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A worthy successor to a groundbreaking RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 26
Date: September 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 are available in a cheap bundle pack, but the bundle apparently does not include the amazing game manuals.

The Fallout games rank among the top few computer RPGs ever created. When the genre was in a slump, Fallout breathed fresh life into it. Fallout's originality, gritty post-apocalyptic environment, brilliant plot, and open-ended non-linear gameplay left an indelible mark upon the face of role playing. Anyone who appreciates Fallout 1 will enjoy the much larger Fallout 2.

Fallout has an isometric three-quarters view and features turn-based combat.

Fallout 1 began the great saga. When nuclear fired rained from the heavens, incinerating most of humanity, a lucky few reached the safety of underground bunkers. The player character, later known as the Vault Dweller, was born and raised in the womblike Vault 13. Fifty years after the war, the vault's water chip malfunctioned, and the Vault Dweller was sent outside to find a replacement. The hero fought terrible enemies in the chaotic wastelands of California and suffered greatly during [...].

Fallout 2 takes place 80 years after Fallout 1 and 130 years after the nuclear war that nearly exterminated the human race. The heroic Vault Dweller founded a primitive tribal village in Northern California, and taught the tribe to live in peaceful seclusion, before wandering into the wasteland once more. You are the Vault Dweller's descendant, the Chosen One. You must quest for a Garden of Eden Creation Kit that may save your dying village. You depart alone into the hostile wasteland, where corrupt societies tempered by constant warfare will challenge your naive upbringing. Many dangers await you: mutant beasts feed off of unwary travelers; the few decent farmers who plow the barren soil are murdered by barbaric raiders; criminals overpower lawmen; and an ancient power pursues a sinister agenda.

In a CRPG market dominated by fantasy archetypes of elves and wizards, the Fallout setting is radically distinct. It revitalizes tired fantasy conventions: the fallen, legendary kingdom is America; dark undead-infested dungeons are replaced by crumbling mutant-infested sewer systems; there is an unconventional stronghold of armored Paladins and Knights; and ancient buried scrolls are supplanted by scientific holo-disks.

The Fallout world is highly stylized, blending many influences into a unique package. It melds futuristic and retro styles, reflecting a futuristic post-apocalyptic world as imagined by 50's-era Americans, complete with vacuum tubes, blasters, giant mutants, and war propaganda. Fallout also drew inspiration from westerns, Mad Max, cheesy sci-fi movies, Monty Python and Douglas Adams.

The unique character creation system does not involve classes or races, and focuses instead on attributes, traits, skills, and perks. It is simple to use and allows endless customization: a perceptive sniper can target a Radscorpion's eye across the screen, a skillful thief can creep past guards and rob merchants blind, a martial artist can kick highwaymen in the groin, and a diplomat can end conflicts without violence. Any combination is possible. The game's non-linear plot rewards unique characters by allowing multiple solutions to each quest.

Players have unprecedented freedom to shape their destiny without being herded along by a forced plot. Actions bestow a positive or negative reputation, and people react accordingly. Become a champion of justice or an enemy of decency. Free the slaves or join the slavers. Secure an alliance between two towns or set them at each others' throats. Nearly anyone can be killed, but prepare for the consequences. Become a sheriff or a porn star, or both. Also, play at least once with minimum intelligence - this limits conversational choices to grunts and causes people to treat the character as an idiot.

Fallout 2's low-resolution graphics were obsolete when it was first released, and may disappoint gamers who have been spoiled by modern graphics. There are few character models; towns seem to be populated by clones. Fortunately, the technical shortcomings are overcome by the brilliant art design. The original environments are visually compelling and the visceral death animations enliven combat.

The moody music helps create an immersive environment. The voice actors and sound effects are superb.

The NPC allies in Fallout 1 were notoriously unreliable. They shot the player in the back and blocked doorways at every opportunity. They could not wear armor and did not gain levels. Fallout 2 improved them, allowing the player to change their combat behaviors, push them out of doorways, upgrade their armor, and watch them grow stronger. However, even Fallout 2 NPCs should not be trusted with miniguns.

