Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta

true <a href="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407460yzcZBtFMg7.jpg"><img src="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407460yzcZBtFMg7.jpg" height="348" alt="" width="620" /></a> “Mothership Zeta” is the latest downloadable expansion for Bethesda’s game that keeps on giving, Fallout 3. After the last two thrilling add-ons, “Broken Steel” and “Point Lookout,” this latest installment had quite a bit to live up to. Fallout 3 is one of those games that I hardly need an excuse to go back and play, but new missions will certainly help. Besides, what reason to play a game could be better than trying to take over an alien ship that’s captured you? Upon receiving the distress signal from Recon Craft Theta, you’ll have a specific area to search. If you’ve explored as much of the game as I have, you’ll recognize the locale as the alien crash site where you may or may not have picked up the insanely powerful Alien Blaster. As soon as you inspect the cockpit, your character becomes trapped in a transporter beam, and is lifted off the ground to the skies above. Your character awakens for a brief moment while on some sort of operating table, before blacking out, and later awakening in a holding cell with a captive woman named Somah. The two of you fake a fight in an effort to get the guards’ to open the door so you can escape, and from there, you’ll work your way across the ship freeing a handful of captives, sabotaging the ship, and even try to take over the craft. Nothing that’s happened below impacts the events on the ship, nor does anyone notice your accomplishments planetside when you return. That doesn’t mean the adventure isn’t exciting, it just lacks the depth you may have experienced with the last two expansions. It’s almost fitting that “Mothership Zeta” arrived during the late summer months since it shares more with a blockbuster action flick (including its near 3-hour length) than the post-nuclear journey of self-discovery the main game focused on. Though the fact the DLC is much more of a shoot ‘em up than the main game may turn off a few folks who felt burned by the run and gun pace of “Operation: Anchorage,” the final confrontation against your captors will have you on the edge of your seat, which is much more than I can say about any of the conflicts from the historical simulation. <a href="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407470njmVqaCjQi.jpg"><img src="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407470njmVqaCjQi.jpg" height="348" alt="" width="620" /></a> We’ve all got our own ideas about what the interior of an alien craft will look like, and Bethesda manages to pay homage to classic sci-fi ideas while making the alien aesthetic completely their own. From the polished metal of the ship’s interior, to the holographic indicators on switches, to the horrifying experimental labs, the developers are able to capture the quintessential essence of the general perception of extra-terrestrial life, and not once did I feel that something didn’t belong. The aliens themselves are stylized versions of the bigheaded green men with almond-shaped eyes that adorned countless sci-fi periodicals during the genre’s height of popularity, but they’re not quite as small as those magazines liked to “report.” Their weaponry is as eye-catching as the ship, and each armament has a wonderfully simplistic, yet advanced look and feel to it. While the aliens don’t have any armor for you to steal, they rely on shielding technology for defense, which you also can’t steal. That doesn’t mean players are left in the lurch for goodies. There’s a good deal of unique items here for players to find, ranging from alien rifles and cryo grenades (which will freeze a target), to Old West sidearm’s, samurai armor, and even the duster your commanding officer from Anchorage was wearing. You can even eat some alien meals to replenish your health, but I never touched the stuff. I’ll stick to my Stimpaks, thank you. The items in this expansion are much more balanced than those you might have uncovered in previous content packs. I only wish that the items in earlier DLC had been as balanced so the actual missions would have been more challenging. <a href="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407464LjtbBCrQgl.jpg"><img src="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407464LjtbBCrQgl.jpg" height="348" alt="" width="620" /></a> Once again, Bethesda has put out an expansion that is a welcome addition for anyone who’s been enjoying his/her time with Fallout 3. While it lacks the strong story of “Point Lookout” and “Broken Steel,” it’s much more enjoyable than “Operation: Anchorage” or “The Pitt.” This DLC is also reportedly the last expansion for Fallout 3, so if want to extend your stay in the Capital Wastes, make sure to pick up “Mothership Zeta.” You won’t be disappointed. <img src="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1239819838O76TBldH33.jpg" height="125" alt="" width="245" /> review

2009-08-04T13:41:58-04:00

<a href="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407460yzcZBtFMg7.jpg"><img src="http://www.gamervision.com/contributed/1249407460yzcZBtFMg7.jpg" height="348" alt="" width="620" /></a> “Mothership Zeta” is the latest downloadable expansion for Bethesda’s game that keeps on giving, Fallout 3. After the last two thrilling add-ons, “Broken Steel” and “Point Lookout,” this latest installment had quite a bit to live up to. Fallout 3 is one of those games that I hardly need an excuse to go back and play, but new missions will certainly help. Besides, what reason to play a game could be better than trying to take over an alien ship that’s captured you?

9312

9993

2009-10-09T23:23:02-04:00

false

2009-08-04T13:41:58-04:00

12618

8.5

fallout_3_mothership_zeta_xbox_360 published Space. The Final... Expansion? Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta - Xbox 360

2009-10-09T23:23:02-04:00

825