A Sleeper Classic's Classic Game
This masterwork did what other RPG's did not do at its time. First it touched on a frightful subject of the "what if" the crazies of the world flipped and hit the buttons to end all life on Earth.
Second, it introduced game play mechanics that were revolutionary as in break up your party into several smaller parties and introduced an addictive, yet satisfying "skill" system.
Finally, the game was right up front and center about a sordid world which in many ways we have seen for all of human history right on up today.
The player faces choices and themes that involve infanticide and mass murder. Does the player kill off the Orphans or save them? Does the player kill all the people and mutants in a Casino or gamble instead?
There are myriad of themes such as prostitution (and contracting an STD); occultism and religious zealotry -imagine a "Citidal" full of sub-machine gun carrying, murderous Nuns.
The player is faced to decide on issues of racism, alcoholism, drug use, gambling, human medical experimentation, torture, and genocide. Seems like current events is prologue even in an irradiated world.
Within in the doomsday world, life isn't much different, but it is very different. Irradiated rats become the size of Volkswagons, humans grow extra limbs, and everyday items become energetic weapons of mass destruction.
Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada of which the game never quite comes out and says that this is the region of America. It plays out like The Bard's Tale with turn for turn Role Playing.
The player is introduced to several choices that with an underpinning statistical engine determines the outcome of each battle and even ultimately the events of the game.
The turn based battle was revolutionary for its time. The weapons system can be customized, distances were a factor, and additional NPC can join the battle as enemy or a neutral character, which can be killed or missed as an innocent bystander.
By the way, when you DIE, you die. This is not a fantasy game with a resurrection spell. There is a way around it, but the dead player's return isn't quite the same (at least from my perspective) and can end up way behind.
In addition, a player can break the party up to carry out separate missions, and the skills were "oh so important" such as in dire needs as swimming or rope climbing or flying a helicopter.
The writing and dialogue rivals movies like Bladerunner, Total Recall, and The Matrix.
For its time the graphics were excellent. Not so much today, because we are spoiled to see an ever increasing push towards total "realism." Also, it played to the candy of imagination and not the sugary quick fix to the eyes.
There is no musical score to speak of. Except there a bits of explosion and sounds of "hits." The game didn't need music. It would ruin the mood.
Fall-Out 3 owes tithes and allegiance to its Godfather, which is the Wasteland. This is a sleeper classic, and unfortunately not much written about it or its name recognized.
Eschew the "beauty" and "ease of use" of today's games, for a game that is difficult, "educational," and rewarding.