The game manual (which may or may not be included) is wire-bound, thick, well-detailed, humorous, and illustrated. Game companies no longer produce manuals of this quality.

Fallout 2 has even more graphic violence, sex, and language than Fallout 1. Some adult content can be removed through the control panel.

There exists a debate as to whether Fallout 1 or Fallout 2 is superior, and consensus will never be reached. Fallout 2 has much greater scope, with more towns, quests, NPCs, and guns. It has a much improved party control system. Fallout 1 is more cohesive thematically, while the sequel went overboard on non-thematic elements such as pop-culture references, Easter Eggs, mobsters, and yakuza. Fallout 2 suffers from a boring opening area, the Temple of Trials, which is especially dull when replaying the game for the fourth time.

While the settings for both games are fascinating, Fallout 1 proves more loyal to classic survival themes. Fallout 1 takes place soon after the nuclear war: resources are limited, shanty towns contain warring factions, little communication and trade passes between towns, and barter systems are rudimentary. Fallout 2 takes place much later: unified city states control advanced technology and uniformed armies, regular trade passes between strongly allied governments, and gold currency is widely accepted.

Both games are amazing and should be played in their proper order, as the sequel continues the plot to a great conclusion. Fallout 1 and 2 are perfect games for anyone who likes creative RPGs, post-apocalyptic themes, and imaginative stories.

-Zach Zelmar

Wow. I need a sixth star here...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: December 07, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Some games rise above others, but there are a precious few that look down from above the clouds. Fallout 2 is one of those. The best thing about it is that everything matters. If you make a smart, fast character, you'll never carry a lot of gear or use a lot of the bigger weapons. If you make a strong, tough character, you'll be too dumb to notice special little things or to convince people to help you out. That's simplifying it, too; there are tons of available options and your character is fully customizable, and all of these details have tangible game effects.

Fallout 2 is also pretty hard, but not too hard. I don't enjoy cakewalk games, and this definitely isn't one. Your companions have an annoying habit of getting themselves killed, and it's up to you to keep it from happening. If you do stupid things, the enemies WILL kill you too, and quickly.

Last but not least, the humor--sometimes cornball and sometimes not--that permeates the game draws from everything from Monty Python (you can meet the bridgekeeper from Holy Grail! ) on down. I've laughed myself to tears a couple of times.

This game lacks only one thing: stunning visuals. And I promise, you'll be too engrossed in the game to worry about those. Fallout 2 = Must Buy.

.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: April 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Ahh -- this game came to me like a cool, refreshing breeze in the middle of a desert. I had just about given up hope. Console RPGs were too juvenile and restrictive-feeling, and computer RPGs were vanishing in favor of ugly-looking polygon-littered 3-D FX adventures. I figured that Ultima VII, several years back, had been the end of the kind of RPG I knew and loved, because I hadn't seen anything come remotely close to matching it since. (I should mention that I missed out on the original Fallout.) But I thought Fallout 2 looked interesting, took a chance on it, and felt that familiar old flood of video-game inspired joy wash through me.

This is a fantastic game. Not perfect, but 10x better than most of the games that've been available in the last few years. Refreshing element 1: it isn't for children, nor is it for people with the attention span of children. Refreshing element 2: it has an interesting and reasonably nicely laid-out storyline, but at the same time, refrains from *smothering* itself in story, leaving an entertaining degree of freedom in the hands of the player. Refreshing element 3: unlike most console RPGs, you don't have to "do the right, good, family-values oriented thing." You can shoot drugs, slaughter the innocent, bribe, steal, pimp, push, whore yourself around, contract STDs, and a host of other fun things. At the same time, you have innumerable chances to commit virtuous deeds, free slaves, engage in winning and complex subplots, etc., until you have made yourself something close to a living god in the eyes of the people. Both of these options, and the range they represent, are key, and contribute remarkably to the entertainment factor.

