Fallout 2: Retrospective Review

[@shawngillogly6873]

Fallout2 is one of my favorite RPGs of the Golden Era. Probably right behind BG2. I never played a melee character. I typically played a Charismatic Long Gun character. I would have enough melee to deal with the rats. But honestly, I preferred Sulik for that. Once I removed the slavers, ammo conservation was rarely an issue again. And for me, the quirky humor was part of the charm. Not taking itself *too* seriously made some of the choices more palatable. Besides, showing up at the Den with a female character named Buffy and getting loaded with goodies was amusing. 😁

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Oh yes, Sulik is really great all the way, because from the time you get a 223 pistol and give it to him, he can just stay close and shoot everything with the awesome 223 bullets :) And yes, purple robes are awesome.

[@nodnarb7101]

Still to date my all time favorite RPG.

[@Jeff-hn8iy]

Back in the day I bought the 3-pack of this, Baldur's Gate, and Planscape Torment. One of the best ever releases in gaming.

[@Webhead123]

On the rampant easter eggs and 4th-wall breaking in Fallout 2, Tim Cain has talked about how the design team of the first game tried to make sure most jokes and references were written subtly and cleverly enough that they wouldn't be distracting. A small part of his contention with the design pressures of the sequel was that this philosophy was chucked out the window and the writers just went hog-wild with the pop-culture references and easter eggs. Obviously, this resulted in some great stuff but I agree that it happens so often in Fallout 2 that it almost makes the whole game feel like a parody of itself. Still, this is one of the greatest games of all time and I love coming back to it every few years to discover new things. I haven't seen even close to everything it has to offer.

[@yeow1507]

This and Diablo 2 were all my dad did when I was growing up. Probably why Fallout is my favorite game series.

[@JediMasterYoda66]

I absolutely love everything about Fallout 2, except the main story. The Enclave are just generic evil bad guys trying to kill everyone. The Unity/The Master from Fallout 1 was way more interesting.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Well, I loved the Master and I agree that the Enclave didn't have many reveals before the endgame (You saw Frank once or twice in the wasteland but didn't know what/who he is) still I loved them at least equally the same, because of what they represent and what they want to do, it makes sense they've been in secrecy and they are really evil, unlike The Master who was doing it in the name of progress. They actually enjoy killing anyone, because they are the only "pure humans" in the world. This is where they differ from The Master and his mutants, they think they are pure humans and they have the right to exist and others don't. Master doesn't want genocide but rather transformation of people to be more on his level of thinking and with bodies to match this world. There will be casualties, but it is way different he has a contingency plan and he would allow the remaining humans to live their lives under The Unity. Enclave just plans genocide from the get go with no other alternatives.

[@eddie142]

I think it's the reverse, actually. The Unity Moreso humanizes its leader, but the masses of members blend together. The Enclave is humanized more as you interact with its members at Navorro or the rig.

[@notimportant8643]

Started playing this again myself, you know this is a masterpiece when I'm still playing it even when I have elden ring downloaded on my xbox

[@9TXONE]

I played OG Fallout for the first time in 2020 and I fuckin' loooved it. Solid masterpiece - couldn't get through the second one though. It's kinda heavy. I appreciate its legacy, but it's a tough pill to swallow. Will try again though.

[@lhfirex]

