bennyawesome
1998
- War, war never changes.
Fallout 2 was the first RPG game that has grasped my imagination as 12-something year old way back in the late 90s. I could not recall much from my first playthrough as I was just learning English, but those warm post apocalyptic sprites, the mix between tribal survivalists using primitive tools and "modern" tech had me play through most part of the game breathlessly.
My second "proper" playthrough was when I was 16-something and I went with a thiefing sniper. This time around I understood the lore better and Fallout forever became one of my favorite gaming universes.
So, 20 years from my last playthough how does it hold up?
Note: I've played with outstanding Fallout 2 Restoration Project mod to add a bit onto something that I would have expected to be quite a familiar game to me.
When compared to Fallout 1, this installment definitely expanded in all directions while also debuted the now signature Fallout Wild Wasteland (tm) with talking plants, ghosts, supermutants carrying gag balls and other assorted humorous troupes.
The story is simple yet it elegantly follows from the first game, find your first game protagonist's home and retrieve Garden of Eden Creation Kit. By modern standards it is by no mean an outstanding narrative, but it works and ebb and flow of the game have you chase one Mc. Guffin after another.
Graphics and engine. Compared to Fallout 1, you could see how the engine got better at a time + the locations are much more fleshed out. I've used HD resolution mod and I've found 1366×768 resolution to be quite a good balance between old and new with the models on the screen keeping some distinct look and scale instead of way small models on 1920×1080.
Gameplay. I've played a charismatic leader and this time around took Sulic, Vic and Cassidy with me. Surprisingly, I've enjoyed party gameplay and their behavior (once I've confiskated SMG party killed from Sulic) was surprisingly good, companions frequently saving my butt that is. Early to mid game is absolutely great, you have some weapon and build varieties in place. I've mostly used pistols this time around, with late game bringing in energy weapons (classic). Turn based (agility is king) and I went with quick shot build. Only ever had some difficulties late game.
Sound in this game is amazing, the universaly praised music is as good as gaming music can get, but also gunshots, NPC voices, everything is top notch.
All in all, the game is as beautiful as the day I've first played it and plays great. Some dated elements are part of a learning curve. Would love if they somehow made a new Fallout game in isometric perspective or even remaster this for modern machines or see you again in a decade or so,
P.S. my full mod list and useful links:
- Fallout 2 Restoration Project - restores a lot of cut content and overall fits the tone of the game like a glove. Besides fixes a lot of bugs and has an assortment of quality of life improvements.
- Fallout 2 Inventory Filter - this mod allows for much better inventory management by allowing filtering items by their types.
- Nearly Ultimate Fallout 2 Guide - outstanding classic guide to Fallout 2 by Per Jorner, used it sparingly, but it is absolute treasure trove of additional information on the game.
- Fallout 2 Restoration Project Guide - done by mod development team as a supplement to the mod. Used to cross check that I did not miss any restored content.
Fallout 2 was the first RPG game that has grasped my imagination as 12-something year old way back in the late 90s. I could not recall much from my first playthrough as I was just learning English, but those warm post apocalyptic sprites, the mix between tribal survivalists using primitive tools and "modern" tech had me play through most part of the game breathlessly.
My second "proper" playthrough was when I was 16-something and I went with a thiefing sniper. This time around I understood the lore better and Fallout forever became one of my favorite gaming universes.
So, 20 years from my last playthough how does it hold up?
Note: I've played with outstanding Fallout 2 Restoration Project mod to add a bit onto something that I would have expected to be quite a familiar game to me.
When compared to Fallout 1, this installment definitely expanded in all directions while also debuted the now signature Fallout Wild Wasteland (tm) with talking plants, ghosts, supermutants carrying gag balls and other assorted humorous troupes.
The story is simple yet it elegantly follows from the first game, find your first game protagonist's home and retrieve Garden of Eden Creation Kit. By modern standards it is by no mean an outstanding narrative, but it works and ebb and flow of the game have you chase one Mc. Guffin after another.
Graphics and engine. Compared to Fallout 1, you could see how the engine got better at a time + the locations are much more fleshed out. I've used HD resolution mod and I've found 1366×768 resolution to be quite a good balance between old and new with the models on the screen keeping some distinct look and scale instead of way small models on 1920×1080.
Gameplay. I've played a charismatic leader and this time around took Sulic, Vic and Cassidy with me. Surprisingly, I've enjoyed party gameplay and their behavior (once I've confiskated SMG party killed from Sulic) was surprisingly good, companions frequently saving my butt that is. Early to mid game is absolutely great, you have some weapon and build varieties in place. I've mostly used pistols this time around, with late game bringing in energy weapons (classic). Turn based (agility is king) and I went with quick shot build. Only ever had some difficulties late game.
Sound in this game is amazing, the universaly praised music is as good as gaming music can get, but also gunshots, NPC voices, everything is top notch.
All in all, the game is as beautiful as the day I've first played it and plays great. Some dated elements are part of a learning curve. Would love if they somehow made a new Fallout game in isometric perspective or even remaster this for modern machines or see you again in a decade or so,
P.S. my full mod list and useful links:
- Fallout 2 Restoration Project - restores a lot of cut content and overall fits the tone of the game like a glove. Besides fixes a lot of bugs and has an assortment of quality of life improvements.
- Fallout 2 Inventory Filter - this mod allows for much better inventory management by allowing filtering items by their types.
- Nearly Ultimate Fallout 2 Guide - outstanding classic guide to Fallout 2 by Per Jorner, used it sparingly, but it is absolute treasure trove of additional information on the game.
- Fallout 2 Restoration Project Guide - done by mod development team as a supplement to the mod. Used to cross check that I did not miss any restored content.
1997
This review contains spoilers
Have not played Fallout for about 10 years, this is where it all began and this is the beginning of my 2024 Fallout TV-show inspired binge. Retrofuturistic nuka-cola-infused masterpiece, let's roll.
Played with Fallout 1in 2 mod, bumping game engine to Fallout 2 version. Even taking that in account the game is somewhat janky.
This is how it went.
Gifted gunslinger, with tagged Small Guns, Lockpicks and Speech. Mostly good Karma, although had some unexpected run-ins with Junktown guards. Ended the game with Turbo Plasma Rifle and Reinforced Power armor, cleaned up most of the locations and quests, somehow, despite having 100% Outdoorsman and 10 Luck never encountered a single special encounter. Defeated Master with speech check, blew up Military Base, left the Vault.
On to Fallout 2.
Played with Fallout 1in 2 mod, bumping game engine to Fallout 2 version. Even taking that in account the game is somewhat janky.
This is how it went.
Gifted gunslinger, with tagged Small Guns, Lockpicks and Speech. Mostly good Karma, although had some unexpected run-ins with Junktown guards. Ended the game with Turbo Plasma Rifle and Reinforced Power armor, cleaned up most of the locations and quests, somehow, despite having 100% Outdoorsman and 10 Luck never encountered a single special encounter. Defeated Master with speech check, blew up Military Base, left the Vault.
On to Fallout 2.