Fallout 3 gameplay details revealed

by Ross Miller { Jun 15th 2007 at 2:45PM }

The latest issue of Game Informer has the first concrete details of Bethesda's Fallout 3. Those who were worried of Post-Apocalyptic Oblivion should find some solace in the amount of Fallout style that has been retained.

Though it does run off of a modified Oblivion -- which is no surprise, considering the in-game teaser featured a Powered Armor soldier that looked strikingly similar to an Elder Scrolls knight -- the developers have reworked the third-person view due to the "negative feedback from its last role-player," CVG reports. The health system allows you to hit enemies -- and subsequently lets enemies hit you -- in specific points on the body.

Remnants from previous Fallout titles include:

The Karma system! Bethesda is touting 9 to 12 different endings based on your actions in the game.
The ability to sneak and talk your way through the game. Maybe we can still talk the final boss into self-destructing.
Turn-based combat is possible using Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), although once your action points are used up, you will revert to real-time combat until they charge up again.
Radiation poisoning.
As indicated from the trailer, Ron Perlman

Liam "I'm your daddy" Neeson will appear in the opening of the game as your are born in a vault hospital, showing traits similar to the ones you choose for your character. Fallout 3 is set for a Fall 2008 release.

Gallery: Fallout 3

Tags: bethesda, fallout, fallout 3, Fallout3, liam neeson, LiamNeeson, ron perlman, RonPerlman

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

viito @ Jun 15th 2007 2:51PM

/drool

Karma Sutra Master FTW

copa @ Jun 15th 2007 2:53PM

Are you guys operating under embargo on the Rock Band news? Because there is a lot of juicy stuff out there.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 3:12PM

So there you have it, turn based, third person, Ron Perlman, adherance to canon, location based targeting system.. what will the fanboys cry about now?

rasgueado @ Jun 15th 2007 3:16PM

Sounds good to me.

Viridium @ Jun 15th 2007 3:21PM

Rock Band is teh suck.

Fallout 3 is teh awesome.

KrazyIan @ Jun 15th 2007 3:22PM

Wow. Those pictures are crazy good, and all development info so far sounds great as well.

Crono @ Jun 15th 2007 3:27PM

Seriously, Copa. GH3 has no prayer by comparison.

TheKingInYellow @ Jun 15th 2007 3:58PM

So, it's an FPS like Oblivion, with occasional turn-based targeting.

This, my friends, is not good.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 4:03PM

@8) WHERE does it say "first person" anywhere? In fact I distinctly read "third person" in the article.

Personally, I'm more distressed over them making the lead character a penguin, and the battle engine consisting of side-scrolling combat ala Super Mario Bros. Now that was a change I didn't see coming.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 4:04PM

Also, that last bit was sarcasm, for those unaware.

Paul @ Jun 15th 2007 4:05PM

Actually, King, if you read the article, it says a re-worked third person view, not first person. The V.A.T.S. system sounds a little like the Fallout Tactics system, which worked well for the purpose of controlling multiple actions simultaneously. If you're hardcore bent on your turn based system, I recommend crying more. That always helps.

OrganicShadow @ Jun 15th 2007 4:05PM

@8: Where did they say it was FPS?

I'm glad it's not turn based, or, rather you have to choose to do it by using the VATS thing or whatever. I like Fallout tactics so much more than regular Fallout, so I think this should be good.

If it's an FPS like Oblivion though, they better use the Oblivion engine...

Viridium @ Jun 15th 2007 4:26PM

Organic - when the post states "Though it does run off of a modified Oblivion", I think they are implying that it is using the same engine as Oblivion (Gamebryo).

Ryan @ Jun 15th 2007 4:39PM

Sweet... I was one of those crying fanboys, but this sounds promising. Now the only conern I have is Bethesda keeping the humor in. Never played Oblivion but I have heard that it definately lacked a sense of humor. Looking forward to this much more now.

Twist @ Jun 15th 2007 4:46PM

Never really played any of the Fallout games besides a little bit of the one on Xbox but if this ends up being just similar to Oblivion in a post-apocalyptic setting and is released for the 360 then I will be there with bells on.

Paul @ Jun 15th 2007 5:14PM

@14 - Humor was definitely few and far between in Oblivion, but it was there. Did you ever find the necrophiliac herbalist?

Paul @ Jun 15th 2007 5:15PM

Y'know, if *I'd* learn to read, I'd have noticed the "Never played Oblivion" part. Stupid mornings.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 5:18PM

@14/16: There were also the daedric worshipers over by the god of madness that were.. strange, and funny.

Also, I dont know why but I always found it funny that if you attacked Shegorath in the Shivering Isles, he'd say something like "You really shouldn't have done that.. Enjoy the view!" then teleport you into the atmosphere where you'd fall to your death. Not comedy central material by any means, but it lightens the mood.