This and Fallout 1 are the games that got me into CRPGs back around 2001. I was mostly a console kid growing up in the 90s, so my first RPGs in general were Final Fantasy games, but I remember someone telling me online back in like 1997 or 1998 "if you like RPGs, you should try Fallout!" and not really getting a chance until the old "dual jewel" things Interplay released with two games for $20. They're definitely easier to learn and get into than the old Infinity Engine games, just because that particular D&D ruleset is difficult to understand without having played it a bunch already. Anyway, these original Fallout games are really good, and I'm glad Steam has updated them with widescreen features. GOG sells them but builds in the fan restoration patch for 2, and for whatever reason, the fan restoration patch likes to completely freeze the screen for me in combat once I get outside the temple starting area. So unfortunately that one's a no-go. For what it's worth, I've played through this game dozens of times back in the days of Windows XP, so at this point it'd just be reliving some nostalgia, and I agree fully with this review (except that I really like the combat as anything but a melee weapons character). Despite all the goofy 4th wall breaking pop culture references and general silliness of the game, the quests are a lot more fun to go through than 1's, the story still has some very cool moments, and more weapon builds are viable than in 1 thanks to weapons that support using Small Guns, Big Guns, Unarmed and Melee.* I think they leaned heavier into the "fight, sneak, or talk" approach to quests because I at least find that it's a lot easier to do the middle option than it is in 1. *Still, don't do melee. They have that system where any damage over 5 points knocks an enemy back 1 hex, with a +1 hex for every additional 5 damage. That just leads to guys who were trying to melee you pulling out their guns, and overly long animations. For whatever reason, they wrote the game so Unarmed attacks don't do knockback, so it makes way more sense to go Unarmed if you want to play a melee type, and it's viable all game, even with the "normal" progression going east from Klamath instead of skipping down to Navarro for that early Enclave power armor.

[@kikrinman1450]

Unarmed totally does knock back, what do you mean?

[@kikrinman1450]

@@JimmyMon666 Believe it or not, it's been done before. The Frank Horrigan boss fight, not sure about the alien mine in Redding. Look up a guy named FEI (Fallout Entertainment Industries), there's a video of his where he does it bare knuckle.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Well, melee is great, I use it often. I mix it with any type of guns, so when purely close combat enemies get to me, I knock them back, if they survive, they waste AP to get back to me. Especially deathclaws, aliens, floaters etc, which helps a lot in these fights. Plus the Slayer perk which gives you criticals to all of melee and the bonus hand to hand attacks perk that reduces the cost by 1, so using that super sledge with max agility (2 points each) grants 5 critical hits on any enemy. So if you go against a gunner, use guns, especially with burst or powerful isngle shots, if close combat, melee rules over unarmed :) My tip is, giving powerful single shot weapons to all companions (like sniper rifle, later gauss rifle to Cassidy, 223 pistol to Sulik, because he can wield this specific weapon, any energy pistols or the gauss pistol to Vic etc.) Tell them to stay close and attack the closest enemy, and they will go wherever you go in combat. You run, they run, you stay, they shoot and won't burst through allies :D And yes I killed Wanamingos and Frank with melee, you just need to level up a lot and pick good perks.

[@pitchforker3304]

New Reno is my favorite area of Fallout 2. It's gritty and dangerous, the crime families are interesting, there are great shops, and lots to do. One of the all time best CRPGs!

[@MultiKamil97]

Recently they gave us F1, F2 and Tactics on Epic so I decided to dive into these old Fallout games for the first time and I gotta say, I wasn't disappointed. Sure, the start was a bit rough because it takes a while to get used to turn-based combat, the way some things work and how you progress in the story but as longer as we play, the better these games get. Fallout 1 was a fun play because the atmosphere was quite depressing and gloomy so it fit really well with this post-apocalyptic world. I didn't do a lot of quests there but it was quite surprising that I managed to kill The Master at level 10 and with no companion, so it was really nice that it didn't take a lot of grinding to be able to finish the game. With Fallout 2 I was a bit frustrated in the beginning because the combat seemed a bit harder and it was annoying when I couldn't hit a single enemy because my hit percentage was about 30%. As I went on though, things started to get more enjoyable as I discovered absolutely game-changing solution which is pickpocketing lol I gained so many nice weapons, armours and such that leveling up was much more easy and when I finally got to the point, where I had my 3 companions, advanced power armour and Gauss Rifle, that's where the fun began. I felt like me and my team were a walking tanks haha except the Enclave groups, I could take any group of bandits or monsters with no sweat. I finished the game at level 25 and it was a fun ride. The only big con for me was the story because it kinda disappears for a lot of the game when we do side quests and I had to look up the walktrough to see how I'm supposed to save Arroyo's villagers. It also made the story a bit forgettable. I'm a bit skeptical about Tactics for now so I skipped it but maybe someone here can tell me, if it's worth to give it a try.