All of these things may seem fairly basic, but I think it is these fundamental aspects that are too often missing from RPGs. Another great thing about Fallout 2 is its aesthetic tact. It is a very attractive looking, admirably designed game, with lots of nice graphics, yet at the same time it doesn't go overboard in a desperate attempt to impress you merely with its technological cookies. Yes, it is a 2-D game -- and god bless it for that. No, there isn't a cinematic interlude every 4 minutes -- bless it for that as well. It is appealing visually, but it balances this with its other strengths to enhance the overall experience of actually involving yourself with the game.

Only complaint: some technical glitches here and there. I reached a point not long ago where I was mysteriously finding my "car" in every town I visited. Sometimes, only half of it was there. Very strange, and rather annoying, because glitches like that sometimes threaten to ruin an entire game. But this aside, this is sure to be a fine, fine purchase for anyone looking for a good, solid, mature, interesting, well-balanced, tactful, and epic RPG.

Great RPG; blood, guts, more guts and blood and even RPGing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: April 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I remember the first FALLOUT game sat on my shelf for a long time b/c a friend, who had lent it to me, told me it was a post nuclear holocast world. Personally, it sounded too grim so I didn't check it out for months.

Well, when I finally loaded it in, I was in for a big surprise. Shortly thereafter, I rushed out to get FALLOUT2.

THE GOOD PARTS ABOUT THIS GAME

(1) Unlike most RPGs you get to roleplay with a variety of educated replies. If you pick the right ones, you get more information. And, if you screw up, too bad. You don't get to ask the other questions for the most part. I always hate in the RPGs where you tick off a person and then ask them another question and they act like you're their friend.

Even better, if you have a high intelligence or good speech skills, you're rewarded with more dialogue options.

(2) great graphics; great noises; all the weapons and noises of dying people, if that's your thing, are fairly believable. You can even click BLOODY MESS as a perk to see some really gruesome visuals.

(3) you can have more allies; you can outfit them with better armor and weapons; all have different personalities which means they may or may not be good in combat; may leave you if you tick them off;

(4) opponents are tougher; you get away with less mistakes; positioning is much more important;

(5) the storyline is multilayered; the game lasts about three times as long as the original fallout; much more to do;

(6) as it is longer, you effect more of the world at the end of the story;

(7) new and better weapons to penetrate power armor; a problem in the first FALLOUT;

(8) less linear; there is a time limit of sorts but only for about 10% of the game; thereafter, you can meander all you like w/o running out of time;

(9) more perks and such to make yourself toughter; look for THE SLAYER!;

(10) less bugs; be sure to go their website and get the PATCH update if not included;

(11) get to use a car in this game to drive around and move quickly;

(12) usual opponents from FALLOUT are turned on their head; the enemy isn't always the enemy;

(13) chance to meet more women in the game if that's your thing;

(14) much tougher wandering encounters; happens more often, too;

(15) bandits are much tougher; watch it!

(16) the game rewards you if you choose to go down the dark path or the path of light

THINGS NOT SO GOOD

(1) You need a lot of time to play this game; like 50 hrs I would say or more;

(2) If you're big on logic or environmental issues, there are too many monsters and no creatures to prey on except a small number of humans. I walk around fighting things left and right and then find some safe peddler out in the middle of nowhere. Geesh.

If you can overlook that though, not a big deal.

Overall, a great game with lots of RPGing. Five stars and more. You will love.

The heir of Wasteland

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: February 03, 2000
Author: Amazon User

