I still can't believe the company that produced this awesome game broke...
Well I guess I can't add anything new that has been said already about the fallout series. Fallout 1 and 2 have exactly the same gameplay. 2nd part is slightly better due to some improvements.
It is said that the story of this game is amazing. Well, it is not exactly amazing. However, because of the game's design, as you travel through the world (as the man/woman who will save your vault) you start knowing what is currently happening. Yeah, we could say that the action takes place in California. However, you feel like you are exploring a different planet.
About the development system of your character, the "S.P.E.C.I.A.L." and the abilities you learn, is what gives this game its personal taste. Because the way you put points in your atributes/abilities changes completely your gameplay. It is so damn fun that you will want to play the game again.
The battles, while being turn-based, aren't boring, cause they are tactic and also it is fun when you crit as you watch fatalities and some hilarious messages appear with things like "You critically hit the guard in his eyes. The guard is blind". The funny thing is that there is no magic, no swords, no shields...BUT...there are guns, shotguns, laser guns, rifles, gatling guns, flamethrowers, grenades....lovely isn't it? ;P
So overall, this game is UNIQUE. No matter what kind of rpg gamer you are, you will love this game, unless you really hate sci-fi or old-school.