I come in, watch a cute 50’s-style propaganda ad for the game, sit down, and am told I can’t talk about the character’s backstory (which I didn’t end up seeing anyway), the pictures on the loading screens (which I didn’t pay attention to), and the 360 achievements (which I didn’t care about).
I started inside Vault 101, right next to the exit. I was told if I went forward, I’d run into Megaton. If I went left, I’d end up in Springvale, where a “fun” elementary school was waiting for me.
Considering every Fallout 3 preview I’ve ever read greatly details the ins and outs of Megaton (there’s an undetonated bomb in the middle of the city, which you can set off in a side quest), I decided on Springvale.
Exiting the vault reminded me why, despite whatever complaints one might have with the way Bethesda handles Fallout, the epic first-person 3D RPG will always be better than 2D, isometric third person perspective. In the original Fallout, as you’re leaving the vault, some text tells you something like, “You see a bright light ahead of you. This is the first time in your life you have seen sunlight.” That’s well and good, but it’s nothing like actually stepping out of the Vault into pure whiteness, so bright and overwhelming that I momentarily thought the game had crashed. The whiteness slowly faded away, however, and I realized that my character, the vault dweller, was adjusting his eyes to a sunlight he’d never before been exposed to in his life.
It was awesome.
So, Springvale. I show up, and a floating Enclave propaganda robot (remember them, from Fallout 2? I guess they’re still around) was floating around, spewing out inspirational speeches from – is that who I think it is? – Malcolm MacDowell! This can only lead me to believe that he’s probably the end boss or something (why would you ever include Malcolm MacDowell in a game and NOT make him the end boss). I left the bot alone, searching for the elementary school.
I got lost, and ended up in a small house. A young woman with white hair came out, asking if a nearby gangster from Megaton had sent me to collect her debt. I told her no, that I was just looking for my dad, that I didn’t want any trouble, and that I would take her money to the gangster for her so she wouldn’t have to risk it. She thanked me and gave me all her bottle caps.
Then I shot her to death.
What? Don't judge me.
I wanted to see if, as was the case in the original Fallout, you could kill any character at any time. And, if that poor woman was any indication, you can.
I found it, entered it, and was pleased (if frightened) to be immediately greeted with gunfire from a Raider on the second floor of the foyer. It was at this moment that I got to experience the hybridized FPS/turn based combat on display. Of course, I was too excited to actually activate the VATS system, so I just shot at him a lot in realtime first person, chased him around, and shot him some more until he died. Pretty standard, but fun and immersive.
Also, I’ve got a Nuka Cola. Just throwing that out there. I’m looking at it right now. If I drank soda I’d down that crap in a second.
I get to the basement of the elementary school, and am ambushed by another Raider, this one female and wielding a knife. She rushes toward me and, looking down at the little card in front of me, find that the right bumper starts the VATS system. I activate it, and time freezes. You probably know how it works by now (time freezes and you use action points to target specific parts of your enemy’s body). When I heard about this, I assumed it would be an alternate way to play through the entire game: those looking for a modern experience could play it in realtime FPS style, I thought, while purists could just stick to the VATS system.
In reality, it’s far more likely that every Fallout 3 player will have to indulge in a bit of both. The VATS system is so useful, and so deadly (once you get within a reasonable distance of your enemy, headshots can have a 75% chance of connecting, with a pretty hefty chance to cripple their eyesight), that it almost becomes a powerup – like bullet time, almost. I used all my action points to pump the Raider’s face full of 9mm lead, and after a slow-mo animation showing my character fire multiple times at her, I watched in glee as my final bullet scored a critical hit and her head flew off.
I didn’t say her head exploded. I didn’t say there was a gory exit wound.
Her head.
Flew.
Off.
Like someone had whacked her in the neck with a katana.
My mouth was agape in horror, but also enjoyment.
I fought many more Raiders and eventually made my way to Megaton (stopping to blow up a propaganda bot on the way: they only take a few shots to destroy, and they have no defenses). I unfortunately spent so long roaming around the wastelands, trying in vain to find Megaton and fighting all manner of huge radioactive bees and rabid dogs and hockey mask-wearing raiders (his head DID explode, sending an eyeball in one direction and half his skull in another) that by the time I got to Megaton, I only had about five minutes left to play.
