Bethesda has open world RPGs down to a science.Once again you can do whatever you wont in this post apocalyptic world.
Like Oblivion and Morrowind your path is your own.You can wander the waste to find side quests or just explore.Just a heads up.If you do decide to stick to the main quest and go do the others later.Unlike Oblivion this story ends.Why?I don't know.As far as I can tell they did not need to do that but they did.So as you near the end of the main quest you may want to stop and begin free roaming the waist for the other side quest and random encounters.
The game play is fine.It's a bit hard at first(at lest for me).As you progress and lvl up it becomes less difficult.You can play just straight up FPS or use the VATS system.It allows you to stop time and choose who and where to shoot.One of the cooler head-shot animations in a game.
You can also build your own weapons buy finding components around the waste once you have the schematics.These weapons are usually very cool and powerful.You will also need to repair weapons by using the parts of other weapons you get from bodies that are similar to the weapon you want to repair.Or take them to someone who can repair them for money (caps).This gets very expensive and it is better to be able to repair on the run with your own repair skills.
This is an RPG so you do have skills that you can add points to as you lvl up.Like repair,explosives,small guns,large guns,energy weapons etc.You also get one perk per lvl depending on your "special" abilities.Strength, perception, endurance, charisma, athletics and luck.Each perk gives you a permanent ability or boost to your skills.These are very valuable so choose wisely.
You can also run across friends who will join you depending on your alignment.If you are good you will only get friends that are also good.If you are evil you only get evil friends.Plus you get a dog if you can fined him named dog meat who mostly dies a lot or he did for me so I made him stay at home.
The story is very good.The world they have created is a tragic beauty.The game they have created is worth every pinny