Fallout 2

I spent a couple dozen hours in Fallout 2 this year. This was the only major Fallout game I hadn’t played at the time. I understand why people prefer the writing and roleplaying elements of the older games in the series. They are more creative and more consequential than the writing in FO3 and FO4. Fallout 4, for example, would never give you the opportunity to rustle up a man wanted by the New Reno mob, force him to dig his own grave, then drop an explosive on him (or hesitate, giving him an opportunity to escape, seemingly into thin air).

That said, I had a hard time with the playability of such an old game. The grimdark brown and grey palettes made important clues and items blend into the background. I found myself clicking like mad on everything in the environment in search of interactive objects and that wasn’t very fun. I was also trash at combat. Maybe that’s because I chose the charismatic starter character instead of the fighter, but even with companions I was never able to take on any groups of human enemies, only low level beasts (and I struggled with those). Without being able to kill raiders, ammunition and armor was very scarce, reinforcing a negative feedback loop that led to a lot of save-scumming.

I finally got bored and gave up after New Reno. I suppose if I made another game I would try a more robust character, but in 2018 the story isn’t so compelling that I need to find out what happens. In fact, FO2 is so open ended compared to its descendants that I never really got caught up in a major storyline. It was just one town full of sidequests after another. Despite game mechanics and graphics which haven’t aged well, the characters and atmosphere make up for it. Maybe one day I’ll try again!