Best Video Games

Fallout New Vegas: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360Edition: Collector

• “Lucky 7″ poker chips. Each of the seven poker chips was designed to represent chips from the major casinos found on the New Vegas strip and throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
• A fully customized Fallout: New Vegas deck of cards. Each card in the pack has been uniquely illustrated to depict characters and factions found within the game.
• A recreation of the game’s highly coveted “Lucky 38″ platinum chip.
• A hardcover graphic novel “All Roads”, that tells the story of some of the characters and events that lead up to Fallout: New Vegas. “All Roads” was written by Chris Avellone and created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics.
• The Making of Fallout: New Vegas’ DVD. This documentary DVD will contain exclusive video content, including interviews with the developers in which they take you from concept to creation.

Description of Fallout New Vegas: Xbox 360

Platform: Xbox 360

Review by Real Player

Tags for this game: Fallout: New Vegas Collector

FIFA Soccer 10: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360

• You have complete control over your players, with the ability to assign a specific role and movement to every outfield player on your team one at a time, and then combine them for the perfect set piece.
• The first true 360 dribbling system in a soccer game gives you precise control to skillfully play spaces between defenders that previously was not possible.
• Advanced animation warping technology lets skilled players face defenders and maneuver around them with highly-responsive lateral dribbling.
• More intelligent AI with more authentic behavior. Players now avoid passes not intended for them, avoid blocking teammate shots, and throw themselves in the way of attacker’s shots in defense.
• Work on individual skills in a fully featured practice mode before stepping on the pitch. Select exactly how many attackers and defenders you want in play, and practice set pieces.

Description of FIFA Soccer 10: Xbox 360

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com Product Description

The seventeenth overall release in Electronic Arts’ popular FIFA Soccer franchise, FIFA Soccer 10 enables gamers and soccer fans alike to enjoy the non
stop action and fun of the #1 soccer game simulation, regardless of their skill on a real or virtual pitch. With FIFA Soccer 10, players can create themselves in game, join a club and compete against gamers around the world in online competition. Game features include extensive play modes and improvements, as well as multiplayer options including 4-player local multiplayer, coop gameplay both online and offline and 2-20 player support online.

Gameplay
On the heels of winning 25 international gaming awards with FIFA Soccer 09, the top-selling soccer franchise from EA Sports is surpassed with FIFA Soccer 10. Responding to consumer feedback from over 350 million online games played, FIFA Soccer 10 gives players new levels of control and innovation to experience the beautiful game like never before. Featuring core gameplay refinements based on responsiveness and intelligence, on top of an already potent game engine, FIFA Soccer continues to set the benchmark as the most complete soccer simulation.

Key Game Features

• Virtual Pro

  Review by Real Player

  FIFA Soccer 10 (Video Game)

  I consider myself a pretty decent FIFA 09 player and immediately bought FIFA 10 when it came out, hoping that improvements made to a top-notch game would make the new game flat out amazing. After playing a few games against my real life friends and online strangers, I am not sure if I like “10″ or “9″ better. My biggest disappointment in the new game is that IMO, the graphics did not improve at all or maybe even gotten worse. Maybe I am imagining it but the width of the goal looks smaller. Of course, this shouldn’t affect gameplay at all but it just feels like I am looking at a smaller target. The improvements in the gameplay is subtle but nevertheless clearly different with defenders having a chance against the supermen (eg. Ronaldo) of the game, making the game more defense-oriented and somewhat harder to score. Some of the differences I noticed so far:

  1. Throughball doesn’t work automatically unless there is a developing play where a throughball is the best play. In `09′, you could just randomly throughball and somehow the offensive player would end up with the ball with a near breakaway too often.
  
  2. Defenders are positioned much better so defense is easier to play. Also, because stars like Ronaldo can’t just run away from the pack when they have the ball, defenders will have a better chance as long as they are in a good position. But the improvement in defensive positioning also resulted in heavy traffic near the goal where the play seemed a little bit clustered. At times, the phrase pinball action came to mind when it became clustered like that.
  
