Fallout Tactics

Interplay £29.99 PC CD-ROM Out Now
ELSPA rating: 15+

System requirements:
Windows 95/98/98SE/ME
Pentium 2 300MHz
64MB of RAM
700MB Hard Drive Space

Take one of the best RPGs of all time strip it of its rich story line, touch up the graphics and what do you have? a strategy game, that's what. Fallout and Fallout 2 were fantastic RPGs that gave gamers a break from trolls and elves and had a very nice turn-based combat that was implemented superbly. Fallout tactics has taken the combat system and built a whole game that includes virtually nothing else.

If you played the original two games you will instantly be at home with the interface as it has largely remained the same. The graphics have been improved (slightly) and the initial impressions of the game are that of playing another Fallout game. However after only ten minutes of playing, you will notice that there is little story line and the missions (20 in all) are basically the same, with a mission objective to take out a certain enemy. The gameplay is fine but I have to say that there seems little tension (a factor that usually makes games of this style very appealing) and the repetition does seem to creep in after a few levels. All the characteristics of the character building remains from the earlier Fallout games and the perks and abilities remain the same. Your character progressively builds himself/herself up as they progress through the missions and it becomes evident that your character either has the right attributes or the wrong attributes as the game progresses (an example of this is the ability to sneak which is absolutely essential in the later game).

There is an option to play the combat in real time but it is nigh on impossible to plan and carry out battle strategies as the AI seems to defeat you before you know what's happened. The turn-based combat is good and reminiscent of the one used in Jagged Alliance 2, as well as the earlier Fallout games. A big disappointment for me though was that your characters seem to take suicidal routes at times and wonder straight into the enemy line of fire. The pathfinding should be first class in these kind of games but unfortunately it is not and on occasions Fallout Tactics really lets itself down badly on this score. Fallout Tactics is no bad game by any means but if more attention had been paid to even a small storyline then it would have been far more appealing. Most of the people buying this game are going to be Fallout fans and most will feel a little cheated with this virtually dialogue free effort.

For deaf gamers Fallout Tactics is a mixed blessing. Cutscenes are without subtitles which is pretty poor but the mission briefings are text as well as vocal and can be recalled at anytime. You will be fully informed by the briefings so you won't really suffer any loss of info but it would have been nice to see subtitles on the cutscenes. All in-game info and speech is textually presented and fully informs you of what's going on. The final verdict on the game though is good but could have been better. What's in the game is OK but it could have been so much better had a proper story been applied to the game. If you don't like turn-based games you won't find it appealing either as the real time mode is poor and to be honest isn't very playable. However, if you do like turn-based games and you have Fallout and Fallout 2 then you will enjoy Fallout Tactics somewhat. If you haven't played either one of the first two Fallout games then buy the Fallout/Fallout 2 compilation which can be purchased for only £9.99 which is a third of the price of Fallout Tactics and a whole lot more appealing.

Click the thumbnails for the big picture.

Overall Game Rating: 7/10 Only Fallout fans or turn-based enthusiasts will be satisfied.

Quality of text: 7 Good but missing subtitles on cutscenes.

Graphics: 7 The graphics are nice and clear.

Interface: 8 The interface is good and easy to navigate.

Gameplay: 6 Not bad but sadly not upto the usual Fallout standard.