***Note: Some people have taken to the forums and review section to say that this game does not work since the latest hi-res patch. This is simply false. While on Windows 10, post-anniversary update, you WILL need to set the game launcher's compatibility for Windows 95. If you wish to not use this mode, an alternative fix can be found by clicking here.

Released in late 1997, Fallout is the classic turn-based, post-apocalyptic RPG that kick-started an entire beloved franchise. In 1994, developer (and at-the-time publisher) Interplay Entertainment acquired the license to the GURPS RPG system and set out to create a spiritual successor to the the successful 1988 RPG of a similar theme, Wasteland. Known under the original title as Vault 13, Fallout's gameplay takes a strong influence from the early XCOM installments, namely UFO Defense. It wasn't until much later that Bethesda Softworks acquired the rights to the famed franchise.

You are a dweller from Vault 13, and the Overseer has laid upon you an important task that could mean life or death for your family and friends. The water-chip that's responsible for purifying and distributing the irradiated water from the surface and into the vault has malfunctioned, and you need to find a new one. The vault only has 150 days worth of water left, and while this may sound like a large amount of time, you will come to find that traversing the wasteland is far more time consuming and dangerous than anyone could've expected. Though this is your primary goal, it isn't your only and final one, as you will come to find out. Many people will require your help, and for better or worse it's in your best interest to help, or betray, those in need.

It's impossible to accurately remark on just how well crafted the story of Fallout is, but you can guarantee that it will be one of the best and most immersive gaming experiences of your life. That is, so long as you take the time to fully explore each of the 12 locations, and talk with nearly every named NPC that you come across; there are dozens of them, by the way. Most will have an enthralling tale or two to dish out, and many will burden you with new quests. Much of the game does require a lot of reading, although all of the main characters that you will interact with have voice-overs and a talking 3D render of said person's head. A lot of the NPC models are recycled, including those of your companions, a feature that can quickly become annoying in combat, but special NPCs always look different; some, such as the ghouls, are especially grotesque and surprisingly detailed for the era of the game.

That said, given its retro graphics Fallout has a well-developed, deep and brooding atmosphere. This is largely provided by the unforgettable ambient soundtrack, that's one of the best video game scores that will ever grace your ears. Some areas sound more sci-fi and alien, while others are horrific and droning. There are some upbeat tracks, mostly found in town locations, but these are few and far between. The environments are richly detailed, especially later on into the game when you end up stumbling upon quite a bit of gore and toxic waste moats. The poverty of the wasteland is felt with its decrepit buildings, and entire towns built out of scrap metal and junk.

Though everything about it has aged remarkably well, unfortunately not everything in this classic adventure is all nukes and rainbows, there are a few minor pain-points that become increasingly irritating over the course of the 10-20 hours you will end up investing in a playthrough. First and foremost, your companions, AKA your pack-mules. They will absolutely door-block you every single chance that they get. You see, one does not simply pass through an NPC, meaning that as your companions follow you, then can wedge you into a spot. This leaves you with no other choice than to reload your last manual save. Though it's rare to get stuck to that degree, it does happen, but you will constantly get blocked from accessing a door. Fallout also suffers from minor pixel-hunting syndrome. You want to use that rope/door/ladder/locker/body, or lockpick it, or use science, or repair it, or disarm a trap? You will be clicking a few times over for the smaller objects.

Nearly all of the main franchise staples all started here; chances are, if you're reading this review you've either played or have seen someone play Fallout 3 or 4, or New Vegas. Radscorpions, Super Mutants, Nightkin, Deathclaws, Stimpacks, Rad-X, Psycho, Power Armor, The Brotherhood of Steel, Gun Runners, Crimson Caravan, Bottlecaps, Nuka-Cola, Great Khans... the list could just keep going on and on. If you've played New Vegas prior to this title, then you will more than notice that many of the factions and stories are related back to this classic to some degree; even the New California Republic are recognized here briefly, as the location of the game takes place in California, more specifically Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. There are also some worthwhile Easter Eggs to keep an eye out for, at least for fans of the newer games,

Character customization and leveling is nearly the same here as it is in all of Fallout's predecessors; there's the S.P.E.C.I.A.L system, accompanied by perks and skills. The good/evil karma system is also in place. You level up with experience points, though level gains are very slow and the cap is 21. It's highly unlikely that you will reach the level cap upon completion of the game, unless you get every bonus and kill every NPC and enemy. The combat system is turn-based, and you have a certain amount of action points, AP, to use per turn. AP is used to do anything from moving, to shooting, reloading, changing weapon slots, etc, therefore a certain amount of strategy is involved. However, if you've decked your character out the latter portion of the title becomes child's play.

