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Fallout Tactics: |
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allout Tactics, the third visit to the Fallout universe, is a different twist on a familiar subject. The series' first two games (Fallout and Fallout 2) told the role-playing tales of a post-apocalyptic Southern California and a hero's (or heroine's) attempts to change it. The war-torn wasteland of Tactic's North America looks the same, and the characters feel the same, but this time the game focuses on squad-based firefights while role-playing takes a secondary seat. It's about the Brotherhood of Steel--the final guardians of America's lost technology--and their quest to return said technology to America.
Gamers control a squad of the power-armored troopers from an isometric view through a couple of dozen missions. Beginning in the shattered suburbs of Chicago, and slowly drifting west, the Brotherhood fights the good fight against raiders, creatures and general-purpose no-gooders. The missions are varied. In one, you must kill an enemy leader; in another, rescue a hostage; and in a third, wipe out the bad guys (and girls). The characters advance just like those from Tactics' RPG ancestors, Fallout and Fallout 2. Accordingly, keeping the squadies alive will pay big dividends. As their skills improve, so does their chance of successfully engaging opponents and accomplishing missions.
The game offers both real-time and turn-based combat. And, for the first time in the series' history, a multiplayer component. Multiplayer pits up to 18 players against each other on a variety of maps. It is different fare from the usual multiplayer--kind of a mix of Blue Byte's Incubation and Westwood's Nox. Opponents lay ambushes, position snipers and cover careful advances with heavy supporting firepower in a struggle to be the last power-armored trooper squad standing.
No Fallout from these Tactics
Interplay isn't the first company to market a role-playing franchise to strategy gamers. Several years ago, Squaresoft produced a strategic take on its wildly successful Final Fantasy series, titled Final Fantasy: Tactics. Combining quality play with intriguing battles, the game was a big hit, which also seems to be Fallout Tactics' destiny, and for the same reasons.
This is a high-quality game, from the exceptionally well-rendered landscapes and combatants, through the detailed character generation and building system, to the gripping combat. The game looks like the series' previous iterations, but crisper, with more varied landscapes. Snow, multiple levels and characters who not only stand, but also crouch and fall prone to avoid incoming fire, are included.
Those familiar with Fallout's character generation will feel right at home with Tactics' system. The warriors are rated in the same categories (charisma, strength, etc.), and gain not only experience but perks--such as the ability to learn their trade more quickly--when they level up. Nevertheless, combat is the heart of Fallout Tactics, and a strong heart it is.
Turn-based purists can continue to battle in that mode, either moving their personnel by squad or each member's personal initiative. It is, however, in real-time where the game shines. This isn't traditional real-time. Shooting, healing and other key actions still cost the same action points that turn-based Fallouters are comfortable with. But these points are replenished over time, so that although you may order a squaddie at any time, they may not have the action points necessary to respond for a few seconds. It's the sweaty-palm stuff that great strategy games are made of.
Fallout Tactics makes an apocalyptic future an entertaining prospect. Although different from its predecessors in gameplay, the title does an excellent job of meshing innovative strategic elements with those role-playing features gamers loved from the previous two Interplay blockbusters. The result is assured, a bright future for yet another Fallout game immersed in Earth's dismal destiny.
Fallout Tactics is one of the best strategy games of 2001 thus far. And even role-playing fans will like it. This is one I'll play cover to cover. --Mark
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