[@michamarkowski2204]

Tactics is worth a try. It's a different kind of game - more like Jagged Alliance or X-COM.

[@MultiKamil97]

@@michamarkowski2204 After this comment I tried and honestly, it didn't click for me. I guess I'm not a fan of this style of games.

[@ZeFourmis]

I totally agree with you with the "attachment" to your character, this plus all the little tweaks and upgrades here and there makes me enjoy Fallout 2 way more than 1. What I love about this game and you don't find in more recent game, is the fact that the developpers commited to allow you every options, including the amoral ones. Nowedays, even with evil playthrough you aren't allowed to be that much of a monster.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Sometimes my character has only speech options I wouldn't use in real life (like listening the story about wanamingos, sleeping during it and not wanting to know where Athabaska got his nickname etc, I would totally want to know it all) but still I love my character much :)

[@AM-uo2kf]

I just finished Fallout 2, and it was as addictive and experience as the first one I will say I preferred concise nature of the first game. I did a good amount of quests I think but I still feel I’ve probably missed at least half of the content or at least a good amount of it.

[@Shakool]

There is actually 2 things that let you max out your character and stats post final boss. The priest in new reno (?) and a computer in city 18 (?). A bit foggy on the names it's been a loooong time.

[@knighttravis252]

I've been recently getting back into playing rpgs again and no matter what game I look up, you have had a 100% review. You are the best reviewer to me hands down. Keep up the great work, man!

[@zevailes]

It would be amazing to see a modern remake of these old games

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

Only if it was 2d again

[@villings]

why

[@icarian553]

The game is censored in certain areas. I think in EU steam version is censored so that the children are invisible and you can't kill them. It can be fixed with mods. You should really play it with mods like Restoration project anyway.

[@miraclemaker1418]

Why would you go out of your way to "fix" the game so that you can kill children in a video game? Wtf

[@Sevren_]

@@miraclemaker1418 it’s funny

[@miraclemaker1418]

@@Sevren_ down bad

[@icarian553]

@@miraclemaker1418 Because it's an rpg that should let you be an evil asshole if you wanted. I'm a long time TTRPG player and sometimes being a murdehobo is just cathartic.

[@miraclemaker1418]

@@icarian553 idk what to tell ya

[@wbeytel]

I find it very difficult to put together my top 10 games list, there are just so many games that I love. But, conversely, I also find it incredibly easy to pick Fallout 2 as my favourite and number one game of all time. There is no other game I have completed more play-throughs of, no other game I have gone for more completely different builds in. It is the game that made me fall completely in love with CRPGs. More so than even Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 or the original Fallout.

[@machstem6390]

Ik buying it. I cant believe people still care about this game enough. I spent so much of my kid/teen years playing these

[@dermeistefan]

This is one of my all time favorite games. So many options and little things you can find (or miss). Also showed me that i am capable of irrationaly hating and loathing a fictional character.

[@boriskurik7196]

Thank you for reviewing this! I hope more people will give Fallout 2 a chance and see all the awesome things it has to offer :3

[@jakepeckart1481]

We gotta band together and get larian to make an actual sequel to the fallout series.

[@baptistelobjoy7029]

YES PLEASE !

[@kruxxme5372]

I remember loving this game. When I got to Frank at the end, my character / party didn't have the means to deal with him! Never completed it :(

[@BAJF93]

I never got to the oil rig. I was in the middle of a very meticulous playthrough and my save got corrupted. Since then I haven't found time for another approach.

