Although everyone goes on about the violence and gore, it makes it a little less realistic. You get more swearing in the public school sytem, and the morality choices you have to do makes this game attractive in a certain way. If your child has an interest in ethics, then this game is ok.
Fallout 3
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
An outstanding role-playing game -- for adults.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Fallout 3 was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know that this game is extremely graphic in nature, particularly when it comes to violence, blood, and gore -- and there are ample examples of each. Players can decapitate or dismember enemies with precision, resulting in a gruesome blood spray and chunks -- even witnessed in slow motion. Language might also offend with many instances of cussing. Less controversial but still in the game is the ability to take drugs called Chems (though you don't see the act) and some sexual scenes including some risqué dialogue and mannequins in a sexual position.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about whether this level of violence and gore is necessary to deliver the same dreary post-apocalyptic experience. If it were less graphic and had cleaner language, would the game be as appealing among players and would it sell as well? Is there a difference between fighting against radioactive enemies as in this game, and shooting at police officers in a game like Grand Theft Auto IV?
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More on Fallout 3
What’s the Story?
A word of warning for parents concerned about what video games their kids are playing: while FALLOUT 3 is one of the finest role-playing games (RPGs) in recent memory, take heed to the "Mature" warning in the corner of the box (and be sure to read all the sections on this page for specific details). In case you haven't played any of the original games, Fallout 3 is a post-apocalyptic adventure, where the player emerges from Vault 101 after a devastating nuclear war only to find a dangerous wasteland populated with radioactive mutants to fight, memorable survivors to interact with, and plenty of challenging missions to tackle.
But how this single-player RPG plays out is entirely up to you, with a huge, open-ended world to explore (based on an irradiated Washington, D.C.), customizable skills, abilities and "perks" to enhance your character, and even options on how to engage in combat. With the latter, when approaching a threatening enemy, players can choose between a tactical, turn-based combat scheme by pausing time and pinpointing areas of the body to hit (and seeing the likelihood of a successful shot measured in percentages) or a more straight-forward real-time mechanic, if the player prefers to use weapons against baddies without a break in the action (note: the former combat style results in blood-soaked, slow-motion limb and head explosions). Befriend some non-player characters (NPCs) and they might help fight alongside you. Speaking of choices, players can also toggle between a first- or third-person view with the push of a button.
Is It Any Good?
Not only is this game an immersive, futuristic Wild Wild West thriller that offers many dozens of hours of play, but it's also quite the looker with its high-definition characters, environments, and special effects (the game looks and plays the same between the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions). Animation isn't always smooth, though, and there are occasional camera issues that obscure your view instead of aiding it. Another minor shortcoming: it would have been great if a second player -- online or in front of the same TV -- could join in and play with you at any time (as you can in the Fable II RPG) but at least the artificial intelligence is smart and will keep you on your toes. Whether or not you played the original Fallout games, this sequel is one of the finest -- yet quite mature -- video games of 2008.
Publisher’s Details
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Released on: 10/28/2008, Price: $59.99, not online enabled
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Released on: 10/28/2008, Price: $59.99, not online enabled
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Our Members Say
See all 88 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Actually, quite an ethical game
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I rate this title on for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
I love it but not for children, very very long game, Loads of sex, violence, alcohol, and make believe drugs are abundant through out the entire game. the game can be played as an evil person or as a good person. Evil people sell slaves to slave traders, while good people can make friends and reap the benefits. There are prostitutes, racial Issues and other things that children under 16 would not be able to properly process.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Eh its violent. Pretty much like every game on ps3.
Yeahhh. Sure its violent. BUT. Its designed to be violent. So if it doesn't exactly look appropiate. YOU don't buy it. Headshots in slo mo are wicked and gore galore. Don't like violence. again DO NOT BUY IT. Simple as.
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
perfect for everyone who can watch a person have their head shot off in slow-mo
wow were to start. it's one of the greatest RPG's i have have ever played, all aspects of this game are excellent. the combat is extremely violent but great, and the story was quite immersive.
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I rate this title off for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Wonderful
This is an extremely violent game. I was surprised by the amount of language, especially since your own character can use it. The game is very engaging, and you can play it for hours without even realizing it. Your character can become evil or good, and being either has its consequences. you can drink to your hearts content, but it does have negative side effects. Overall, my favorite game, but has very negative messages.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 47% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 47% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 40% | of parents say it's educational |
| 33% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 27% | of parents feel the site is safe |
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For Your Family
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