Fallout Tactics is a wonderful tactical combat strategy game. The player coordinates up to six characters to complete specific missions. The main character (created by the player) gains rank in the Brotherhood of Steel (a paramilitary organization based on the preservation/protection of technology) with each successful mission (thereby adding more highly trained members to the pool from which to form the six-character squad). It is playable in real-time and turn-based (either for the entire squad or for each individual character). It has a linear plot, but (as stated before) the outcome of each mission will affect the resources (equipment and personnel) available to the squad in future missions.
Fallout Tactics is not what a fan of Fallout and Fallout 2 would come to expect. As stated, the storyline is linear, so exploration of the global map provides little beyond the few 'bonus' encounters and the all-too-common random encounter. There are no dialog options in Tactics (seriously, prompts may be present in dialogs, but the option is not there). And some skills are left unused until missions near the end of the game (*cough*Science*cough*).
The humor of the game was what I had the most difficulty with. Given, it is Fallout, so it makes fun of many things. However, much of the humor was so absurd that I found myself regularly groaning (especially when listening to the dialog). For example, a Ghoul community worshiping a plutonium warhead (complete with mythos/lore) and the Reavers with a complete electrically-based religion (including a Saint!) seemed all a bit far-fetched. (Compare this to the Children of the Cathedral from Fallout or the Hubologists from Fallout 2 and you find the Tactics 'religions' far-too well-developed to be believable.) Other minor humor 'problems' include the childish Vault 0 citizens (they were supposed to be the most brilliant minds in the pre-apocalypse world!), the negative "which is sad" on a weapon, a dog urinating on a fallen enemy (seriously, enemy dies, guys poke it with spears, and the dog promptly urinates on it); It really rubs off as less humorous and more insulting than the previous games.
Summary: A fine tactical combat strategy game set in the Fallout world with a decent story, but very unlike the previous Fallout games.
Pros: Selectable combat styles; Team-based game-play; Vehicles; Mid-west -based storyline (weren't you getting sick of California?); Wide array of equipment; Interesting over-all plot
Cons: Linear storyline; Ocasional groan-able/childish humor; Low replay-ability
Fallout Tactics is not what a fan of Fallout and Fallout 2 would come to expect. As stated, the storyline is linear, so exploration of the global map provides little beyond the few 'bonus' encounters and the all-too-common random encounter. There are no dialog options in Tactics (seriously, prompts may be present in dialogs, but the option is not there). And some skills are left unused until missions near the end of the game (*cough*Science*cough*).
The humor of the game was what I had the most difficulty with. Given, it is Fallout, so it makes fun of many things. However, much of the humor was so absurd that I found myself regularly groaning (especially when listening to the dialog). For example, a Ghoul community worshiping a plutonium warhead (complete with mythos/lore) and the Reavers with a complete electrically-based religion (including a Saint!) seemed all a bit far-fetched. (Compare this to the Children of the Cathedral from Fallout or the Hubologists from Fallout 2 and you find the Tactics 'religions' far-too well-developed to be believable.) Other minor humor 'problems' include the childish Vault 0 citizens (they were supposed to be the most brilliant minds in the pre-apocalypse world!), the negative "which is sad" on a weapon, a dog urinating on a fallen enemy (seriously, enemy dies, guys poke it with spears, and the dog promptly urinates on it); It really rubs off as less humorous and more insulting than the previous games.
Summary: A fine tactical combat strategy game set in the Fallout world with a decent story, but very unlike the previous Fallout games.
Pros: Selectable combat styles; Team-based game-play; Vehicles; Mid-west -based storyline (weren't you getting sick of California?); Wide array of equipment; Interesting over-all plot
Cons: Linear storyline; Ocasional groan-able/childish humor; Low replay-ability