[@ZagiGaming]

my first crpg... the nostalgia

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

What does the letter C mean in crpg? I only always regarded it as a RPG.

[@kazookid8500]

imo best fallout ever

[@smokingbeetles5793]

Dialogs were hilarious. Parodies galore.

[@ThanaOat]

Fallout 2 is probably the first CRPG that I played. I downloaded a cracked copy when I was a kid and played through a good chunk of it though I didn't managed to finished it. I think I'm going to buy it and give it another try.

[@craig559]

Just started playing this on ps vita

[@billcox8870]

With a high intelligence you can have a lot of different interactions and even enlist Myron.

[@stevedowning3892]

Agreed about the fourth-wall stuff. Also, the solution to the Cornelius' watch quest in Modoc is a glorified poo joke that killed the immersion for me, on my last play through. However, I love the first two Fallout games' combat. You can feel the tabletop RPG-like mechanics crunching away in the background. Interesting that the oil rig was a highlight for you. I preferred the earlier part of the game

[@HJ-bd6mb]

Are you planning on ever covering Fallout Tactics?

[@MortismalGaming]

Maybe at some point, but no current plans

[@krazykris9396]

I just finished my first playthrough. Let's just say I wish I knew that the level cap was that high. I did have issues figuring out what to do, but that said I set the gamplay difficulty to medium (easy may have included more hints).

[@bergonath8851]

This right here is THE Fallout game.

[@Dumpy007]

Weird coincidence I just beat my first classic fallout yesterday

[@klilton]

Great review, as usual. Do you know if Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel got the same updates on steam?

[@rrrrthats4rs]

the real secret to why these games are playable from steam is that they were programmed to be OS-agnostic

[@aynrandom3004]

FREE on epic games

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Oh yes, I am playing this game again for xth time now (With Killap's Restoration patch) so I went on youtube to see some reviews on it. I love this game much, doing New Reno quests today :) (And yes, I will become the boxing champion and the... you know what star of Reno :p)

[@ryanf7441]

I’ve been trying to play this like fallout 1 for the first few hours and wow it’s tough

[@garethmolyneux1924]

One of my favorite games.

[@wollyram6248]

Fallout 2 is a bit like BG2, a big game with an overall narrative, and a metric tonne of side stories and distractions.

[@peterfromberg7977]

Thank you for reviewing my favourite game ever! (after New Vegas)

[@TheDaaabou]

Where is Planescape Torment? Nice content!

[@oskarlindberg4869]

Love your reviews, so thorough. When will we see your take on Wasteland Remastered? :-D

[@TheReZisTLust]

Oh shucks almost made it on 2sday

[@jankowalski1501]

Very good review, subbed. Thanks

[@abhimat]

Now I request a review of Fallout tactics: brotherhood of Steel :)

[@lanecolvin95]

I ran out of "fuel" in the middle of the desert so that was fun

[@Lazzarus7]

For everybody that want sto play it, use the Killap Patch, is a must have. Fixes all the possible bugs and even restore original cut content

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

And especially Cassidy's talking head :)

[@marissalynn1253]

Love your vids Mortis! Thx for the amazing content ^.^

[@lookarabbit2888]

I've never played the originals, have always been curious though.

[@Brooksey1992]

Have you played them yet bro?

[@dan-wp8ls]

You should review the ssi goldbox games. They are all on steam as well

[@lanecolvin95]

Don't do jet kids

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

But I made Jet, Mordinos asked me to do it and I delivered. Buy as much as you want, baby. I'm Myron ;)

[@ShootingStar1313]

I remember as a kid being really bummed out cause of this game. After siding with the Hubologists and betraying the Shi faction, I later realized that there was no way to progress the story. To this very day I still hate the game for making me end that playthrough.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Uh, you can progress the story even after joining the hubologists. There are alternate ways.

