Kommikazi
This review contains spoilers
Broken Steel is an interesting experience, as once again it reflects the unintended design philosophy that had infiltrated itself throughout Fallout 3 - great ideas, hampered by poor implementation.
The gameplay and mission structure is a little more involved than the previous two dlc, and that was a much appreciated addition, fleshing out this Brotherhood of Steel somewhat. The problem is that the Enclave, the villains of both this DLC and the main game, are so underutilized, especially when comparing their prior incarnation in Fallout 2. This edition of the Enclave has nearly no depth, and that is super disappointing.
Overall, the gameplay and questline was enjoyable, but the story implications were near non-existant, and the bullet-sponge enemies that were added to this DLC overall made exploring the open world at higher levels a slog that is entirely unenjoyable.
The gameplay and mission structure is a little more involved than the previous two dlc, and that was a much appreciated addition, fleshing out this Brotherhood of Steel somewhat. The problem is that the Enclave, the villains of both this DLC and the main game, are so underutilized, especially when comparing their prior incarnation in Fallout 2. This edition of the Enclave has nearly no depth, and that is super disappointing.
Overall, the gameplay and questline was enjoyable, but the story implications were near non-existant, and the bullet-sponge enemies that were added to this DLC overall made exploring the open world at higher levels a slog that is entirely unenjoyable.
2009
This review contains spoilers
As seems to be a growing theme with the Fallout 3 DLC (and the game itself), there seems to be a really strong base that was created, only to be let down by the details later on.
This expansion deals with the question "what is the cost of freedom, and is it worth that price", or at least that's what it tries to raise. The atmosphere is wonderfully crafted as you enter the Pitt, with the game informing you that there's no turning back over the course of the DLC, and once you exit the tunnel you find yourself at odds with raiders fighting your way into the slave camps. Once at the gate, past the point you give up your weapons you feel alone and cautious... until you do one singular mission, have an entire arsenal and are able to complete the rest of the DLC with triviality. The main question posed, "Is it alright to kidnap a child to cure a disease and free slaves" thinks it's smarter than it is. It reads as one of the lesser Original Series Star Trek episodes - which considering how the Enclave is treated in the main story, is not much of a surprise.
I enjoyed much of this DLC, but it's much shorter than it needed to be, and was lacking on the emotions that should've been such an easy win for the set-up that was created.
This expansion deals with the question "what is the cost of freedom, and is it worth that price", or at least that's what it tries to raise. The atmosphere is wonderfully crafted as you enter the Pitt, with the game informing you that there's no turning back over the course of the DLC, and once you exit the tunnel you find yourself at odds with raiders fighting your way into the slave camps. Once at the gate, past the point you give up your weapons you feel alone and cautious... until you do one singular mission, have an entire arsenal and are able to complete the rest of the DLC with triviality. The main question posed, "Is it alright to kidnap a child to cure a disease and free slaves" thinks it's smarter than it is. It reads as one of the lesser Original Series Star Trek episodes - which considering how the Enclave is treated in the main story, is not much of a surprise.
I enjoyed much of this DLC, but it's much shorter than it needed to be, and was lacking on the emotions that should've been such an easy win for the set-up that was created.
Though this takes away much of the choice and side quests that existed within the main game, I really enjoyed this shooting gallery type quest with implications on how the war went in Alaska. As a huge fan of the Fallout lore, it was much appreciated to see a side of the universe that hasn't been touched on in first hand accounts - however inaccurate this one may be. The Outcasts are an interesting group, wish they were expanded upon.
2008
I finished this back in November, and while the start of the game was strong - not only because it has such a memorable opening sequence and the engaging open world - much of the later game was more difficult to get through.
One of the major gameplay changes that I made during this playthrough was not using fast travel. With what I mentioned in the previous section, that choice early in the game likely led to that late-game burnout, as there are both story missions and side-quests that require long distance treks across the map that were likely designed for the use of fast travel. While there are random encounters similar to those of the first game, the rewards you can gather for yourself are so minor compared to the opportunity cost of the ammo spent is staggering - especially with the DLC enemies that are pure bullet sponges.
I did really like the story of the game, which I'll dive more into during the full game retrospective, but it was neat seeing the generational change that Fallout 3 represents. I had only completed Fallout 4 before this journey began, and now that I've completed 1, 2 and 3 it's neat to see the way this series evolved
One of the major gameplay changes that I made during this playthrough was not using fast travel. With what I mentioned in the previous section, that choice early in the game likely led to that late-game burnout, as there are both story missions and side-quests that require long distance treks across the map that were likely designed for the use of fast travel. While there are random encounters similar to those of the first game, the rewards you can gather for yourself are so minor compared to the opportunity cost of the ammo spent is staggering - especially with the DLC enemies that are pure bullet sponges.
I did really like the story of the game, which I'll dive more into during the full game retrospective, but it was neat seeing the generational change that Fallout 3 represents. I had only completed Fallout 4 before this journey began, and now that I've completed 1, 2 and 3 it's neat to see the way this series evolved
1997
A difficult game for the first entry in this longrunning franchise, the age is something that has to be gotten past for those playing for the first time, however, the writing and story more than make up for any difficulties. Because I wanted to finish faster than not, and having had the plot already spoiled for me, I did use a guide at certain points to get past particularly tough encounters, or see if certain encounters were worth completing at all. Overall, I really enjoyed seeing the start of a series that I absolutely adore, and am eager to get started on Fallout 2 promptly.
2013
Second playthrough of the main story, about three years after I finished the first. I really enjoyed this game, even more so as I have gotten older and matured. This has a story and characters that are so over-the-top yet well written that they are believable in the world that they inhabit. A note on the game, however, is that it makes me quite sad that in the decade since its release, there has not been another game in the franchise, and GTA VI is nowhere on the horizon. A disappointment when Rockstar does such a fantastic job at both game design and storytelling.
A fantastic departure from the set Pokemon formula, Arceus has many connections and similarities to the mainline games while embarking in a new direction and keeping things interesting with new mechanics and a present difficulty curve
2022
A fantastic game with beautiful visuals, competent game play, and a compelling story. The story is the selling point in my opinion, with the mystery being weaved very slowly, creating a great intrigue that pulls you to continue playing. Not overly difficult, nor with innovative gameplay, what is in the game is very refined and smooth with a completely satisfying and smooth experience. Atmosphere is fantastic, and I found myself wanting to learn more about the setting, even after the credits rolled.