I entered Megaton, tried to find the mob boss’s bar in order to kill him and avenge her death (it still counts as avenging her death even if I’m the one who killed her), and found the front door locked (thus making it the least patron-friendly bar in history). Trying to pick the lock initiated a little lockpicking minigame, which I was in too much of a hurry to read the instructions to (it didn’t look all that enthralling). I had the option to force the lock open at risk of breaking it. So I forced it. And it broke. And I couldn’t get in.
With only two minutes left of playtime, I ran frantically around Megaton trying to find someone to kill in a hilarious way.
That’s when I ran into an adorable, elderly woman who was the wife of one of the town guards. After some very amiable conversation, we said our goodbyes and I shot her in the face with my hunting rifle.
She survived, unfortunately, and ran away as the rest of the town guards came to rip me limb from limb. Frequently giving myself stimpacks to heal myself (up on the d-pad), I chased after her, lusting for blood. I shot her in the leg, hoping to cripple her. The bullet found its home, but she kept going. I initiated VATS. Aimed for her head. Fired.
THE
OLD
LADY’S
HEAD
EXPLODED.
I let myself get gangraped by the guards after that, because I knew there was no way my play session was going to get any better.
I know I didn’t really experience the nonlinear RPG aspects of the game – you know, the things that Fallout is really known for – but I now sure as hell know that the combat mechanics are, if not identical to those in the original Fallout games, really goddamned fun.
HER FUCKING HEAD EXPLODED.
old ladies, gangrape, exploding heads.
This game has everything I need & more.
I cannot wait for this game!
I adore, nay, worship Fallout and it's sequel. But, unlike many other Fallout fans, I didn't scream foul when I discovered that Bethesda was making Fallout 3, and were doing it as a FPS style RPG. Because, I also have enjoyed playing the Elder Scroll series (That includes Arena & Daggerfall) as long as I've played Fallout series, so I knew that the game was in good hands. And, now based on what I have read here, as well as the G4 video showing the game be played, I know this will be another classic that find a special place in my heart and my VGM*.
*Shameless Blog Plug!
fuck you.
PS:Im sorry, I love you. This sounds as awesome I can imagine it. I kiss my pre-order ticket everyday.
I never played the fallout games - this one looks damn good though - from your description anyway. Volunteer gangrape FTW!
FUN.
Reading this I peed myself in excitement. Can't wait.
Oh man, why did you have to raise my lust level for this game to an uncontrollable high? Why Anthony, why?
"She thanked me and gave me all her bottle caps.
Then I shot her to death."
Well-played.
"She's coming right at us!"
*Shoots Granny in the head*
And just remember what Dick the Warlock says: "That orphanage attacked ME!"
You have no idea how hard I'm laughing over here right now at your commentary. Shame on me for finding joy in an old woman's death. xD
Classic as always Rev. My understanding is that the extra gore is like a power that you have to unlock and use. I am as visceral as the next guy, but wondering if it gets old...
Just Kidding. The VATS system does feel like a turn based bullet time. I'd probably be playing in that mode more often than real time FPS as I love the cinematic angles that it employs with the kill cam.
As the kind of person that selected the Bloody Mess trait on every play through of fallout I can only hope that every fight will end in an awesomely gory fatality.
I can't freaking wait for this game. I'm beyond excited.
I am so unbelievably envious of you right now.
DO NEED.
Any shred of doubt in my mind about Fallout 3 is now gone.
The age old question. Is it possible to explode old ladies heads?
Thanks to Rev we now know. Thank you Rev. Thank you.
it took longer to read this than to play the 30 minutes of demo
That is why my collector's edition with bobblehead and lunchbox is already ordered.
Something to point out you said, "I had the option to force the lock open at risk of breaking it. So I forced it. And it broke. And I couldn’t get in."
