You probably already know what the Fallout series is all about because it has become very popular since Bethesda acquired the rights to the franchise so I don't think it needs an introduction. This entry does have a more bleak atmosphere and naturally CRPGs are a far cry from console friendly shooter.
However, I believe Fallout 1 remains one of the best CRPGs ever released and a great entry point to the genre. It's very hard to screw yourself over with a bad build, the main campaign is reasonably long, most skills are useful, the retro-futuristic aesthetics were very original at the time and the writing is very good. There's no purple prose crap about the "ancient evil" or the "sword of power". Even the manual that comes with the game is fun to read.
The only aspects of the game I would criticize are the inventory, which is kind of tedious to manage, and the bugs, which aren't as bad as the later installments in the series by Bethesda, but can still be kind of annoying.
However, I believe Fallout 1 remains one of the best CRPGs ever released and a great entry point to the genre. It's very hard to screw yourself over with a bad build, the main campaign is reasonably long, most skills are useful, the retro-futuristic aesthetics were very original at the time and the writing is very good. There's no purple prose crap about the "ancient evil" or the "sword of power". Even the manual that comes with the game is fun to read.
The only aspects of the game I would criticize are the inventory, which is kind of tedious to manage, and the bugs, which aren't as bad as the later installments in the series by Bethesda, but can still be kind of annoying.