Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game – an isometric role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic environment, developed by Black Isle and released by Interplay in 1997.
The game takes place in 2161, eighty-four years after the nuclear war between the USA and China. Inside the anti-nuclear Vault 13 located in Southern California, the water chip breaks down, leaving only enough water for one hundred and fifty days. The main character (or heroine) of the game sets out in search of a new water chip.
The main feature of Fallout was (and remains) complete and absolute freedom in everything. Players are free to go where they want, do what they want, and develop their character as they wish. The post-nuclear Wasteland is a vast territory that includes five cities and many other locations, providing ample space for exploration and interesting random encounters. In fact, the only gameplay limitation is the time restriction (the chip must be found within one hundred and fifty days), but this can be easily bypassed closer to the middle of the game.
The freedom of action inherent in the game is also manifested in the use of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L role-playing system (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck), developed specifically for it. When creating a character, the player distributes points among its attributes, chooses 3 primary skills (from 18 available; primary skills differ in that less skill points are spent to increase them), and 2 traits (almost each of which gives the character both an advantage and a disadvantage). Additionally, every 3 levels, the character can select a perk from the provided list if their attributes meet the requirements for that perk. The character, thus, is not bound to any class and can develop in any direction the player chooses.
The gameplay almost always occurs in real-time, except for battles. When the player encounters an enemy, the game switches to turn-based mode. Each action, from shooting or stabbing with a knife to switching weapons, consumes action points, and all participants in the battle take turns. The game features the ability to shoot (or hit) a specific body part of a character. The likelihood of hitting increases as the relevant skills improve, but can never exceed 95%.
Moreover, the game is distinguished by its unique setting. It is not ordinary sci-fi, even though the events take place in the future. The game is styled in retrofuturism (i.e., the future as it was envisioned by people in the 1950s). The location and time of action are additional reasons why the game became so beloved by players.
Additionally, the game is famous for its soundtrack by the iconic composer Mark Morgan. His dark tracks create half of the unique atmosphere of the game.
In Russia, the game was officially released only in 2008, eleven years after its release. Although many pirate translations had been released prior to that. The game was officially localized and published by 1C.