Fallout 2

Fallout 2 is a full-scale sequel of the post-apocalyptic Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game which debuted on PCs in the fall of 1997 and turned out to be a great success thanks to many mechanics that were fresh for the genre and original themes that had not been explored very often in classic RPG productions before. The sequel was once again created by the internal development team of Interplay, which in the meantime gained a bit more independence and a separate name - Black Isle Studios.

Plot

The story in the sequel takes place 80 years after the events shown in the first part of the series, when the village of Arroyo, founded by the protagonist of the original, is on the brink of destruction after many years of drought. The player takes on the role of the Chosen One, who is sent by the village elders on a mission to the wastelands of North America to find a mysterious device called G.E.C.K. - Garden of Eden Creation Kit. This machine is supposed to be used to "repair" the world after a nuclear disaster. Rebuilding the village will prove to be a much more difficult task than anticipated. In the meantime, the hero's comrades are kidnapped by a paramilitary organization called the Enclave, while the President of the United States intends to cleanse the world of all radiation-contaminated beings, using the deadly FEV virus for this purpose.

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, Fallout 2 utilizes most of the proven solutions of its predecessor, while at the same time it is a much more expanded game, with a larger world, a partially modified interface and improved gameplay mechanics. Similar to the first part of the series, our character focuses on completing story quests with the help of a team composed of recruited NPCs with various skills. This time, however, we have a much greater influence on the characters we control. We can decide, for example, on the direction of their development, the weapons used and stimulants, as well as their behavior during combat.

In Fallout 2 there's a much larger number of weapons and equipment items available, including many completely new ones. At the same time, their balance was improved and prices were increased, which makes acquiring a really valuable item significantly more difficult here. Karma returns here from the first part of the series and it influences the overall image of the Chosen One in the game. This time it is also accompanied by Reputation, which reflects the perception of our character in individual cities, which also has a significant impact on the side missions assigned to us. The significant increase in the size of the world has affected, among other things, the pace of character movement. It now takes much more time than in the first part, but as a consolation the creators gave the hero a vehicle called Highwayman, which can also be improved during the game. At the same time, the quests we undertake have become significantly more varied, requiring not only greater interaction with the environment, but also frequent visits to many already discovered locations.

The last element that distinguishes Fallout 2 from the original is the significantly larger amount of content intended only for adult players. The game world is saturated with sex and drugs, and during the game, we can spend time with prostitutes, become a porn star, join the ranks of the mafia, and also engage in slave trading. This fact led to quite strict censorship of the game after its release, and even the removal of some scenes from the versions intended for the British and German markets.

Map

The game world in Fallout 2 covers a vast area extending into (New) California, as well as parts of Oregon and northern Nevada. Unlike later installments of the series, the game map is not open-world, but is divided into a series of smaller locations. Among them, Vault City, New Reno, and Klamath are leading the way.

Companions

Although we can play as a solitary character in Fallout 2, a better solution is to compose a team of heroes and heroines with diverse skills. In addition to allies who can join us permanently, the game allows us to recruit temporary companions. The size of the team is determined by the charisma of our character.

Mods

Fallout 2 offers mod support. Among them, the Restoration Project leads the way, being an attempt to restore to the game all the content that was cut out by the creators or not completed by them. It includes things like locations, independent characters, quests, and items. In addition to this, mods such as Fallout 1.5: Resurrection, Lands of Mordor and FOnline are worth mentioning.

Graphics and other technical things

In technical terms, Fallout 2 does not significantly differ from its predecessor released a year earlier, continuing not only its plot and high playability, but also its presentation and the specific atmosphere of the original. Numerous errors and bugs turned out to be a significant issue of the game and they were not fixed despite two official updates, giving at the same time a chance for the player community to shine. Over the years, using a series of unofficial patches, fans of the game fixed over 1000 errors in the gameplay.

Last updated on March 11, 2016