  3. The view when the GK has a goal kick or instances where you have a corner, the view has changed to a more zoomed view and less overhead perspective. I personally didn’t like this change due to the change in depth perception, making it harder for me to judge the players’ positioning.
  
  4. The collision physics is much more realistic and players actually bounce off each other in more realistic fashion.
  
  5. It is much easier to bend the ball, maybe too much. On several corner kicks, I had kicks bend too much that the ball was no where near the goal almost half way between the penalty box and the half line.
  
  6. Overall, the offensive player is forced to put together a well constructed attack and rely on crisp passing and play development more than relying on the speed and power of players like Ronaldos and the Etos.
  
  7. The online play is smoother and when playing ranked games, the skill points is calculated after each game and displayed for you to see,showing you how the points were calculate. This was a very nice feature for someone who plays online as much as I do.

  One thing that didn’t change:

  My number one pet peeve for ’09: The number of shots hitting the goal post per game is way too much. I was hoping that this would change, but so far, the occurrence of shots hitting the goal post is still way too frequent and unrealistic.

  Overall, I would say ’10 is more realistic but not necessarily more fun to this veteran of ’09. I definitely think ’10 is a great game but I will not be getting rid of my `09′ right away because they play different enough for me to consider it two different games

  UPDATE: 11/5/09

  So after playing for a few more weeks, I will say that I am appreciating the subtle differences between ’09 and ’10. I really like the new collision mechanism. It is realistic enough so that I often thwarted the other players attack by just getting in the way of the opposing team’s players who don’t have the ball to deny their space when there is a pass directed toward them. I have also experienced the advantage of 360 degree control as I manuever my player with the ball. Definitely a solid improvement over ’09.

  UPDATE: 11/23/09

  A huge negative has popped up for with this game. Goalie AI. Maybe it’s not even AI. Glitch is more like it. The goalie in ’10 is worse than in ’09. I suppose goalies making errors should be expected since a real life goalie would make can make mistakes too. But goalies have a much harder time handling shots that are directed right at them if it’s low. Goalies are allowing shots that are literally next to their legs. (The animation in replay suggests that the goalie, instead of stopping the shot by moving a little to the left or the right, instead tries to squat down and tries a mini dive save on a shot. That allows the shots to go under them.
  
  What is infuriating is that given the number of great opportunities that end in a shot off the goal post if you try to aim for one of the corners of the goal, the way the goalie allows this cheap score, it’s a huge imbalance. Goalies that leap like panthers to save shots 10 feet away or sure goals that somehow the computer directs right at the goal post yet the goalie can’t save balls hit next to them. What’s up with that?

  UPDATE: 11/30/09

  I don’t know what I was thinking by not mentioning this. In FIFA ’09, (and I call this just plain stupid on EA’s part),they didn’t include a practice mode. Sure, you could pratice your skill moves 1on1 with the goalie, but that too was not that helpful because no one would play an actual match in that perspective, thus making you learn the skill moves one way but then have to make adjustments to the stick work. In FIFA ’10, there actuall is a practice mode and a pretty darned good one at that. You can set the practice match to have as many offensive and defensive players as you want. You want to practice breakaways? 1 offensive player vs. goalie only. 5 vs. 4, 5 vs. 3. Any combination you want to hone your offensive skills. Also,you can actually practice set-pieces (FK and corners) the way it would be in the game with real defenders. By practice in this mode, I can score on about a 1/3 of my FKs inside 30 yards because I know what kick with how much power to execute. (The other 2/3 of my FKs bounce off the goal post, LOL.) If you are serious about being a good FIFA player, this practice mode will let you maximize your chances.

  Tags for this game: FIFA Soccer 10,Electronic Arts,x___x_amoro4002574

  No Comments

Hdmi Cable and Adapter for Xbox 360 Features

• * Brand new
• * Includes Optical/RCA Audio Adapter
• * Attractive price point amongst other quality HDMI cables
• * High quality
• * Fits Xbox 360 Accessory line look

Description of Hdmi Cable and Adapter for Xbox 360

Product Description

HDMI Cable

Review by Real Player

Hdmi Cable and Adapter for Xbox 360 (Video Game)

I purchased this HDMI AV dongle because it was half the price of the official MS dongle but works exactly the same. Why would you want to use this? Well basically it allows you to use a separate HDMI cable for HD video but still able to output analog or digital audio to a separate amp or speaker system without requiring special HDMI audio equipment. Without this dongle you’d have to get audio straight from the HDMI cable which requires one of the newer amps or TVs that can receive HDMI audio.

