to come out in years.
Don't miss it.