I remember seeing the trailers for this game. As a fan of the previous two Fallout games, I could only hope for the best. And I hoped correctly. Fallout 3 is hands down one of the best games of all time for the Xbox 360. The game follows the story of a world thrown into disarray some centuries after a nuclear holocaust that threatens humanity. The player starts out as a member of Vault 101 (just one of hundreds of vaults spread across the wastelands). The vaults are a ironic sanctuary for the people of the time: they offer the only protection and boast freedom of self, only to be a prison of the mind, soul, and body, and completely unsafe (gangs, bribery, violence, etc.). However, certain events take place, and the player is set off onto an adventure across the lands, the entire world open to their imaginations. Basically, this is how the game works: If you can see it, you can go to it. The entire game is one open world environment (only incremental load times between inside and outside places). You can literally walk all the way across the Wasteland, North to South, East to West, without hitting any loading screens. You will not be unopposed on your adventure, however. There are uncountable enemies prowling every inch of the wastes, from annoying RadRoaches, to Super Mutant Behemoths and Death Claws (with a name like that, just run). The player will also encounter various communities across the world, which is where the basis of the gameplay is. Sure, this may look like a FPS/RPG, and you're D#@! right it is. But it goes so much deeper than that. The core of the game is interacting with this new world, getting the feel of the people, becoming a human fit for this new earth; everything you do affects you, everything you live for is at stake. Nothing in this game goes without consequence, as the honor system is ranked by your "Karma" (the better it is, the more good characters will interact with you on a deeper level, and vice versa). The graphics are unbelievably realistic, with the entire landscape looking as though the artists carved each rock, pixel by pixel. Skin textures could use a little tweaking for those with lower resolution televisions, but seriously, if you don't have an HDTV by now, get with the times. The voice acting is phenomenal!...well except for maybe one character you'll meet in Girdershade (trust me, you'll know when you find her). The combat is pretty decent in real-time (the physics are a bit odd, as you can shoot someone point blank with virtually no response from the occasional "AH!"); but VATS is where it's at. VATS is a Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, where the player can focus in on any individual area of an enemy, queue up multiple attacks, and let loose a maelstrom of violence. When coupled with the Bloody Mess perk, where attacks become increasingly violent (and therefore increasingly AWESOME), there are just those moments where your jaw drops from pure, maniacal, delight. But overall the violence is only moderate compared to other games (i.e. F.E.A.R., SMOD, UT3, etc.). Parents, if you love a good adventure (over 100 hours of game-play if you're into it), and you want your child to be delighted, then delve into Fallout 3 from Bethesda Studios.

When my fourteen year old son asked me if he could by Fallout 3, I was skepticle. So, I decided to buy it, try it, and hopefully not have to return it. First, Fallout 3 is amazing. But, to concerned parents: know your kid. This game can be quite graphic, but only if you use VATS(Vault-tech assisted targeting system). VATS allows you to stratigicly place your shots to eliminate your foes. What results is heavy bloodshed in slow motion. On a lighter note, if VATS is not used, the game is no worse than the Halo franchice. As far as language, I didn't really notice it. I think that a mature fourteen year old should be allowed to play this stunning RPG. Happy Gaming!

the game is the best but violence isn't intense but you can blow things arms off there is not much language but it is bad the game is based of choices and you can choose to take drugs or kill something its extremely fun but sexual behavior isn't bad there is only 1 prostitute and you go by a room she walks you to the room and then you can climb into bed and the room goes dark you then wake up in the morning

If you're a particularly computer savvy parent and wouldn't mind your child enjoying this along with you but have an issue with the ULTRA violence, there is an active modding community out there that make mods to tone down the brutal dismemberments, head explosions and blood sprays.

well this game is one of the goriest games i have ever played. My son loves this game i do too but my daughter doesn't its very Gorey heads fly off, eyeballs and brains spatter everywhere, you can use sledge hammers and chainsaws to rip arms and bodies in half. other than that you can use chems (drugs) you can get addicted to these and can only sleep them off or they were off. lots of sexual related stuff. Lots of language to such as lots of f**ks and F**kin b***tch and mother f**er and other explicit words.can also be very scary at times like you will see dead bodies with arms and legs cut off a child has his head blown off by a mutant any way its a good game for adults

Normally I wouldn't review a video game, and truthfully I only registered to talk about this one. For starters, the violence can be intense, even for my age. It's around that of Dead Rising, but not as bad as the movie the Patriot. I'd say this game is for high school sophmores-seniors, that know the difference between a game and real life. Face it, if your kids don't know that by now, don't even let them get a permit. The reason I like this game is for the plot (but the violence helps with stress relief), and it's message. The hyper violence is realistic, and shows what the world could be like if the Cold War ended as many people expected it to end. This game is Mad Max for the next generation, and it doesn't hide it at all. I believe the Karma system works well, as you are berated for your wrong doings on the games radio, or you are brought up as a hero if you don't. The game does have notably less law and order, unlike Oblivion where if you do something wrong you go to jail. If any real lesson could be learned from Fallout it's why we need a goverment, and that hope survives no matter how messed up the world becomes.

first off, this game is very innapropriate and violent! parents, i played this game and trust me, kids will learn bad stuff. fun at first then is boring

**SPOILER ALERT*** From Bethesda Studios comes yet another extremely amazing RPG. Fallout 3 begins with the player's birth. We don't see anything inappropriate here. As the game continues, the player grows from child to adult in Vault 101--an underground safe-haven, hidden from the nuclear wastes outside. This portion (like every portion) of the game was done wonderfully. Not only did I become overly attached to my character's Dad (who put aside, we later learn, his entire life's work to make a life for his child, free from the dangers of the Wastes, and is voiced by Liam Neeson), but I became so immersed in the Fallout world there was no way I could quit playing right away. Years pass. Your dad has left the vault. He didn't tell you about it. After escaping an angry Overseer with help from a friend, you see the Wastes for the first time. There is nothing green on the surface. House frame still stand, covered in rubble. Crumbling overpasses collapse. Animals--emaciated and vicious--prowl the grim landscape. You set out on a mission to find your Dad. Your quest takes you to the nearby town, where you quickly gain other quests from other quirky, memorable NPCs. My summary? Graphics: Amazing. Action: Engrossing, but very gory (which doesn't bother me, personally.) Language: Sometimes intense, (I turn down the voices, and skip over certain parts of subtitled dialog.) Characters: Extremely well done, memorable, and worth loving. Storyline: Awesome, with several add ons packs to purchase in the Game of the Year edition. Re-Playability: Definitely re-playable. Don't miss out on this game.

Bethesda is back with another open world RPG. This one is unique in that it's setting is the post-apocalyptic world. It is great fun, even though not as good as oblivion. There is much blood (enough that there is a targeting system pretty much based on making bloodier kills) and sexual innuendoes. I think it's good for mid and older teens.