Fallout 3 is a dissapointment for me actually. I can see how it's a quality game in itself sure. But the problem is it dissapoints me with what I'd expect in a fallout game.
Fallout, imo, isn't just a post-nuclear apocolyptic rpg game. IMO an even bigger definition of what made Fallout unique was its very VERY in-dept character generation/customization/development. All those skills, stats, perks, etc.
Fallout 3 pretends to use the same system to a certain degree. But in reality alot of them are kind of wasted.. Here's one example
Agility in fallout has always been about action points (and other things too but action points being the biggie), in fallout 3, you play in real time most of the time, so this aspect of agility is wasted, to make matters worse it doesn't affect your run speed. and should you enter that mode (I forget what it's called, the one that is turn-based), it gives you more action points THERE, but that's just the stockpile you begin with..which is like 3 shots and you're out. After which you are FORCED to enter real time mode again because you'll be stuck at 0 action points while the enemy seems to have no concept of action points shooting away at you... Fail.
I haven't played Fallout 3 since like 2 weeks of it being released, I do intend to beat it eventually because I am interested in the story/immersian qualities of the game. But really, when I buy a fallout game, I expect the combat mechanics to try and be as advanced as it once was. I was even willing to compromise for the real time FPS thing, but the fact is they really had no desire to make it feel similar imo.. Perception for example, doesn't increase your accuracy, there is no stat that seems to govern recoil (I don't think anyway), etc.
Kinda like if they made a new valkarie profile for the ps3, you would expect the combat to be like it was in the other games, and that you could break body parts. It's a given, or it's not valkarie profile. If you get a new gradius game, you can expect them to have options in it, etc.