The game Wasteland has been considerd by many to be the classic computer based RPG, it was MAD MAX meets TERMINATOR. A nuclear war had been fought and mankind was struggling out of the wreckage but was suddnely faced with the threat of annihilation by the machines. That was were you came in to save the day by journeying through a world after the bomb. It was in depth and exciting with alot of replayability. But after Wasteland there was a void there were some good RPGs but none had the "magic" that Wasteland had that is until now. Fallout II is one of two best RPGs I have ever played (the other for sentimental reasons is Wasteland). Some of the annoying features of the first Fallout have been remedied such as being able to pick your traveling companions weapons and armor. There are alot of subplots within the game as well as the main plotline so you always have something to do, I never really experienced a deadend when I didn't have a clue what to do. The storyline is alot like Wasteland with an after the bomb theme and the need to save the surviving world from some ominous "threat". I had hours of enjoyment journeying through towns that looked like they came out of a Mad Max movie and then suddenly finding towns and settlements that had preserved technology and civillization. The interaction with Non Player characters was very nice with important characters having animated sequences when you spoke with them, this was cool from an enterainment standpoint but also let you know when you had found someone important to solving the game. Combat was very efficient with lots of weapons and weapon options. Be advised the combat can be GORY but there is a feature to disable it for those who prefer a santized version.

Awesome role-playing for a PC

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 13, 1999
Author: Amazon User

I love this game. From start to finish, I have played this three times. The option to keep playing after the game "ends" is a great improvement over the first "Fallout" game. It can be brutal, so keep your companions alive as long as they are usefull (everyone who sucks up another attack is one less for you). On the down side, this game is addictive. The variations can cause a different tack to be taken every time. The blood level can cause the squemish to shy away, but players can use the options to reduce it a little. On the other hand you can totally annihilate an opponent in a very gruesome manner (ever see a ganster turned to slag, or blown to bits?) and still take time out for the ladies. Character interactions with the NPCs are a vital part of the game, for good or bad, and are just as important as the combat side of things. All in all, brutal, bloody, and fascinating. Great game!

What a great game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: May 14, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is a real shot in the arm for RPGs. I thought the genre was dead, with pretenders like Final Fantasy claiming to be be RPGs. Then Fallout 2 came and restored my faith in gaming. This game is just incredible. I love the setting, with the whole psot-apocalyptic thing. It gets you in a real survivalist mood. Not many reviews have mentioned that the dialogue you can engage in with NPC's is incredibly funny. I liked nothing better than when I walked up to this guy in New Reno, uttered a smug one-liner, and shot him to pieces with my Tommy Gun. I love the vast selection of weapons. It's got everything from a spear to a gatling gun and rocket launcher, to a laser gun. It's nice to have choices! My one beef with the game is that it is kinda buggy. Traveling between towns is too tough, but you can eliminate this problem by getting a car(sweet) and traveling in style. If you want an RPG with brains, style, and attitude, buy this game

A Classic and a Must-Have

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I played the demo of the first Fallout game years ago off of a demo disk that a friend of mine got in the mail. Suffice it to say that I bought the original Fallout shortly thereafter and became enamoured by even the idea of a sequel. However, unlike poorly written sequels to boxoffice smash hits Fallout 2 delivered with absolutism. Not only were the game's core competencies improved, but the entire scope of the game had been expanded. The developers kept what they had done well in the first game and retooled things that had needed work. It wasn't long before Fallout 2 had taken the highest spot on my video game hierarchy.

The quality of the game though is not entirely recognized the first time through. I throughly enjoyed playing through the game the first time, but I soon realized that on my second and third times through I was still finding a vast number of differences. You see, Fallout is not like a typical game that is wholly linear. There are many different ways to reach the end, and major subplots can be avoided, skipped or completely overlooked on any single time through the game. Different paths or methods or styles can therefore be used to complete the game. I no longer judge a game on how much it challenges me or how difficult it is to finish it. I consider the whole value of the entertainment that I derive from it. Hence, the long-standing value of the game has become its replayability.

I have played many games in my life. Some of them have provided far more intense entertainment than Fallout 2 and others have challenged me more. However, none have come so close as to match the level of long-standing entertainment that I have derived from this single game. Clearly, Fallout 2 was the best video game purchase I have ever made.

After all these years, this was the best game I ever played

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: March 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I think its been 10 years since this game was released, so I thought I should write a review, since none of the front page reviews do it justice.

