Fallout 3 (360, PS3, PC) » Combat
VATs, a throw back to Fallouts classic PC role-playing roots.
Combat come in two complementary flavors, real-time (like an FPS) or the ‘Vault Auto Targeting’. At the press of a button you enter the ‘VAT’ screen. Here enemies (or friends) can be targeted and each body part displays a percentage which represents the chance of hitting it. Action then switches to third person slow-mo to watch you dismember your enemies (or friends).
I was worried this system would break the flow but it is very satisfying. The third person cut is a touch… vicious in its depiction of the combat but it helps create a sense of accomplishment in a task which requires little skill.
I say little skill but in fact you quickly run out of action points, the currency of VATs and have to wait for it to recharge leaving you in real-time. Fortunately this is smooth and the combines well with VATs giving a feeling of empowerment.
