Let me begin by saying that this game looks amazing. The game totally captures the feel of a nuclear wasteland, and it really pulls you into the game. The gameplay might be even better than the graphics. Once you emerge from Vault 101, you are free to do whatever you want. Feel like helping out the towns people, or feel like blowing 'em up? Almost anything you imagine you can do.

The game starts out with you in Vault 101. This isn't the most enjoyable part of the game, but it sets up the whole game. After creating a character and going through your childhood, you finally leave the Vault. I won't say why, because I don't want to give away to much of the story. Now you can do whatever you want. Sure, you could go ahead and start the main story, but then you would miss so much of the game. I recommend exploring the world a bit before going into the main quests.

The VATS combat system might take some people awhile to get used to, but it offers so many options to take down your enemy. This system stops everything around you, and lets you aim at certain body parts of your enemy. Each part has a percent next to it that relates to the chance of you hitting it. These percents change depending on your skill level and distance from target. Taking out an enemy's weapon and watching them run around trying to find a new one is priceless.

There are a few bugs, which is to be expected with a game this big. The first issue I noticed was freezing. At one point in the game it froze on me three times, and I had to keep restarting my system. Also, when switching weapons on the fly there is sometimes a little bit a lag that slows the game down. These minor issues aside, Fallout 3 is a must play game.

Graphics: Desolate wastelands have never looked so good.
Gameplay: You could play for a weeks without even touching the main storyline.
Sound: Guns sound realistic, voice acting is great, and the radio stations add to the realism of the game.

Overall: 9.75/10