My LCD doesn’t have component inputs so my only choices were HDMI or VGA. I didn’t want to go VGA because the video quality is inferior to HDMI so I went for this HDMI AV dongle. The digital HD video quality through HDMI is amazing and for only half the price of the Microsoft dongle. The dongle and included HDMI cable all have gold plated connectors too so the quality is pretty good. I would recommend this HDMI AV dongle/cable to anyone who wants to get clean digital HD video through a simple single HDMI connection.

Tags for this game: Hdmi Cable and Adapter for Xbox 360,Kve,3-60

Dragon Age: Origins: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360Edition: Standard

• Scalable combat options that let you decide the level of control you have over your party, including NPCs. Issue orders, set your own tactical AI, or take control of any party member to lead the charge.
• 6 possible playable preludes known as

  Description of Dragon Age: Origins: Xbox 360

  Platform: Xbox 360

  Review by Real Player

  Dragon Age: Origins (Video Game)

  So I purchased the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins yesterday and have spent WAY too many hours in Ferelden when I should be doing far more constructive things.

  Is it too much of a stretch to think that someone who names their blog after semi-mystical airships might enjoy a roleplaying game or two?

  The game is not perfect. The graphics are decidedly sub-par, audio glitches occur far too frequently, and on a regular basis I notice tiny white specs, which are the “seams” showing between some images that display environmental graphics. Screen tearing, I think it’s called. The latter wouldn’t be so bad, if I didn’t also have to look for a similarly white-ish graphic that indicates a chest or box or crate or body requires ransacking for the requisite reward. I’m always rotating the camera back for a quick second to be sure I’m not missing out on some loot.

  But so what?

  The game is deep, the voice-acting well done over all, and this may be the best WRITTEN roleplaying game of the current generation, even if the story itself seems safely (perhaps too safely) rooted in standard RPG conventions. Not even Mass Effect has dialogue options that are as “realistic” and rewarding to hear as what can be found in Dragon Age.

  But, just to meet my “geek” and “nerd” quota for the day, I read some reviews. I’ve never seen so many one-star “reviews” based on just one or two aspects of what is otherwise a fantastic game — one-star bashing based on (you guessed it) the graphics or the heavy (oh so time-consuming) dialogue.

  My take is that this phenomenon exposes a fundamental shortcoming of this particular generation of games — there simply aren’t enough good RPGs that elevate story and dialogue as THE fundamental pillar of the game’s success.

  In just one short decade, gamers have forgotten how story-heavy games like Baldur’s Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, KOTOR, and other RPGS really were.

  In just one short decade, everything is about graphics.

  What a tragedy.

  Gaming has gone from a hobby filled with gaming enthusiasts with imagination and open-mindedness (in terms of what can be considered a successful kind of game), to a hobby filled with mindless addicts seeking the nearest, the quickest possible thumb-twitch to get their needed dose of adrenaline.

  And the internet is such a “perfect” forum for them to express their distaste. Twitchers with short attention spans “write” quick, twitch-like reviews that say GRAPHICS SUCK and FAIL and give one star reviews, as if that’s all that matters in a game.

  Hardly.

  Rather than pay attention to either the mostly positive or mostly negative reviews, rather than pay attention to the polarization that can occur in the review sections of buy-sites, be sure to check out Metacritic or GameStats or other sites that organize and collate reviews from ACTUAL CRITICS.

  There’s a concept.

  Dragon Age is a fantastic game. Deep characterization and playing fundamentals/strategy (on higher difficulty levels), lots of looting and blood and gore, romance with a pretty guy or girl, long-term support from Bioware (hopefully) as evidenced by the downloadable content available on the day of release, and huge “bang for your buck.”