[@devastatheseeker9967]

I was playing a bit of fallout 2 earlier today and god I hate the start of games like these. Even with like 70% melee at the start of the game it's still a 50ish% chance to hit. I know that crpgs are notoriously punishing but come on. It ain't punishing when it's just you missing half of your attacks. It's punishing if you go in for a second attack when you're in a danger zone but if I'm just attacking, missing, running away to a safe spot, waiting for the enemy to come closer, attacking, hitting, repeat it's just annoying and tedious.

[@Orosian5]

Whilst it's annoying, I think it's a good juxtaposition with how good of a killing machine you become later on. I also enjoyed this in the original Deus Ex. I may be a minority.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

First turn is usually first strike, you have 2 turns. Then on second turn and onward, just hit and run, it is not so bad, you can get out unscratched :)

[@max7971]

@@FluffySylveonBoi that’s not the problem. The problem is spending a few minutes just doing the same safe strategy over and over again. I played FO2 after Underrail and It’s combat felt extremely bad in comparison.

[@onatgz]

free comment 2022

[@callum105]

i was 7 when this came out, i started on fallout 3. thinking of going through 1 and 2

[@googlia9751]

Did you 100% this too? Can I assume all the reviews you do are 100% by default?

[@MortismalGaming]

Typically they are yeah, the approach is pretty much the same, I just usually label them differently for older games that don't have anything for me to point people too for proof like steam achievements

[@darrell9616]

You captured why I couldn't ever finish this game after being a big fan of the first one. I hated the pop culture references and they were so in your face that they couldn't be ignored. I tried 3 times to finish the game and could never do it.

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Huh? They never bothered me hehe :)

[@Davlavi]

will you continue the series? will we see F3?

[@MortismalGaming]

Maybe

[@FrostRare]

I wish they did a remaster of this and made the combat real time

[@Brooksey1992]

Remaster yes, real-time combat no

[@ThanaOat]

Man, I wanna play Fallout 3.

[@Badookum]

mid game ngl

[@funkrobot9762]

@@BadookumI think it’s fantastic.

[@Badookum]

@@funkrobot9762 Poor taste.

[@Marc_Araujo]

Good...now review Tactics.

[@DanielLopez-zt4ig]

If you want to be trolled, play Fallout 2.

[@mitcherny6965]

I hated this game 20 years ago. The turn-based combat scarred me for life. I hated the graphics, hated being killed all the time. After a few attempts I destroyed the CD.

[@max7971]

Bruh

[@michamarkowski2204]

Children shouldn't play games for teenagers/adults.

[@Ashamedofmypast]

Sucks to be you

[@camotech1314]

Why play it if you hate the game? Weirdo

[@daniel.holbrook]

Fallout 2 is a hard game for me to like. Compared to Fallout 1 the writing's too parodic, the main quest is less interesting to me and harder to follow, and there's too many walls of text. Those are common enough complaints but there isn't enough new or improved to make up for it for me, I don't value breadth for breadth's sake and all the added weapons and such don't feel intrinsically different from the carry-overs. Likewise I don't care about side-content when the bulk of it is 'walk between two places, and have a frustratingly-unbalanced encounter along the way.' I think it's funny that the fact they _fixed_ the engine bug present in Fallout 1 where different ammo doesn't properly apply its effects actually hurt the game's balance, leading to all those 0-damage headshots if you're using hollowpoints. Same with the fact that companions are more 'up-and-running,' they're actively encouraged in Fallout 2 but they're something I never enjoy fenagling with and I end up disadvantaged as a result. These are lone-wolf games as far as I'm concerned

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Fallout 2 is one of the games where having a ton of companions with good weapons help greatly in any fight. You can set their ai to do what you want, for example run when you run, or stand and shoot anything. You give them good armor so they can withstand a few shots and you usually win, because you can lure enemies you personally shoot, away from companions, then just run around or chuck healing while companions shoot away. But if you are built like a tank, you can just take it. I can't imagine going alone against a bunch of deathclaws or an Enclave commando. But with friends, I always win these fights :)