Fallout 3 E3 Previews

Two more hands-on previews, as the rounds now hit the internet in the form of IGN.
- Though we in the gaming media have said much about E3 over the years, most of it negative, there's one undeniable advantage to the yearly trade show: it gives us the opportunity to play games we normally can't. And so, it's because of that one redeemable quality that I salute the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo, if only briefly. After all, how else would I have had the chance to go hands-on with one of the most impressive videogames of the year a good four months before it comes out?

Before I go on, though, please understand -- calling Fallout 3 one of the most impressive videogames of the year in a season that has already brought us Metal Gear Solid 4 and Grand Theft Auto IV isn't meant to be hyperbole. Even in its unoptimized stage (all the content is there, development is just about polish from now until October), Fallout 3 is still one of the most engaging and playable titles this side of Liberty City... and I've only tested it for about an hour.
And GameSpy.
While it might have taken a while to finally get our hands on the game, it appears that Fallout 3 will be well worth the wait. Sure, the game strays from its roots and it's similar to Oblivion in many ways, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Not only does the game look beautiful and run quite smoothly, it features a number of interesting new gameplay mechanics. While V.A.T.S. seems a bit simplistic at first, you'll likely be surprised by its depth, and it never feels like you'll be able to use it to cruise through the game. After years and years of starts and stops, we're closer than ever to finally getting the Fallout game we've all been waiting for.