Topic: So... I got some questions on the classic Fallout games.

[Claimh Solais]

A couple months ago, my girlfriend gifted me a bundle of Fallout games on Steam for my birthday, which contained Fallout 1-3, Tactics, and New Vegas. And I thought, "Cool! I've heard a lot of great things about the old games, and I love older PC RPGs, so let's give these a shot!

I finally got around to it and installed and started the first Fallout and... well... It definitely hasn't aged well, that's for sure. I already knew the first two were NOTHING like Fallout 3 or 4 (the only ones I've played prior), and I've heard them described as being "Diablo-esque", but... they're only Diablo-esque in viewpoint, and really play nothing like that at all. It's got a really weird unintuitive turn-based combat system, and my god, the controls setup on the keyboard is abysmal. Not to mention the game is balls-to-the-wall difficult, and I died about 5 times within the about half-hour I played the game.

Basically, I'm not really digging classic Fallout, so I just wanted to ask some questions...

-What did everyone else think about the older games?
-Do I just suck at Fallout 1? Or has it really not aged well?
-Does the game pick up or does it kinda stay at this weird, solemn slow pace?
-How's Fallout 2 in comparison?

I've read the game goes on for about an average of 38 hours, and with how I currently feel about it, I'm not really sure if I want to spend that time playing this game. And I really dig older PC RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Diablo, or Morrowind (though this is newer than the aforementioned games, but it's the oldest Elder Scrolls I've played). And it's not that turn-based combat itself bothers me, since I play a lot of JRPGs. But I don't really know if I can get behind this, and I'm hoping that, with some answers to my few questions, I might change my mind.

[KaZudra]

-What did everyone else think about the older games?

It really depends, If you're a fan of New Vegas, you'll really enjoy the lore. Overall, Classics are pretty good and offer a great deal more depth than the modern counterparts.

-Do I just suck at Fallout 1? Or has it really not aged well

Both. Give it some time to get the mechanics down, it's very playable, but it did come from a time when PC RPG's have tons more to compensate for technical limitations.

-Does the game pick up or does it kinda stay at this weird, solemn slow pace?

Oh yeah the game picks up, there are still plenty of people who can't 100% because they killed a person or made a decision against an NPC, it's THAT much freedom.

-How's Fallout 2 in comparison?

More or less the same, different premise, a few new mechanics, ect.

The Classic Fallout games are well thought out and quite good, BUT they have aged and getting into the game does require some patience. but when the mechanics are understood and the world opens up it's a hell of an experience. Don't be discouraged if you can't get into them, they really aren't for everyone since I haven't even gotten half way through myself, but at least they aren't going anywhere.

[Claimh Solais]

I do also wanna say that the lack of any kind of tutorial was kinda off-putting. In fact, I didn't even realize the game WAS turn-based at first, or that I needed AP to attack or anything like that. There was just kind of an intro where you're told your goal, and you're thrown into the game. So I just kinda ran around and attacked things and was all, "Wait. Why can't I attack? Why can't I MOVE? I can't even open my damn inventory."

So it took me a while but I noticed the whole "END - TURN / CMBT" thing in the bottom right, and that's when I realized, "OH. It's turn-based." And after finally getting into my inventory did I realize AP was a thing (and even opening your inventory requires AP). But the game doesn't really tell you how to do ANYTHING. I didn't know how to look at things, or reload my gun, or any of these basic actions at first. I know them now, but I still don't understand the ITEM 1 and ITEM 2 equipment slots. Can you switch between these? Cuz I can't figure out how.

P.S.: Also, where the heck do I GO at the beginning? They tell you that something broke or something, they only got about 150 days until they run out of water, and for some reason the protagonist is the ONLY one who can fix the problem (which I find hilarious since the protagonist has NEVER left the Vault), and then you're plopped right outside in a cave. I left the cave and that's when I saw the MASSIVE overworld, but from there, I'm completely lost (I ran into these big ol' monster things and they murdered me pretty quickly).

It really depends, If you're a fan of New Vegas, you'll really enjoy the lore. Overall, Classics are pretty good and offer a great deal more depth than the modern counterparts.

Never played New Vegas, though I do own it since it came with the bundle, but my brother also bought it for me on PS3 a year ago or so. Heard it kept the shooter gameplay of Fallout 3, but brought back a heavier emphasis on the RPG elements like the older ones, or something like that.

The Classic Fallout games are well thought out and quite good, BUT they have aged and getting into the game does require some patience. but when the mechanics are understood and the world opens up it's a hell of an experience. Don't be discouraged if you can't get into them, they really aren't for everyone since I haven't even gotten half way through myself, but at least they aren't going anywhere.

I have heard a lot about the amount of freedom you have with the game, like with it being possible to beat the entire game without killing a single enemy by focusing on other stats and stealth elements or stuff like that. I also really dig the gritty, old PC look of the game, since I grew up playing 90's PC games (and PS1 games). But man, this game is REALLY tough to get into.

[JR]

FWIW, I asked my brother-in-law about the first two games (I've only played 3 and NV), and while he said Fallout 2 was good, he suggested skipping the first one entirely and just reading a plot synopsis. And he's a very big fan of the series. (Still gonna try it, though.)