  Even at 60 dollars retail, that averages to at the very least a dollar an hour in terms of value, for anyone who completes the game. And this isn’t 60 dollars of sandbox. Dragon Age doesn’t appear to be as much of a “sandbox” game as Morrowind or Oblivion. While great games themselves, they left some players feeling a little left out in the cold, wandering around without enough of story-driven momentum to sustain interest. One can only loot so many caves, kill so many monsters, close so many gates, that don’t have significant impact on finishing the game.

  And did I say dragons, arch demons, and dark fantasy elements?

  Anyone who enjoys RPGs should buy this game. Now.

  Tags for this game: Dragon Age: Origins,Electronic Arts,amoro-Jan-20-2009/20

  No Comments

Madden NFL 10: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360

• A revamped play calling system and menu options that take you to kickoff faster than ever before and speed up online matches with accelerated clocks, presentation and more.
• Pro-Tak animation technology providing unprecedented control over the outcome of every play via the dragging and dropping of players, a new blocking system and more.
• The most comprehensive list of online offerings in franchise history, including new modes like online co-op, to satisfy the needs of every football gamer.
• New TV broadcast-style presentation and cinematic cameras bring the suspense and intensity of the NFL to your living room.
• Enhanced franchise mode allowing you to draft players, sign free agents, manage the salary cap – just like a real GM.

Description of Madden NFL 10: Xbox 360

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com Product Description

Every Sunday in the NFL, an epic battle rages between the offense and the defense. Every play is a struggle, with each side relentlessly pursuing every single yard. In Madden NFL 10, you will join the fight and experience firsthand what it is like to fight for every yard. With the all-new Pro-Tak animation technology you will have more control over the outcome of every play than ever before. Whether driving your receiver towards the first down, or battling for a fumble at the bottom of a pile, the play won’t be over until the whistle blows.

Madden NFL 10 also lets you take your fight online with an all-new Online Franchise mode, complete with 32 teams, NFL-style drafts and a custom league webpage. Add to that the most immersive broadcast presentation to date, and Madden NFL 10 gives you everything you see on Sundays, minus the grass.

Pro

Review by Real Player

Madden NFL 10 (Video Game)

Are they serious?

After Madden 2007′s animation, animation, animation, fall over experience, I couldn’t bring myself to buy 2008. I bought 2009 because a friend told me how much better it was. After all 2008′s complaints about how easy offense was, they turned the DB’s and LB’s speed and jumping ability to ridiculous levels, causing there to be about 6 INT’s per game. This knee-jerk reaction and thus, overcompensation each year to whatever the largest complaint was has always seemed par for the course when dealing with a Madden game. Whatever. I just want to play an NFL game.

So the Madden 10 demo came out and I was impressed by the game play. “Wow, it actually kind of looks like football,” I said. So I did it. I dropped $60 more into the EA bucket just to have the privilege to play an NFL game. The game play this year IS, I uphold, the best, most realistic that the Madden franchise has ever made. Yes, they made the players slower, and it made a lot of fans mad, but it’s realistic. Nobody runs 10 yards in 0.5 seconds. At any rate, kudos on the in-game experience.

However, I play sports games to play franchise mode. I like trades, free agency, and the draft. Unfortunately, due to EA’s desire to become the most evil corporation ever, franchise mode is not, at ALL, an enjoyable experience. You see, the “Madden Shop” has been created, where you can buy “cheats,” which are really just parts of the game that existed last year which were disabled so that EA can make more money.

-You want the ability to fully scout players? You can pay 99 cents for a scout at EACH POSITION. Awesome. I’d LOVE to throw down 10 more bucks just to have access to the rest of your game.

-You want players to progress faster? 99 cents per position.

-Superstar mode is the same. You can’t train anymore. You can pay to improve.

-Pretty much anything you can think of… healing injuries faster, extra scouting reports, etc, you can pay 99 cents to improve.

Really, EA? Buying out the competition wasn’t enough for you? This whole system seems like such a joke to me. Do they honestly think it’s going to work? I guess the question is, are Madden fans really stupid enough to use the Madden Shop?

This will, I can say with confidence, be the last Madden game I purchase.

