Fallout 1's age is hard to overlook. I couldn't even start the game at first and then once I got the game running in compatibility mode, selecting my monitor resolution would instantly crash the game. I won't blame the original devs for this, but I will criticize the now Microsoft owned Bethesda for marketing and selling a game in this state.
Luckily, there exists a mod that ports the entirety of Fallout 1 into 2, which I used for my playthrough. It includes a number of quality of life features, like having more than 10 save slots and easier inventory management. The ui is still not very intuitive and also fairly clunky, but you can get used to it, even though some elements must've already been confusing in 1997.
Fallout 1 shines when exploring the world. Everything feels cohesive, there's simply a great sense of place and realism. The wasteland feels brutal and the game mechanics emphasize that, although it certainly takes some getting used to. While the Bethesda games are always build so that a player going into the exact opposite direction of the main quest will stumble upon something interesting, players venturing into the wrong direction at the start of Fallout 1 will most likely be instakilled by a random encounter with super mutants.
Even later on and equipped with better gear, a single critical hit can instantly kill the player character. It's annoying, sure, but it also makes the world believable. The lack of quest direction works similarly: it's confusing when compared to later games, but then again, why would anyone know where to find a working water chip in a radioactive desert? The only time I was actually disappointed by the game's logic was when I encountered a second time limit, which unlike the earlier water chip deadline was hidden from the player.
While I did immensely enjoy the writing, characters, story, and possible quest outcomes, I found the combat pretty boring. It's turn based, but positioning is pretty much irrelevant since everyone uses ranged weapons anyway and there's no cover. All players can do is shoot at enemies and occasionally reload or use a stim pack. Other turn based RPGs offer deep mechanics and choices while Fallout 1's combat only made me wish for a speed up option.
All in all, playing through Fallout 1 was still a worthwhile experience. I don't think that I'll ever play it again, but getting to play it myself and finally see where the whole franchise started was great. Hopefully Bethesda will eventually release a version with better compatibility with modern systems, so others can experience the game without having to install mandatory mods.
Luckily, there exists a mod that ports the entirety of Fallout 1 into 2, which I used for my playthrough. It includes a number of quality of life features, like having more than 10 save slots and easier inventory management. The ui is still not very intuitive and also fairly clunky, but you can get used to it, even though some elements must've already been confusing in 1997.
Fallout 1 shines when exploring the world. Everything feels cohesive, there's simply a great sense of place and realism. The wasteland feels brutal and the game mechanics emphasize that, although it certainly takes some getting used to. While the Bethesda games are always build so that a player going into the exact opposite direction of the main quest will stumble upon something interesting, players venturing into the wrong direction at the start of Fallout 1 will most likely be instakilled by a random encounter with super mutants.
Even later on and equipped with better gear, a single critical hit can instantly kill the player character. It's annoying, sure, but it also makes the world believable. The lack of quest direction works similarly: it's confusing when compared to later games, but then again, why would anyone know where to find a working water chip in a radioactive desert? The only time I was actually disappointed by the game's logic was when I encountered a second time limit, which unlike the earlier water chip deadline was hidden from the player.
While I did immensely enjoy the writing, characters, story, and possible quest outcomes, I found the combat pretty boring. It's turn based, but positioning is pretty much irrelevant since everyone uses ranged weapons anyway and there's no cover. All players can do is shoot at enemies and occasionally reload or use a stim pack. Other turn based RPGs offer deep mechanics and choices while Fallout 1's combat only made me wish for a speed up option.
All in all, playing through Fallout 1 was still a worthwhile experience. I don't think that I'll ever play it again, but getting to play it myself and finally see where the whole franchise started was great. Hopefully Bethesda will eventually release a version with better compatibility with modern systems, so others can experience the game without having to install mandatory mods.