Okay, let's talk more about Fallout 3, without imitating the feel of a 1950's tv commercial this time.
One complaint I've heard about Fallout 3 is that its story sucks. This isn't surprising, considering that most "real" gamers assume that RPG's without good storytelling automatically suck. I agree on one part; the story in Fallout 3 isn't going to win any awards. The characterization is shallow, the dialogue is mostly for functional purposes, and so on. This is a very non-linear RPG. Now granted, the setting of Fallout 3 is excellent. The game does a great job of showing you what Washington D.C. would look like after a nuclear war, provided that D.C. would become a battleground for Orc-like mutants and soldiers who think of themselves as modern-day knights. (Yes, I know the green things are actually called Super Mutants, and the human soldiers are known as the Brotherhood of Steel. I'm just giving a first impression.)
However, I think gamers are being too hard on Fallout 3's lack of story. I think it's because most gamers are more accustomed to linear RPGs, such as most Japanese RPGs. And many other American RPGs also have great stories, too. What I believe is this; there is a good story in Fallout 3; it's just that you aren't looking hard enough. Know why?
Because you create the story in Fallout 3. You the player weave your own narrative. That's how much freedom the game grants to you, the ability to make your own RPG adventure. Think of Fallout like a singleplayer MMORPG; you've got one major goal you need to accomplish, but you can do whatever you want along the way, either for fun, for XP, for money, to prepare yourself for the major goal, or to take in the sights of a ruined capitol. Now then, when one plays an online RPG, would probably would relate anecdotes to one's friends afterwards:
"So this one time I was playing WOW, my friend lured out some whatevers, I fired my whatever spell, and I killed the whatevers, but I accidently scorched my friend in doing so! Boy, was he pissed! Still, I made sure to return his items once he ressurrected, but next time, I'll just fight with my sword."
You see, I could tell similar anecdotes with my experiences with Fallout 3. Man, the stories I have to tell! Say, did I ever tell you about the time I killed four Raiders with just one clip of my assault rifle? Or the time I defeated a Super Mutant Brute, even though he had a minigun and all I had was a shotgun?
See? I could go on for hours just describing my experiences with Fallout 3, like I was really there, and that's what's so great about it. Try out this game if you haven't already; you won't regret it.
Provided you aren't one of those fucktards who hated Final Fantasy 12 just because its story didn't live up to your expectations.