Tags for this game: Madden NFL 10,Electronic Arts,vf03062009

Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable Features

• *Product not made by Microsoft*

Description of Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable

Product Description

Main Features

Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

Manufacturer Part Number: B4V-00004

Manufacturer Website Address: www.microsoft.com

Product Type: Cable External

Cable Length: 8ft

Number of Connectors: 8

Connector Details: 1 x Proprietary Male, 6 x RCA Male, 1 x Toslink Female

Review by Real Player

Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable (Video Game)

The review prior to this is an unfair low rating due to the fact he didn’t know it already came with his 360. This item is only for people who need a new one or purchased a 360 without one. The 360 component cable is an excellent cable and great for high definition gameplay. 5 stars.

Tags for this game: Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable,Microsoft Software,882224037280,Game: Accessory,Microsoft Corporation,Video Game Accessories

No Comments

Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360

• Take in the sights and sounds of the vast Capital Wasteland! See the great monuments of the United States lying in post-apocalyptic ruin; you make the choices that define you and change the world; just keep an eye on your Rad Meter
• Vault-Tec engineers bring you the latest in human ability simulation – the Special Character System; utilizing new breakthroughs in points-based ability representation, special affords unlimited customization of your character; also included are dozens of unique skills and perks to choose from, each with a dazzling variety of effects
• The wizards at Vault-Tec have done it again; no longer constrained to just one view, experience the world from 1st or 3rd person perspective; customize your view with the touch of a button
• Feeling like a dastardly villain today, or a Good Samaritan, pick a side or walk the line, as every situation can be dealt with in many different ways, talk out your problems in a civilized fashion, or just flash your Plasma Rifle
• The key to reviving civilization after a global nuclear war is people; advanced version of Radiant AI, America’s First Choice in Human Interaction Simulation; facial expressions, gestures, unique dialog, and lifelike behavior are brought together with stunning results by the latest in Vault-Tec technology

Description of Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition: Xbox 360

Platform: Xbox 360

From the Manufacturer

Vault-Tec engineers have worked around the clock on an interactive reproduction of Wasteland life for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own vault. Included is an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice, and an incredible cast of dynamic characters. Every minute is a fight for survival against the terrors of the outside world

Review by Real Player

Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition (Video Game)

This is the 3rd time I’ve tried Fallout 3, and I must say, the third time’s a charm.

I didn’t like this game the first or the second time, but granted I gave it only a couple of hours each time. I last bought this game in June, but returned it when I heard about the GOTY edition a few days later.

The GOTY does come with 2 discs, Disc One is the gameplay for Fallout 3, which looks virtually unchanged, except on the actual disc itself where it says “Fallout 3 Game of the Year edition”. Besides that, there’s little to no difference. Disc 2 has all the DLC, including the last installment; Mothership Zeta.

The instruction manual is a new one for GOTY, and instructs you to install disc 2 to your hard drive, before playing if you’ve never played Fallout 3, or do not have a current save file. However I didn’t read it, and played about 3 hours of disc one before I noticed. I installed disc 2 (About 10 minutes, give or take), and everything was fine. I got the messages in-game letting me know that I have all 5 DLC’s unlocked, that my level cap was raised to 30 etc.

After playing this game a good 10 hours, and not even completing half of the storyline, I feel like an idiot for not liking this game the first or second time. I think I was completly hooked when I saw the Washington Monument. It’s just an amazing experience.

It gives you the option to choose what DLC you install. You don’t have to install all 5, you can pick just one, or two, or all 5.

Here are the requirements.

Broken Steel = 620 MB

Mothership Zeta = 324 MB

Operation Anchorage = 369MB

Point Lookout = 413 MB

The Pitt = 492 MB

Total of 2.2 Gigs. (2218MB)

Go buy this now. If you haven’t bought any of the DLC, go trade in your old Fallout 3 disc, and get the GOTY edition.

Tags for this game: Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition,Bethesda Softworks,39967

Xbox 360 Head Set Communicator Features

• Sold Individually

Description of Xbox 360 Head Set Communicator

Review by Real Player

Xbox 360 Head Set Communicator (Video Game)

If you’re playing on XBox Live, you really need a headset. Most games involve voice coordination between people on the same team, and sometimes even discussions with your opponents.