Speaking of children, this IS the edited/censored version of Fallout. There are no children in this game. For those unaware, Fallout suffered a lot of controversy and criticism since it allowed players to kill children, and even encouraged doing so at certain points. It is said that there are some working mods to introduce the censored content back in, but doing that is up to your own discretion. There's already a fair amount of gore strewn about the wasteland, and I personally suggest taking the Bloody Mess perk from the beginning to get more gruesomeness out of each kill; if you're into that type of thing, anyway.

For a game that is two decades old, it's amazing that Fallout can still rival modern releases to a certain extent. It has an unforgettable story, with environments, characters, and soundscapes that are equally as captivating. It also helps that there are multiple endings that unfold, depending all on how you've chosen to play the game. There are also a multitude of ways to go about reaching the end, so the replayability factor here is huge. If you loved Fallout: New Vegas in particular, it's worth your while to visit this original classic in order to deeply appreciate all of the odes to it that were included. Strategy enthusiasts and those who love a tale that will suck them in for hours on end will also be pleasantly surprised with this complete gem of a game.

The Horror Network Curator | Group Click for Gore

Review for Fallout 4: Here
Review for Fallout 4 - Nuka Cola World (DLC): Here

[b]***Note: Some people have taken to the forums and review section to say that this game does not work since the latest hi-res patch. This is simply false. While on Windows 10, post-anniversary update, you WILL need to set the game launcher's compatibility for Windows 95. If you wish to not use this mode, an alternative fix can be found by [url=http://steamproxy.net/app/38400/discussions/0/1368380934246712066/?tscn=1498482880]clicking here[/url].[/b] Released in late 1997, Fallout is the classic turn-based, post-apocalyptic RPG that kick-started an entire beloved franchise. In 1994, developer (and at-the-time publisher) Interplay Entertainment acquired the license to the GURPS RPG system and set out to create a spiritual successor to the the successful 1988 RPG of a similar theme, Wasteland. Known under the original title as Vault 13, Fallout's gameplay takes a strong influence from the early XCOM installments, namely UFO Defense. It wasn't until much later that Bethesda Softworks acquired the rights to the famed franchise. You are a dweller from Vault 13, and the Overseer has laid upon you an important task that could mean life or death for your family and friends. The water-chip that's responsible for purifying and distributing the irradiated water from the surface and into the vault has malfunctioned, and you need to find a new one. The vault only has 150 days worth of water left, and while this may sound like a large amount of time, you will come to find that traversing the wasteland is far more time consuming and dangerous than anyone could've expected. Though this is your primary goal, it isn't your only and final one, as you will come to find out. Many people will require your help, and for better or worse it's in your best interest to help, or betray, those in need. It's impossible to accurately remark on just how well crafted the story of Fallout is, but you can guarantee that it will be one of the best and most immersive gaming experiences of your life. That is, so long as you take the time to fully explore each of the 12 locations, and talk with nearly every named NPC that you come across; there are dozens of them, by the way. Most will have an enthralling tale or two to dish out, and many will burden you with new quests. Much of the game does require a lot of reading, although all of the main characters that you will interact with have voice-overs and a talking 3D render of said person's head. A lot of the NPC models are recycled, including those of your companions, a feature that can quickly become annoying in combat, but special NPCs always look different; some, such as the ghouls, are especially grotesque and surprisingly detailed for the era of the game. That said, given its retro graphics Fallout has a well-developed, deep and brooding atmosphere. This is largely provided by the unforgettable ambient soundtrack, that's one of the best video game scores that will ever grace your ears. Some areas sound more sci-fi and alien, while others are horrific and droning. There are some upbeat tracks, mostly found in town locations, but these are few and far between. The environments are richly detailed, especially later on into the