Snap @ Jun 15th 2007 5:29PM

Just so long as the third person camera is actually functional this time unlike in Oblivion. Main reason I stop playing that game was poor player/camera control.

Snukadaman @ Jun 15th 2007 6:03PM

turn based and location based targeting do it for me....but then again who are we kidding..people who complained would of still bought it just for the P.I.P boy cartoons and the humor

anon @ Jun 15th 2007 6:14PM

"Turn-based combat is possible using Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), although once your action points are used up, you will revert to real-time combat until they charge up again."

Yeah...that's not turn-based then, is it? It's real-time with pause(bullet-time).

Quit using precise terminology like fucking buzzwords. It's bad enough when the marketing guys do it, we don't need journalists joining in on the fun.

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Jun 15th 2007 6:41PM

Organic Shadow and Eldee:

"Where did they say it was FPS?"

Reading...It's FUN-damental!

"You'll certainly be able to tackle enemies in real-time using first-person shooting, the article says, but V.A.T.S. lets you pause time and select a target at your leisure."

In addition it says:

"The long-awaited sequel runs on an evolved version of the Oblivion engine, although Bethesda says it's reworked the third-person view because of negative feedback from its last role-player."

So it STILL has FPS mode, but they're working on 3rd person mode. It doesn't say FPS has been removed at all.

It's FPS. It's Fallout-blivion with occasional Bullet Time.

I especially like how fans of the game get the parts of the combat system they wanted doled out to them like gruel in Oliver Twist.

"Can I have some more tactical combat?"

"You want MORE!?"

Poisoned Al @ Jun 15th 2007 7:30PM

I've never saw the appeal of turn based systems and I liked Oblivion's system. Hell if the game turns out to be the bastard child of Oblivion and STALKER I'd still buy it. I don't care if it upset a handful of RPG-fanboys.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 8:15PM

@22: Yeah, so they gave other people an option for first person and you've got a problem with it? That makes you an elitist, which is arguably worse than a fanboy.

eldee @ Jun 15th 2007 8:18PM

@22: Regarding the 'reading is fundamental' comment, I don't read every other link in one of these blog posts. 99% of them link to rehashed shit I read last week, so you are forgiven for assuming I was talking about something other than THIS article.

Sesur @ Jun 15th 2007 8:35PM

Holy shit, I cannot wait to play this! Let the sniveling RPG fanatics cry.

guenthar @ Jun 15th 2007 9:30PM

I guess some people didn't understand when they said the combat is turn-based. From what I got out of it was that the game would pause when going into combat and you can take an action then it would pause again and you take another action until all your AP runs out. After that you go back to real time so you can dodge and take the enemies attacks until your AP returns and you start your next turn. I think it might be something where you can turn it off and do real time combat also.

I was really suprised that they included turn-based combat but I think this "unique" style might bring back turn-based combat.

kitt @ Jun 15th 2007 9:35PM

From Bethesda's Fallout 3 press kit:

Liam Neeson, the character - "For 30 years, I have practiced my art. Audiences and critics have praised my performances. But a darkness comes. The Sons of Lee Marvin rise. These are the closing days of the third year...and the final hours of my life. Find Ron Perlman and close shut the jaws of Oblivion...er, Fallout."

Now, battle in both real-time and turn-based combat in a post-apocalyptic world as you come across the mysterious and evil Sons of Lee Marvin, including Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Neil Young and the peculiar Jim Jarmusch. Coming 2008.

t_m @ Jun 16th 2007 10:54AM

Anyone ever play the Space Hulk games?

They had a sweet turn based/real time mechanic that sounded kinda similar.

Most actions and controls could be carried out in a paused, turn based fashion. But the ammount of time you had to make decisions was limited by your "command bar" which slowly decreased over time. (it's size depended on the quality of your squad leaders).

Once you ran out of command time it shifted into real time.

I always thought it was an awesome system, and i could never understand why more RTS or RPG games didn't use it.
It had all the benefits of turn based (tactical thinking, time to plan and coordinate) but also the drama and stress of a realtime game, as you tired to execute you plan before the clock ran out.

If fallout 3 is anything like that its gonna rock.

AlphaMatrix @ Jun 17th 2007 5:33PM

I think Bethesda will do a good job on this one, but there will be people complaining no matter what. With any luck Fallout 3 will support user made mods to the same extent (or further) as Oblivion. Then those complaining can get to work; modding the game to their liking.

Skemo @ Jun 28th 2007 4:13PM

Wow, way to take a great thing and ruin it Bethesda. Fallout = turn-based combat in isometric 3rd person. Period. Anything else is a fucking insult to the main fundamentals of the franchise.

OH WAIT its multi-platform, lets dumb it down for all the console people and drain all the strategy out of an amazing combat system. Great job guys!

Anyone who is a hardcore fan of the series has got to be REALLY dissapointed on how Bethesda is butchering one of the greatest RPG series in the history of computer gaming.