How's Fallout 3's DLC?

[Eusis]

You'll soon realize that the shooting mechanic isn't that great.  VATS is there for a reason.

This is why calling it an FPS masquerading as an RPG is wrong, that implies you play for the shooting mechanics when it's generally better just to switch to VATS. A better example is Mass Effect 2 or Deus Ex, and in the case of the former they were fixing the weakest part of the first game and in the case of the latter the RPG elements are heavier than most proper RPGs these days.

[ZeronHitaro]

Tangent related to the FPS mechanic- I was actually also thinking about just waiting until New Vegas came out. However I think it's interesting that people are talking about Fallout 3 not having a playable FPS mechanic when in the New Vegas interview things I've seen they quite often play it as an FPS with minimal VATS. Is this a new thing to New Vegas's mechanics? Just wondering because personally from looking at it I can't tell the difference in the combat system between F3 and NV.

[Eusis]

Tangent related to the FPS mechanic- I was actually also thinking about just waiting until New Vegas came out. However I think it's interesting that people are talking about Fallout 3 not having a playable FPS mechanic when in the New Vegas interview things I've seen they quite often play it as an FPS with minimal VATS. Is this a new thing to New Vegas's mechanics? Just wondering because personally from looking at it I can't tell the difference in the combat system between F3 and NV.

There's a lot you can probably only appreciate with hands on experience.

[CDFN]

Lets just say that fallout3 would've been a crappy shooter. I doubt it will be any different in NV, you're supposed to use VATS anyway, it's there for a reason.

[Tooker]

I'd say that the amount you use VATS is a personal preference thing.  I'm with some of the others here - used it a lot.  I saw the same thing as you're seeing with gameplay videos of Fallout 3, though, with reviewers shooting a lot and using VATS just a little.

But I mean, come on - how do you not want to use VATS?  Just shooting doesn't (as far as I know) give you any chance to explode heads or dismember people.  (Wow - I meant that because of the gameplay advantages, but it makes me sound really bloodthirsty.)

[Masamune]

Let's not completely ignore the fact that the game does offer the chance to roleplay your character as a melee/fist weapon specialist.  You can probably beat the game without ever even using a gun.  Does that make it a brawler? :P

[Tooker]

I never thought about trying that.  It's tempting, but you'd have to be REALLY good at dodging missiles.