[b]Fallout II[/b] is, in my opinion, one of the most important titles when it comes to computer RPG games. Black Isle Studios created a timeless masterpiece that, in every respect, expands and improves upon the elements of its predecessor - the world became larger, the dialogs more complex, and the number of ways to complete tasks increased. Despite all these years, Fallout II remains a role model of freedom for many modern RPGs.
The plot itself seems trivial - you are part of a tribe whose village is dying, and the only thing that can save it is a device called GECK. After completing the first test, which is getting through the nearby temple that serves as a tutorial and clearly seems to have been thrown in at the last minute, you set off on your journey. If someone played the first Fallout, they would see an obvious analogy between these two titles: in both cases, we were chosen by our community to obtain a magical item that would give us a chance to survive. However, the main storyline itself is just an impulse that drives us to venture into the world—a brutal world after the atomic apocalypse, filled with themes of politics, slavery, and crime. A world where people do everything to survive, resorting to many often immoral behaviors and actions. Each location has its own story and challenges it faces, and you, as a player, can (but do not have to) get involved.
The game is based on the SPECIAL system, where each letter corresponds to one of the stats – Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. We choose the statistics at the beginning of the game with the option to permanently or temporarily increase them during gameplay. Additionally, with each level, we develop skills related to using various types of weapons, diplomacy, stealth, or science. And of course, there are so-called meta-builds that practically trivialize the game itself, but we have a wide range of possibilities when it comes to creating and customizing our hero. Such a system allows us to play through the game as a silver-tongued diplomat who charms opponents with words or as a not-so-intelligent brute who crushes opponents with his own fists. You can feel that the statistics and character build truly affect the gameplay – my favorite example is the "intelligence" stat – a low value will cause our hero to struggle with speaking during conversations with other characters, and the best part is that they can notice it, which on one hand can close off the possibility of completing certain quests but on the other hand results in many funny interactions. It is a world reactivity that many modern RPGs are unable to achieve. On the other hand, the combat is a classic turn-based game in which both the chance to hit and the damage dealt are determined by the player's statistics and equipment. An interesting mechanic is the "Aimed Shot" system, which allows you to shoot specific body parts of opponents, and this is also reflected in combat – shooting in the eyes can blind the opponent, reducing their chances of hitting, while aiming for the arm can disarm them and completely prevent them from fighting. This is, of course, the precursor to the V.A.T.S. system known from more modern installments.
If Fallout II had to be described in one word, the perfect one would be "freedom." Because right after leaving the first village, we can go anywhere we want. Of course, if we go the wrong way, we will encounter opponents who are far too powerful and can wipe us off the face of the earth, but the player is not limited in any way. The game does not hold the player's hand and allows them to face the consequences of their own actions and choices. We can become the sheriff of a mountain town, a slave trader, a graveyard hyena, or even an adult film star. The game's atmosphere is also worthy of praise. The combination of 1950s style, a post-nuclear apocalypse world, and a large dose of dark humor creates a unique atmosphere. Of course, because we're dealing with such an old game, it'd be unfair to criticize its graphics or technical elements, but looking back over the years, I would say that the game still holds up.
It is certainly not a title without flaws. Using the interface can sometimes be confusing and uncomfortable, especially at higher resolutions (here it's a matter of font size scaling), managing the inventory can be clunky, and the element of randomness during combat can be somewhat annoying at first. Additionally, you may encounter many minor bugs that have not been fixed by the developers through patches, but this can be fixed by downloading modifications created by dedicated fans, which not only fix the bugs but also add a lot of new content and restore content cut by developers. I have also encountered opinions that the lack of the ability to reset stats and character builds is a downside of the game; however, in my opinion, it is actually a good thing - we have to live with the consequences of our choices and think about which direction we want to develop our character further.
In conclusion, Fallout II is one of the best titles for me when it comes to computer RPGs. And yes, the combat might be slow, the game might not have fully voiced dialogs, and the video/audio quality is already outdated, but the freedom, facing consequences of your actions, and the flexibility in character development make it outshine many modern RPGs. Furthermore, despite being an open-world game, it is relatively short for its genre - you can finish it in 30-40 hours while exploring the majority of what it has to offer, which is a welcome change from modern RPGs that can take hundreds of hours. I won't deny that I'm really hoping for a remake of this masterpiece, but then I remember who currently owns the franchise and know that it's an unattainable dream and all that's left is another playthrough of this beautiful classic.
[b]Final grade: 9/10.[/b]