Curious indeed because in the developer walkthrough the other day the developer said you couldn't do that, that locks were basically for the people skilled in lockpicking to enjoy. Go Bethesda at that improvement!! I am going through the video again to check what he said exactly. BRB
I don't know which I got a boner at, the mention of an old grandmother lady or her head exploding. Either way I think I have a problem... the fact I don't own this game yet. Zing.
This write up made my day.
I can not WAIT for this game and your write up made me pee my pants with excitement!!!!
So the ultraviolence is what makes this game so awesome? I think I'll skip this one. Not that I'm against violence in any way. Just that the gore is the only thing people talk about (even the devs) when they show this game. I was over that when Mortal Kombat II came out. Wake me up when there is some storyline and depth to go with the exploding granny heads.
The option to play as an old granny, now thats what i want :)
Best preview ever.
EXPLODED!
More brainless drooling over stupidly over the top violence. Yawn, yes with crits and/or Bloody Mess a shot to the head 'comedically' causes all the limbs to drop off of a body in a totally unconvincing way.
How about some info about the actual RPG bit of the fucking game. I'm sick of hearing about "OMG TEH HEAD BLEW UP". What about the game mechanics, the dialogue, the quests? From what I've seen so far the only thing this has going for it is ludicrous violence. Seems Bethesda only bought Fallout so they didn't have to come up with another world to fill because they've taken everything about the game, binned it and thrown a few icons in to be able to say "Hey guys, it's your Fallout sequel".
There is more to the game than exploding heads right?
God I give up, when I saw a Dtoid hands on I thought it would finally be the one that didn't fap constantly over the gibbing but no...
Further proof of why you have to be one of, if the the, best Dtoid blogger.
While reading I was able to envision the whole series of events as if I was the one playing the game...excellent writing Rev.
Sounds like a good time, Rev. I hope it comes out soon.
O God I want to play this game so bad. Hilarious write up Rev.
@Timmeh
Honestly I think everyone is talking about the combat because in this environment (E3), that's all you really have time to demo. RPGs aren't the easiest thing to demo in 30 minutes especially open world ones so when you have a quick hands on (especially since it's most everybody's 1st time getting a hands-on), that becomes the focus. You're really going to have to wait until they let people sit down with the game without a time limit to hear some impressions about the story/dialogue parts.
LoL, too funny, Rev. I'm, not really TOO excited for this game (I still want to play Fallout 1&2 before even considering to look at the 3rd game), but it's starting to look like I'll need to buy it.
DO WANT.
This game is going to amazing.
@GuitarAtomik
You're right about the specifics of conversation really, I guess what I really meant was some slightly better write up and critiquing of the combat wouldn't go amiss and is entirely possible. I don't see the point of posting the EXACT same thing we've all seen 20 times in various articles or videos. It just doesn't strike me as particularly interesting journalism.
Ok, now I have to stop reading anything about this game until it comes out. Thanks Anthony.
@Timmeh: Agree with you about the lack of specifics to narrative control/outcome and skills/abilities outside of combat, but unfortunately we live on a Internet Highway where the same stuff sells well over and over again :p
My excitement just went up a HUNDRED times.
Oh and @007
I wouldn't bother playing previous Fallout games as a precursor to this. Todd Howard has said that the game is meant for newcomers to the Fallout world, it has little to nothing to do with previous installments.
Ha, wow sounds great. I still need to get this pre-ordered.
Ho mang... Do want.
So much hate Rev 8(
But the game sounds reallllllllly good, might be doing the exact same thing when I get the game
I've got some serious wood right now.
Is it can be Fallout 3 tiem nao plz?
Agape. It's a word, look it up. It means "open".
I see your agape and raise you an ajar!
Can you kill the children at the elementary school?
@Timmeh:
You sir, are one magnificent bastard.
Yuss! Back to using bottle caps as currency!
I hope you enjoy gore. Hours and hours of gore. That's pretty much all you're going to get.
what a great read. Rev. Ant, you da man.
only thing i'm worried about in this game is something you briefly brought up: VATS could end up being too powerful, like an unlimited bullet time. oh well, PEOPLE'S HEADS ASPLODE!!!
I have to admit, before E3 I planned on buying this game, but since E3 my anticipation level for it has been turned up to 11!
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