Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Genre: Action RPG
Release date: Available now

When the retail version of Fallout 3 released back in October 2008, it was met with mixed reviews. Many looked at it as a great achievement in gaming, with its expansive world and unique VATS combat system. Then there were those who just couldn’t get into the game because of its open-world structure and menu complexity. There were even those who couldn’t believe that Bethesda had actually put an ending in their game. Well, fear not: Bethesda has listened to your cries with the DLC package Broken Steel, opening up the Capitol Wasteland to you once again beyond the previous ending. Oh, and they also threw in some new quests, gear and perks.

Broken Steel begins right after the ending of the first game. To access it you start Fallout 3 from an old save right before the ending. You still see the cinematic based on how you played your character, but then he wakes up two weeks after the water purifier is fixed. This can actually lead to an awkward moment, depending on your decision in the final moments at the water purifier, and the main quest has you set off to finally put an end to the Enclave in the Capitol Wasteland. Unlike the previous two DLC add-ons, which featured beautiful new set pieces, Broken Steel keeps you in the familiar setting of colorless rocks and demolished buildings. There is one new area, Adams Air Force Base, which is the hub of the Enclave. This area is broken up into indoor and outdoor environments and is probably the highlight of the quests. You fight along runways and hangars in your struggle to put an end to the Enclave’s control. You also see the return of Liberty Prime, the giant robot that helped you get the water purifier up and running. His untimely exit is what ultimately gets your quest rolling.

One of the great things Bethesda does with their DLCs is to give us new gear and Broken Steel is no exception. The best piece in this release is the new Tesla Cannon. This energy weapon can only discharge one shot at a time, but it has a decent reload rate and is clearly the best weapon in the game (and my favorite). Think of it as your typical rocket launcher, but one that continues to do damage to your unlucky victim after impact. We also get the heavy incinerator, a grenade launcher that spits out fireballs. My best comparison would be to the Brute Shot from the Halo series. The fire continues to burn after hitting the target, so it creates some great visuals and causes lots of damage.

The new ending, quests and gear might be great, but these aren’t why most players are going to buy this new content. The big selling point is the increase of the level cap to 30 and the new perks that come with it. Fans of Bethesda were outraged that Fallout 3 had an ending, unlike the company’s other great series, The Elder Scrolls. Lead designer Emil Pagliarulo admitted on our podcast that he never thought of that in the creation of Fallout 3, but he realized it when the outcry began. The increase of the level cap adds fresh gameplay and could entice people to start roaming the wasteland again just to see what they can find.

The new Perks also bring some changes to the way you can play Fallout 3. There are three that allow you to instantly set your karma to Very Evil, Very Good or Neutral. For some this might seem enticing, because now they can instantly change the way they play their characters. For Dogmeat lovers there is also a new perk called “Puppies” that allows you to get a new canine companion if he dies. If you missed any of the weapon schematics in your first play through, you can even get a perk that makes all of the custom weapons available. It almost seems as if the developers wanted to make different aspects of the game available for those who may have missed out on them their first time around. Fallout purists might be outraged and complain that players need to play the game again and work for these things, but as a casual gamer who loves just sitting back and having fun, I welcome this with open arms.

If you can only buy one of the three DLCs, then Broken Steel is the one to get. It not only gives you some closure to Fallout 3, but it also extends the adventure. It allows you to get more out of the core game by raising the level cap and adding some good side quests. Bethesda has finally responded to players looking to continue wandering the wasteland.

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