Is it me or am I the only one let down with Fallout 3's ending?

[fonzythedog]

I mean really, it's stupid. In the space of 5 mins I was running around a war-zone with mini nukes going off everywhere. I'm following Liberty Prime as he smashes his way through the DC ruins, zapping helpless Enclave troops with his laser eyes. Next thing I know, I'm laying dead on the floor after inputting the code to start the purifier, with Ron Perlman telling me how much of an turkey I was and then with credits scrolling up my screen.

 

Seriously? The ending was the most disjointed and forced thing I've ever seen from a videogame ending.I mean, there was no real build up. I didn't have time to react to the news that they were assaulting the Enclave. I just got back from being captured and I expecting many more hours of main quest goodness. I walked into the Citadel (which nobody told me to go to by the way) and literally was told:

 

'OH BTW WE'RE ATTACKIN TEH ENCLAVE NOW LOL. WANNA COME? WEVE FIXED DA ROBOT THAT WAS OTHERWISE IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR AND POWER.'

 

At this moment I saw this as a kind of red light and as a warning for the end of the game, but I ignored it and carried on. 20 minutes later I exited the game after a sudden and unexpected and rather shallow ending.

 

It's not like Oblivion where there is a slow and epic build-up throughout the game as Oblivion gates open up and you slowly muster up the support of the Empire.

 

This one is just: Escape vault, go to other vault, rescue dad, dad dies, go get G.E.C.K, escape again, attack city and finally YOU'RE *ban* DEAD or YOU'RE AN turkey BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE VOLUNTEERED TO DIE.

 

Hehe sorry about the CAPS, but I hope it got the point across.

 

Still, on reflection it adds some closure to the story - which is what all the other Fallout games had. I know that it is not Oblivion, but still they could have made it so if you make Lyons press it instead, you will walk out the building and carry on. There were also so many more things they could have included into the Main Story, just to pad it out and make it more worthwhile.

 

For example:

 

- More exploration into what the Super Mutants were doing in DC. Just saying 'They're looking for something' and leaving it at that is very weak and stupid.

- More insight into what James (dad) did before he came up with Project Purity. Oh and for those who were actually expecting him to survive get a slap in the face for ignorance of generic storyline conventions.

- Maybe more actual conflict with the Enclave? They show up and more or less 3 missions later it's game over. I mean combat missions like sabotage one of their bases, steal this technology, etc?

- Possible parts to collect in order to re-built Liberty Prime. Yeah another basic dungeon mission, but anything related to the main quest to build it up is ok.

- Option to actually join the Brotherhood rather than be an outsider. I do mean join it properly. Not be given the armour and just be a member in name. I'm talking opportunities for training missions, your own squad, etc. It's strange how it doesn't allow your character to ask Elder Lyons if you can join. It's the first thing I'd logically ask.

- Combine the above point and the Super Mutant one to form a big investigation carried out by the Brotherhood to stop the Super Mutants or at least find what they are doing.

- The Enclave storing the G.E.C.K in a separate compound when they steal it off you, prompting a big search and retrieve mission. With some Brotherhood members at your aid also.

 

Note that they are just a few of my own personal suggestions and that they relate to the main quest, primarily to add some more build-up to the final assault.

 

So yeah all in all Fallout 3 is still an amazing game. It is unfortunate that I didn't enjoy the end of the game as much as others probably did. But still maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the sudden ending of the game was supposed to be a kind of metaphor for how unpredictable life is.

[mikekearn]

Well, we know now that one of the planned expansions has the ability to join the BoS. So there is that much to look forward to, at least.