Fallout 3 Tools of Survival

IGN has dished up a Fallout 3 preview that focuses on weaponry in the game, including new artwork and concept art, as well as a new video/interview showing off weapons.

But perhaps flinging garbage at unsuspecting citizens isn’t your cup of tea. That’s OK. I won’t hold it against you. There are other options. Just out of the Vault, you’ll find yourself with simple weapons. There’s the 10mm pistol as the standard fallback. It’s effective against things like Mole Rats, Blow Flys, and basic Raiders, but doesn’t pack much punch or pizzazz. If you like weapons, you’ll want to look for something better like a scoped .44 Magnum, a Sawed Off Shotgun, or a Hunting Rifle. Most of the basic guns will use 10mm ammunition which is quite plentiful throughout the game while the guns with a higher caliber of shot will have a limited number of rounds early on.

When you run out of ammo, and you probably will, you can revert back to some melee weapons. This is just as satisfying in VATS as long range combat, believe it or not. Bethesda modeled the slow-motion attack after Zack Snyder’s 300 and it looks spectacular. Clubbing foes with baseball bats or police batons is hilarious, but you’ll want something sharp in your hands. I grabbed a Ripper, a small one-handed chainsaw, and took a radiation poisoned dog’s head straight off. Or there’s the Chinese Military Leader’s Sword. As Insider Editor-in-Chief Dave Clayman described it, “That was badass. I chopped &(#*$’s up.” We weren’t able to find it, but many of the game’s makers we spoke to called out the Powerfist, a mechanical hand that amplifies your punching strength, as their favorite melee weapon.

I prefer the big guns though. These are their own category of weapon with an associated skill and will make any gamer that loves chaos giddy. The Flamer, a highly effective flame thrower, can be found early on with ample ammunition scattered throughout the world. Light a poor sap on fire and he’ll keep burning and taking damage over time while you laugh and point. Within the first 6 hours of playing, I managed to amass an arsenal that included a missile launcher, a personal nuke launcher, and a chaingun. I could only afford one nuke to put in my launcher, but boy-oh-boy was that a lot of fun.

For more info about Fallout 3 weapons, check out The Vault.