Blast to the Past: Why do people like Fallout 2
So in yesterday’s episode I did Fallout 1 so the logical next step is Fallout 2, often cited as one of the best RPGs of all time. Just like I did with Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II. The problem is that Baldur’s II, while using the same ruleset as BG, is a very different animal in terms of quest design, aesthetic, play style, and story focus, high level D&D play is a totally different animal. While Fallout 2 is basically Fallout 1 but with a lot more stuff in it, better writing and more detail. So most of what I said that recommends Fallout 1 applies to Fallout 2, just more of it here. (also I really recommend playing this game with the restoration mod). Basically Fallout is sort of a prototype for the game that Fallout 2 is, so everything good I said about the first game, it all applies here. So what is unique about Fallout 2?
1) Radically different play experience:
Due to Fallout 2 length and the more extensive mechanics with the greater randomization elements, it is effectively impossible for two players to have the same experience playing the game. Even if me and a friend made the same exact builds at the start, the massive amount of randomness in this game means that we would quickly have different experiences. Last time I played i remember dying multiple times against difficult bosses, only to suddenly win when they crit failed and instantly killed themselves. The sheer amount of randomization makes every play through sort of its own story, even if you aren’t trying to diversify
2) Character expression. This really kicks off in New Reno, but after a certain point in the game you really start to get to personalize your character, with a ton of choices where you can sort of choose a career path for yourself, from mobster to boxing champion to porn star. While in theory you had absolutely amazing stats you could do all of them, most likely you will only do a few of them without hte assistence of a walkthrough. Fallout 2 isn’t really a game where you go in and do everything, its more of a game where you do what suits your character before going off to finish with the plot
3) Seeing a growing world. This game picks up 80 years after Fallout 1 and the world has changed, the anarchic small town wasteland of the first game now supports actual cities and society is starting to rebuild. Like the first game you have ending slides, but unlike the first game its a lot more about what kind of new society is emerging in the Wastes and how is the world putting itself back together
4) Themes. This game isn’t just a clash of ideologies, it has very overt themes, particularly in the villains of The Enclave, the humanity that was left behind. If you want a game that has very strong things to say about nostalgia, conservatism, and xenophobia, then i’m sorry, we don’t yet have a Republican Party video game for you, but this will serve as a good exploration of those toxic mindsets
5) Humor. This game is fucking hilarious, it isn’t a full on humor game, but Fallout 2 is a lot more willing to be goofy and silly than Fallout 1 or the Baldur’s Gate Series. And its not just the low intelligent content, which is hilarious, but there is a lot to laugh at in this series, ranging from the absolutely absurd to the dry wit, to the situational comedy. I don’t really want to go into it because that is just spoiling jokes, just that this game is one of the most consistently funny RPG
(I found this meme online and I can’t not share it)
6) I hesitate to say maturity? Fallout 2 touches a lot of subjects that most RPGs, even today don’t, from drugs, to sex, to more nuanced politics. How good of a job it does depends on the specific instance, sometimes it is surprisingly thoughtful and cunning, other times is darker and edger shit.
7) I should have mentioned this when talking about Fallout 1 but Fallout as a series is relaly interested in the idea of specialization. Unless you really grind, it is almost impossible in the SPECIAL system to be good at everything, every character is going to have glaring deficient, and that means you are going to miss out on a lot of content. Its actually possible to do a lot more if you grind and are very clever about it, but as intended to be played, you will never do everything.
