Fallout New Vegas is out, play fallout 3 first. 9.8/ 10.
Story
Well i dont want to spoil much, but the story is a fast paced ride with many twists and turns, choices and decisions that ulitimately have serious effects. At the start it may seem a bit slow, seems like its a never ending cylce of the same thing. But wait a bit, and it hurtles you into some tricky situations and memorable moments.
Gameplay
This is not, i repeat NOT a first person shooter. If you make the mistake of picking this game up thinking it plays like call of duty or halo, thing again. The controls are much more rigid and doesn't allow you to jump around like master chief. The bullet/plasma/laser doesnt always go where the crosshair is, its a more realistic approach which encourages the use of VATS. VATS is great, its a simualtion which allows for you to chose where you shoot. Different areas cause a different amout of damage and so forth. Enemies explose, heads fly everywhere and guts splatter onto the walls. Its quite satisfying. If you play in mind with vats being your primary way of killing, you will NOT struggle with ammo and weapon condition. Just aslong as you loot and exlore everywhere.
Graphics/Sound
Its 2010, this game is 2 years old. Bearing in mind, it still looks and sounds great. At the time it was released, is was gorgeous, now its an average looking game with very little colour, hense the post-apocalyptic state of the world your in. Explosions are the best i ever seen, they're absolutely amazing. The guns make great noises and look very detailed.
Overall
Fallout 3 is simply one of the best games to be released for a very long time, it still is a great game 2 years after release. And if you have never played fallout 3, and are considering buying new vegas. Save your money, buy fallout 3 first. As it is primarily the same game, just in the capital wasteland.