XP is gained through combat, completing quests, finding locations, picking locks and hacking terminals. Unlike Oblivion, you won't be able to perform repetitive actions like swimming or jumping and expect to gain levels. And, of course, various things you find in the game such as bobblehead collectibles, books, and certain types of armor can further improve your stats. Each of these, in turn, play into individual skills which can be improved through leveling up. (an acronym for each of the 7 base stats) system. Everything is governed by the base attributes that follow the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. The heart of the game, experience points, level progression, and character development, runs on an entirely different system. When it was first announced that Bethesda would be developing Fallout 3, many assumed this would be 'Oblivion with guns.' While that isn't such a bad prospect, it isn't the case. These are your fetch and collection quests that can be useful for building out your character and killing time, but can't hold a candle to the bigger quests. Beyond that are smaller, non-primary side quests that don't have big stories that accompany them. And, like the main quest, each side quest feels organic with numerous routes to completion. You could easily get lost in these for hours and forget that the main quest even exists. Each of these primary side quests can take a few hours to complete and all of them are excellent. That may not seem like much, but it goes hand in hand with the focused story. The same level of flexibility and focus is found in the side quests of which there are only a dozen or so primary ones. You'll have to load up a prior save if you want to continue exploring with that character. Once you finish Fallout 3 and view the ending, you're booted back to the main menu. And yet it all ties back together in the end. The system is so flexible that the possible permutations are almost mind boggling. If you play your cards right you can even talk your way into, or luck upon, situations that offer massive shortcuts. Lying, stealing, hacking, fighting they're all open for you to use to solve problems. What left me most impressed was how many different ways you can progress through the game. Rather than spoil the story, I'll simply say that it does not disappoint. It all comes together for a spectacular climax that is just flat out awesome. Unlike many games that offer the level of freedom and choice found here, Fallout 3 has an exciting, top-notch main story. The way you talk to the people you meet can drastically change the story.

Or, if your speech skill is high enough, you might be able to lie your way to key information. If you're playing as a female character, you might be able to flirt your way through a sticky situation with some men. If your strength is high, you might be able to intimidate someone. Some perks, stats and skills add new conversation options. While the dialogue system doesn't take the cinematic leap that Mass Effect did, it brings so much depth that the simple listed responses become quite powerful. You'll want to hear everything every person has to say, but to do that you'll have to play the game more than once and likely more than a few times. The conversations you'll have with the various people you meet in Fallout 3 range from disturbing to hilarious, but they all have one thing in common: fantastic writing. well you can see how that might change things a bit. Steal from a shopkeeper and they might close up shop and leave. At that point you'll find hit men trying to take you down. Take the high road and you'll anger the seedier elements in this semi-society. The choices you make - be they good, evil or neutral - will have far reaching consequences. fallout 3 survival edition

if several thousand nuclear bombs were dropped on it. It exists in what people on the cusp of the atomic revolution in the 1950s saw as the sci-fi world of tomorrow. The Fallout universe paints a picture of a dystopian future.

It stands on its own as a memorable and well-crafted videogame. You don't need to play any of their past games or any previous Fallout games to enjoy this one. This sequel is the first made by Bethesda, the developers responsible for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It's a gripping and expansive showcase of how much depth and excitement can be packed into one videogame, and it does justice to the Fallout franchise. It's an open-world role-playing game that delivers an experience unlike anything on the market right now.

Fallout 3 survival edition