In preparation for Fallout 4 coming out I've recently replayed the previous two Fallout games and their DLCs. It's been 8 years since Fallout 3 came out in 2008 and with the exception of a couple of graphics issues and some bugs in the DLC the game still holds up pretty damn well today. The lack of emotional range with the NPCs may spoil the mood sometimes but it mostly adds to the charm of the game since in the apocalypse there's only three facial expressions: rage, indifference and over excitement. The game-play stands the test of time too, and although New Vegas is bigger, the capital wasteland feels larger. It still looks amazing too.
If you don't know already one of the best things about Fallout 3 is that you grow up in a vault, Vault 101 to be exact, and Liam Neeson is your dad. It's appropriate the vault is 101 as the growing up in the vault part of the game is the tutorial for all the basic skills in the game. It's still my favourite tutorial ever at this point. Later you escape the vault and you get mixed up in a war between The always cool and bad-ass Brotherhood of Steel (I mean that name alone is awesome enough), the ever-enraged super mutants and their messed up attack dogs the centaurs and the stereotypical bad guys, the Enclave (they are basically Nazis). Another thing I love about the Fallout games is the personal merc unit you build up with some awesome and some not so awesome companions. I love collecting a uniform to get them all to wear but stuff like that is easy for me to do in games due to my OCD. One of the best companions is Fawkes, with the exception of Uncle Leo, he's the only super mutant in the game that isn't hostile to the Lone Wanderer. I think any game fan will agree that Fawkes is one of the best companions in video games in general.
Pro-tip for you, everyone always warns new Fallout players about deathclaws but no one seems to mention the reavers. Stay away from these guys until you are a high level. There's a small chance of a low level player taking down a deathclaw (if you're lucky) but there's no chance of taking down a reaver as they will 100% kill you with one hit and are not only fast but can normally be found in pairs or amongst at least 3 other feral ghouls. You do only need to deal with them if you have loaded the Broken Steel and Point Lookout DLCs though.
The Fallout 3 DLC is some of the best DLC I've ever played, a couple of them like Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta could easily be stand alone games.
Operation: Anchorage
Operation: Anchorage. Enter a military simulation and fight in one of the greatest battles of the Fallout universe – the liberation of Anchorage, Alaska from its Chinese Communist invaders. Gain access to unique armor, weapons, and exotic gadgets while you build and command interactive Strike Teams to win the battle and defeat the Chinese base.
— official description
I loved playing this DLC and hope there's more missions like it in Fallout 4. I love the battle ground feel of the DLC and the best bit about it is the clean and pretty awesome looking power armor. Personally I also loved the novelty of playing a Fallout game without kicking cans every time you walk. I hope that's something that's changed in Fallout 4 cause it always annoyed me that even rich people or organizations like the Brotherhood of Steel and NCR lived in squalor.
The Pitt
The Pitt allows you to travel to the post-apocalyptic remains of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and become embroiled in a conflict between slaves and their raider masters. Explore a sprawling settlement ravaged by time, neglect, nuclear radiation, and moral degradation. The Pitt is filled with morally gray choices, shady non-player characters, new enemies, new weapons, and much more.
— official description
As with the previous DLC I loved The Pitt due to it's ability to give you something very different but it still feels like the same game. Love the prison break feel to the DLC and what's left of the city being turned into a mine for scrap that's mined by slaves and prisoners is such a great concept for a game. This DLC looks so moody and it's perfect at making you feel a bit gloomy.
Broken Steel
Continue your existing Fallout 3 game and finish the fight against the Enclave remnants alongside Liberty Prime. Broken Steel moves the level cap for your character from 20 to 30, allowing you to experience even more of the game, including new perks and achievements.
— official description
I think the missions in this DLC are my favourite, can't get enough of missions that have you expanding a military force (it's why I love the game play of Far Cry so much). Also we get to see more of Liberty Prime, one of the coolest robots in games.
Point Lookout
Point Lookout opens up a massive new area of the Wasteland – a dark, murky swampland along the coast of Maryland. So hop on the ferry to the seaside town of Point Lookout, for the most mysterious and open-ended Fallout 3 DLC adventure yet.
— official description
This DLC was so good, it was fantastic to be somewhere that wasn't a desert. I was also awesomely creepy and dark with a Texas Chainsaw Massacre feel to the place.
Mothership Zeta
Defy hostile alien abductors and fight your way off of the massive Mothership Zeta, orbiting Earth miles above the Capital Wasteland. Mothership Zeta takes Fallout 3 in an entirely new direction – outer space. Meet new characters and join with them in a desperate bid to escape the aliens’ clutches. To do so, you’ll wield powerful new weapons, like the alien atomizer, alien disintegrator, and drone cannon, and deck yourself out in brand new outfits, like the Gemini-Era spacesuit and even samurai armor.
— official description
This is the one that sticks in my mind most out of the DLCs. I love the whole concept of basically being in an alien horror movie where you are the "monster". Think about it, you break out of a cell by beating the guards to death, you and the other humans create a "nest" in one area of the ship, making it more habitable for humans then you go from floor to floor wiping out the ship's crew (some of which just run when they see you instead of fighting) where attempt after desperate attempt is made to stop you. It's basically Alien but with the roles reversed and it's awesome.
It also has one of the most nightmare inducing enemies in games ever; the Abominations, the only things worse than these super creepy guys in Fallout (so far) are the ghost people from Dead Money.
You should at least play Fallout 3 before Fallout 4 comes out if you haven't already. If you have played it you should play it again, it's still as good as I remember it.
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