game when you end up stumbling upon quite a bit of gore and toxic waste moats. The poverty of the wasteland is felt with its decrepit buildings, and entire towns built out of scrap metal and junk. Though everything about it has aged remarkably well, unfortunately not everything in this classic adventure is all nukes and rainbows, there are a few minor pain-points that become increasingly irritating over the course of the 10-20 hours you will end up investing in a playthrough. First and foremost, your companions, AKA your pack-mules. They will absolutely door-block you every single chance that they get. You see, one does not simply pass through an NPC, meaning that as your companions follow you, then can wedge you into a spot. This leaves you with no other choice than to reload your last manual save. Though it's rare to get stuck to that degree, it does happen, but you will constantly get blocked from accessing a door. Fallout also suffers from minor pixel-hunting syndrome. You want to use that rope/door/ladder/locker/body, or lockpick it, or use science, or repair it, or disarm a trap? You will be clicking a few times over for the smaller objects. Nearly all of the main franchise staples all started here; chances are, if you're reading this review you've either played or have seen someone play Fallout 3 or 4, or New Vegas. Radscorpions, Super Mutants, Nightkin, Deathclaws, Stimpacks, Rad-X, Psycho, Power Armor, The Brotherhood of Steel, Gun Runners, Crimson Caravan, Bottlecaps, Nuka-Cola, Great Khans... the list could just keep going on and on. If you've played New Vegas prior to this title, then you will more than notice that many of the factions and stories are related back to this classic to some degree; even the New California Republic are recognized here briefly, as the location of the game takes place in California, more specifically Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. There are also some worthwhile Easter Eggs to keep an eye out for, at least for fans of the newer games, Character customization and leveling is nearly the same here as it is in all of Fallout's predecessors; there's the S.P.E.C.I.A.L system, accompanied by perks and skills. The good/evil karma system is also in place. You level up with experience points, though level gains are very slow and the cap is 21. It's highly unlikely that you will reach the level cap upon completion of the game, unless you get every bonus and kill every NPC and enemy. The combat system is turn-based, and you have a certain amount of action points, AP, to use per turn. AP is used to do anything from moving, to shooting, reloading, changing weapon slots, etc, therefore a certain amount of strategy is involved. However, if you've decked your character out the latter portion of the title becomes child's play. Speaking of children, this IS the edited/censored version of Fallout. There are no children in this game. For those unaware, Fallout suffered a lot of controversy and criticism since it allowed players to kill children, and even encouraged doing so at certain points. It is said that there are some working mods to introduce the censored content back in, but doing that is up to your own discretion. There's already a fair amount of gore strewn about the wasteland, and I personally suggest taking the Bloody Mess perk from the beginning to get more gruesomeness out of each kill; if you're into that type of thing, anyway. For a game that is two decades old, it's amazing that Fallout can still rival modern releases to a certain extent. It has an unforgettable story, with environments, characters, and soundscapes that are equally as captivating. It also helps that there are multiple endings that unfold, depending all on how you've chosen to play the game. There are also a multitude of ways to go about reaching the end, so the replayability factor here is huge. If you loved Fallout: New Vegas in particular, it's worth your while to visit this original classic in order to deeply appreciate all of the odes to it that were included. Strategy enthusiasts and those who love a tale that will suck them in for hours on end will also be pleasantly surprised with this complete gem of a game. [h1]Rating: [b]5.0/5.0[/b] - An astonishing achievement, this game must be played.[/h1] The Horror Network [url=http://steamproxy.net/steamstore/curator/28221963/]Curator[/url] | [url=http://steamproxy.net/groups/thehorrornetwork]Group[/url] Click for Gore [h1]Related Reviews:[/h1] [b]Review for Fallout 4: [url=http://steamproxy.net/id/THNEmbalmer/recommended/377160]Here[/url][/b] [b]Review for Fallout 4 - Nuka Cola World (DLC): [url=http://steamproxy.net/id/THNEmbalmer/recommended/490650]Here[/url][/b]