To argue which of the fallout series was best is irrelevant. Its been 10 years now and both are one and the same concept. Play both, enjoy both and marvel in a world that is astonishingly engrossing. A post-nuclear environment, dark, violent, and obscene. It oozes atmosphere. The desolate landscapes, paranoid androids, and the filth and scum in between. There is remarkable insight into the societies at large. Communities that build walls to protect visa approved 'Citizens', ravaged towns filled with junkies, bums, thugs, whores and gangsters, secret brotherhoods and tribal villages, a decaying military faction, slaves, mercenaries.... the list goes on. Riddled within the world, are traces of old and new technology. The Mad Max influences are all there. Salvaged ammunition, restored handguns, modified equipment, armor, explosives, foods, drugs, alcohol,.... whatever you can find, steal, trade, buy, or kill to survive.

And that is just what lays before you as a distraction. You can just about do anything. The main objective is a deep and character driven story which requires a plethora of other side-quests. So you can quickly see how interactive and time consuming this game will become.

The character himself is riddled with quirks, skills, gifts, and character points. Its a subdivision of the game itself, to deliver and develop a character of sufficient capabilites that best suit your gameplay. A master thief, quick shooter, charismatic merchant, an incredible hulk, kung fu fighter, intelligent geek, a porn star (believe it), a tactical sniper, a outdoor scout, a cocaine addicted "tony montana"... again the list goes on. How you play the game, shapes who you are, and the quirks that are made available to you. You even have a reputation to keep, whether it is legendary, feared or downright "wanted".

The gameplay is unique to this series. It is vaguely similar to the Final Fantasy series, freestyle when you are walking around, but during fights, it changes to a turn based setup. All of a sudden an interface pops up and your character's traits and skills give rise to a subdivision of options. There are many things to consider, like action points, luck, trademark blows, health, and zoning in (body\head\limb shots)... the list goes on and on. Within this there are quirks that can help even more (e.g. there is a quick draw quirk you may obtain that can allow you to draw first blood in most fights)... you can even close shop and try to run! Also take into account the many many many different weapons available to you from knives, guns, explosives. Boost your stats with some drugs but risk getting addicted (you will have to continue to find and use). There is so much here and the interface makes it so easy to access and utilise all of it.

The graphics are obviously outdated but suprisingly I prefer it to the 3D rendering of todays RPG's. It is based on photo-realism 2d art (think Mortal Kombat 1) that used to be utilised back in the mid 90's. There is an advantage to this... it feels so much more realistic. Just take a look at some of the death animations... gruesome...
Even with all the shortcomings of this obsolete 2d technology, I think it brings more life to this post apocalyptic world.

In the thick of it all is the opportunity to meet an array of characters. Some you may allow to join you. Again you will need to manage and provide for these characters. Each with their own personality.... which brings me to my final point about this game. Something some of the RPG games even today dont have... like Grand Theft Auto. Personality. Playing this game is like reading a book. YOu become heavily invested in the characters. There is so much tongue and cheek humour, so much history (by the time you play fallout 2). Im not talking about storyline, but the characters themselves. Current generation games seem not to go past stereotypical meet and greet characters who are more interested to give you your next objective (checkpoint). Its uncanny how right they got this game. Its unjust how wrong they were to abandon Fallout 3. Interplay went bankrupt and I believe the licence has been given to another software agency to pursue Fallout 3. I have been waiting for the third one for 10 years now, every once in a while checking the computer games catelogues... Ive given up hope of a great sequel, specially in the hands of a totally different production team.

Enjoy this if you havent already

You Want RPG; You've Got RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: December 06, 1999
Author: Amazon User

This game's great! Some people are complaining that it's just about the same as the original, but how do you improve something that's perfect? Plus, it's not just the same as Fallout 1, mainly because of its many, many subplots that you can be involved in. I think the subplots are even more fun than the actual story! You'll find yourself saying, "To heck with the stinking starving villagers. I've got to become a Made Man for the Wright Family!" (or whatever your current situation is). Regardless of whether you played the last Fallout or not, it's a great game worth buying.

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