Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The end of the world, as we know it

The world just ended again. Twice. First with the new mini-series Dead Set, where the survivors of the zombie apocalypse are participants in Big Brother, unaware throughout the first episode that zombies are eating their audience. Nice spin.

Second with Fallout 3, a post-apocalyptic RPG. I'm an impatient gamer. If a game doesn't constantly reward me with points, happy sounds and shiny colors, I lose interest, and go back to something more exciting, like reading a book. But for now I'm having fun exploring the nuclear wasteland of the D.C. area. Based on the game engine from Oblivion, Fallout 3's lush and detailed graphics cover the full range of colors from brown to gray. Broken buildings and roads litter the landscape. Mutants and hopeless people roam about, waiting for you to save, exploit and/or eat them.

I always play the hero in these type of games, even when they give you a choice. "Why, of course I'll save your village from the mutant army without asking anything in return, even though I'm sick, starving, and short on ammo. Don't mention it!" I don't want to explore my inner sociopath. I just don't. Well, maybe I should try it just once. Just for a little while. To see what it's like. Surely that won't make me a .. BAD PERSON?!!

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5 Comments:

At 06 November, 2008 14:54 , Anonymous KEE said...

Playing nasty in Fallout II was eerily satisfying... I'd recommend a little stint on the dark side at least.

 
At 07 November, 2008 10:22 , Blogger Bjørn Stærk said...

B-b-b-but that would be .. WRONG!?!!

 
At 11 November, 2008 16:56 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you enjoyed Fallout 3, you should without a doubt play Fallout 1 and 2.

The graphics are worse, but everything else is better. Why does every new game that wants to add choices only have the "good" choice, and the "bad" one?

 
At 11 November, 2008 17:10 , Blogger Bjørn Stærk said...

I've played Fallout 1 and 2. So far I actually like 3 better, though it isn't without flaws.

You have many nuanced moral choices. When people ask you for help you can do it for free, ask politely for a reward, demand a reward, decline, or rob or murder them.

 
At 12 November, 2008 13:37 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always felt those choices were better fleshed out and more logical in the prequels.

To me, the dialogue and choices in Fallout 3, seem stunted and impatient at times. Like for example when you meet the sheriff of Megaton, and he instantly decides he likes you. Where is the conversation leading up to this?

Perhaps I am too picky. I will agree with you that it is still a good game though.

 

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