I’m not sure why my experience was so different than the previous reviews. Maybe they got an older version of the headset? It definitely seems to be the same unit – made by Microsoft, for the XBox 360, the basic model.

This headset is relatively inexpensive, and has a padded earphone and microphone. The earphone is adjustable, to have the headband part expand and contract. This lets it fit on larger and smaller heads. The microphone rotates, so that the unit can be worn on the left or right side. It only spins down to just under a 90 degree angle, though, so this forces you to wear the headset with the band right over the top of your head. At that spot, the microphone is pretty much right in front of my mouth (I prefer it a bit lower) and the opposite-side “bracer” part is digging into the skin just over my non-earphoned ear.

I don’t know what it is with these headset creators – but at its smallest setting, the unit is still too large for several adults I know. That makes it even worse for teens and kids! That being said, I find this problem with a lot of headsets, so it’s something you just have to deal with.

There’s a relatively long cord, and it plugs right into the base of your controller. It doesn’t interfere at all with wireless controllers. The base part has a mute button as well as a volume control.

I didn’t have any problem at all hearing other players when I was online – their voices came through very clearly. Also, the unit fit very snugly into the base – I didn’t have any problems with static or dropped signals. In fact for a while I was letting my boyfriend drive in PGR3 while I talked in the headphone/mic, and even with the cord stretched out between us two I could hear fine. Other players could hear me. I didn’t notice any issues with lag, our conversations went back and forth rather quickly.

Tags for this game: Xbox 360 Head Set Communicator,Microsoft Software,B4D-00001,Game: Accessory,Microsoft,Video Game,Video Game Accessories

Super Street Fighter IV: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360

• All playable Street Fighter IV characters are unlocked right out of the box, and traditional “2D” Street Fighter six-button gameplay.
• Enhanced online play featuring new modes: Team Battles, Endless Battle and Replay Channel.
• More classic Street Fighter characters re-imagined for a new generation of gamers, including favorites DeeJay, T Hawk, Guy, Cody and Adon.
• Utilize the Tae Kwon Do style for the first time with the new challenger, the mysterious female fighter Juri.
• The return of the classic car and barrel bonus stages made popular in Street Fighter II. (available in both arcade and challenge modes)

Description of Super Street Fighter IV: Xbox 360

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com Product Description

The next chapter in the Street Fighter franchise on Next Generation consoles, Super Street Fighter IV incorporates familiar game elements with all-new features. Featuring new game modes designed to enhance online play, re-imagining of classic Street Fighter characters as well as a few new faces

Review by Real Player

Super Street Fighter IV (Video Game)

This game was too much for DLC. It contains ten new characters, new stages, tweaks to all existing characters, new modes, a new engine, and every character got at least one new move. I’m not going to say that the game is more balanced. It’s too early to tell, but it does retain the feel of SFIV.

Still, there are things that are different. I’ve already noticed that the arc of my jumping hk with Ken is different. Also he feels overall more powerful. The new characters can really put some hurt on (Dudley especially). These new balances change the strategy of the game some (I still don’t use jumping hk much; mk is just much easier to combo off of). The timing of the moves is different. I can connect with combos I couldn’t connect with before. So, the game has changed in subtle, but substantial, ways for returning characters. These tweaks amount, not to an expansion, but almost a new game.

The new modes are fun. It’s easier to find good matches. The replay channel is a great way to spend time. If you just want to chill with some pizza, it lets you see good gameplay, save it, manipulate it, and whatnot, while providing more passive entertainment. I haven’t gotten to try things like team battle, but I suspect that they will be just as well done.

Basically, this is SFIV on steroids and corrects some of its problems. Did you like SFIV? Then this game is for you. If you didn’t like it, then you probably won’t like SSFIV either. If you were on the fence, give it a whirl. It’s basically a whole new game for the price of an expansion. It’s easily worth the price.

