Yeah, I put just shy of 70 hours into the game within the first week of release, so it is safe to say that I liked it. It wasn't quite the same as the first two though. That's a given since the first two were isometric-2D turn-based RPGs, but Fallout 3 also kind of lacked the wacky dark humor and it didn't seem quite as easy to play any kind of character you wanted. Being a sneaky thief was pretty hard for the most part, but it was a perfectly workable option in the first two. Fallout 3 was wonderful in its own way, but I consider it more a re-imagining of the series than a true successor to parts 1 and 2. You can find the first two easily online or buy them in the Fallout collection for $10 online, so I highly recommend trying them out. Fallout 2 is my favorite overall, but it's also a lot harder (especially at the beginning, it's extremely easy to die in the tutorial area of all places) so you may just want to start with the first!

In reply to this comment by dystopianfuturetoday:
Hey Mr. Zombie. I'm playing Fallout 3 and loving it. I was pleasantly surprised, because I thought Oblivion was boring as fuck. I noticed you maxed your achievements, so I take it you liked it too. I never played 1 or 2, what were they like?

oh no, now i am all worried as well. i like isometric 3d view if this is just going to be a shooter with some post-apocalyptic spice on top, i will be very dissapointed.
(i even like fallout tactics)

Love the disclaimers.

I'm pretty skeptical on this game to be honest. Looks a bit too much like Oblivion, and I can't see that kind of turn based system being all that fun for the kind of playtime they're offering. Ah well, only time will tell. Dunno, if I were them I would have stuck with the isometric view just like Blizzard did with D3.

Oh man, I can't wait. I already pre-ordered my collector's edition even though I'll be in basic training when it releases. The first two games are in my top 10 favorite games of all time. The 2nd part is my #1 favorite game ever. You won't NEED to have played them to get into the 3rd though.

Part 3 is a radical departure from the series, going from 3rd person isometric turn-based combat to a real time Oblivion style with Baldur's Gate-esque pausing for tactical decision making. If you want to understand a bit more of the backstory with the Brotherhood of Steel and the super-mutants, etc. then I would recommend playing at least part 2. Part 1 is excellent as well, but the graphics are a tiny bit worse, although it does have a character voiced by Richard Dean Anderson! Then again part 2 has Bull from Night Court!

So, yes, definitely play Fallout 2 if at all possible, especially if you are really into old-school RPGs.

Sorry. I'm just touchy about their bitching at NMA. I've been on the receiving end of their flame throwers and I found it to be disheartening and ludicrous. I hope for the best for the Bethesda team. I'm sure they have great things in store. I'm betting it's not going to be an isometric, turn-based RPG, but I'll be having a blast with it while the NMA forums will burn with undeserved hatred.

Worst fanbase ever!

Heh. Well the MMORPG is in the works. But it's being done by Interplay, which as far as I know consists of Herve Caen and maybe his secretary. How they intend on making it with a proposed launch date of April 2009 and a budget of 30 Million dollars that they don't have, I don't know, but that's what they have to do in order to keep the license.

And hey, I would be happier than a pig is sh*t if there were an isometric turn-based RPG in the Fallout universe coming out, but it's not going to happen and the same 150 people constantly griping on a couple of message boards will never make it happen.

I just stopped by there and yeah, they are bitching about Bethesda, saying that it doesn't have the same feel of the original, based on the 3 pieces of concept art that are available at http://fallout.bethsoft.com/ . Their point being that it doesn't have the exact retro 50's sci-fi feel in those images, but they haven't shown much, and those concepts are still sick. But it will NEVER live up to what they want - EVER.

Sorry, they just piss me off.