I don’t really consider myself a “gamer”, but I do enjoy the occasional computer game. I had a lot of fun playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion last year, and this year I’m really enjoying another Bethesda Softworks game: Fallout 3. It’s largely a first-person-shooter, kill-or-be-killed game, which can become a bit rote…and here I have to agree with Guillermo del Toro:

Unfortunately, I’ve found in my videogame experience that the big companies are just as conservative as the studios. I was disappointed with the first Hellboy game. I’m very impressed with the sandbox of Grand Theft Auto. You can get lost in that world. But we’re using it just to shoot people and run over old ladies. We could be doing so much more. (emphasis mine)Wired

…but Fallout 3 has lots of little details that keep it from becoming solely a shoot-em-up game. Stuff like:

• an interesting, often-humorous storyline, with lots of side stories/places you can explore
• interesting non-player-characters and great voice talent: Liam Neeson as “dad”, Malcolm McDowell as President John Henry Eden, Ron Perlman as “the narrator”, etc.
• the ability to listen (or not listen) to the radio, which plays fabulous 40’s-50’s-era music (Billie Holiday, Cole Porter, the Andrews Sisters, the Ink Spots, etc.)
• a cool cinematic view during combat (3rd-person view, interesting, varying angles)

So if you’re looking for a fun, immersive post-apocalyptic first-person-shooter/role-playing game, I highly recommend Fallout 3.