Tags for this game: Super Street Fighter IV,Capcom

Fallout 3: Xbox 360 Features

Platform: Xbox 360Edition: Standard

• Fight for survival against terrors of the outside world, radiation, and mutants after nuclear fallout
• Latest in human ability simulation affords unlimited customization of characters
• Expansive world in modern super-deluxe HD graphics
• Features ability to pause time in combat, target specific body parts, and queue up attacks
• 1st- or 3rd-person perspective

Description of Fallout 3: Xbox 360

Review by Real Player

Fallout 3 (Video Game)

I play a lot of different RPG’s and was not a fan of Elder Scrolls Oblivion. I will list the pros and cons as impartially as possible so you can be the judge on what matters to you.

PROS:

- You are left to explore and find things to do and quests on your own. This game is a true RPG. You have one main quest. Everything else are side quests.

- Over 100 hours of places to explore. and more than 100 unique map locations.

- Tons of perks and ways to develop your character. Become a science genius or concentrate on stealth and your lockpicking ability. Invest in large guns and go into places with guns ablaze. Play the game how you want. Be good and people will love you, be bad and people will fear you.

- Replay value. This is rare in RPGs but Because of the many different ways you can play the game I see myself playing this game again to play a different type of character.

- Some people complain about the targeting system known as VATS. This game is not an FPS. VATS gives you a wonderful 1st person shooter feel with an RPG style or turned based combat. Score a critical by shooting your enemies head and it might explode. Shoot the enemy on his weapon hand and he will not be able to attack you very quickly.

- The graphics are amazing. Its a beautiful post apocalyptic mess. The detail from the stains on a found mattress or a found comic called “Grognak the Barbarian and the Lair of the Virgin Killer” are all amazing. You can tell a lot of thought went into detail.

- The voice work is nice. Almost every character talks out loud. This allows you to listen and respond instead of just watching a mouth move and reading dialog all the time.

- Enemies do not automatically level with your character. This was my biggest problem with Oblivion. Some people liked the fact that enemies would always be your level. I found it totally unrealistic. Go ahead, run your level 1 character through the Wastelands. You might come across an easy roach or a mutant with a minigun. In my book this makes the game more fun and much more realistic.

- I have read on the forums and some bad reviews here that they can not find tons of ammo. This is not Halo, Call of Duty or any other FPS. People need to take the right mindset. This is a world 200 years after major Nuclear war. Things will break, ammo is sometimes scarce, radiation is a fact of life, bottle caps are money, people trade everything and you live in a harsh world. I think some people need to watch the Madmax series just as a primer to understand the world created here.

- Instant travel. Once you have visited an area you no longer need to walk to the location. You can locate the area on your map (through the PIPBoy 3000) and select it to instantly travel.

- The PipBoy 3000 Interface works great. This allows you to keep track of stats, items, equipment, quests, notes, maps, and karma very easily. The UI is easy and it keeps all the data you need at your finger tips.

CONS:

- AI is nothing special. It’s not bad, just nothing special. When I am shooting a shotgun at you, running at me with a pool cue might not be the smartest thing to do. They will sometimes run away if severely over matched (which is the smart thing to do). The AI is no worse then any other games, just no big improvements here.

- Lack of good music. You can find radio stations on your PIPBoy but I was not a fan of the music. The background can be ok but not great. Sometimes when alone in the Wasteland you want some good background music.

- I had the game crash once but not a lot of times like some people are reporting. Still unacceptable but manageable. Loading and saving times can take anywhere between 10-30 seconds which is kind of slow.

- No item descriptions. The important data like weight, condition value, and perks of the item are still displayed but full description of the items are no longer available. This is different then Fallout 1 and 2 where each item had a paragraph describing it.

Additional thoughts:

This game is rated “M”. This means you shouldn’t play this game with kids in the room. This isn’t a Con for me but this might be a problem for all you gamer mom and dads out there. Seriously, no kids allowed. Women offer there “Services”, cussing, blood splatter on the screen when you get injured, mutants hanging people on meat hooks, tons of drug use, and of course blowing peoples limbs off. Good times but not for the kiddies.

No, its not perfect but it is a lot of fun and the best RPG currently on the market. My 5 star review was based on that fact. This is the best RPG I have played since FFX (Final Fantasy X). I hope you enjoy it.

Tags for this game: Fallout 3,Bethesda,PLATFORM_FOR_DISPLAY/EDITION