Introduction:If you where a fan of PC gaming in the mid-1990's then you should know about Fallout Series. Fallout is a game that has established a cult following with its post-apocalyptic setting and mature overtones. It was a great time for turn based role-playing games and maybe the last. Now the Fallout series is reincarnated for this generation on the Xbox console and another tale is woven out of the fallout universe.

The Game:Fallout: BHOS (Brotherhood of Steel) blends role-playing elements into your basic hack n' slash action orientated gameplay. Even with the other elements this game is mainly straight on Hack em' Up, since there is no blocking you will have to roll with the punches and deliver you own punishment. Thus you will be having some huge outnumbered battles where you and the enemy will be receiving and giving mass amounts of damage to each other. It's not bad giving the nature of the game, but overall it might be a little lacking for some.

A problem with Fallout: BHOS is that the is few variation of enemies per level. This makes the level seem longer then it is because of the monotonous waves of beetles or raiders etc. that you will have to fend off. You wont have to worry not having a variation in the weapons though. The weapon selection is rather larger and they range from blunt weapons (bats, torches) to ranged weapons (desert eagle, shotguns) with an assortment of demolitions (pipe bomb). It's never felt so good wearing a pair of spiked gloves! and ripping into a giant insect.

You have three choices of characters in Fallout: BHOS, each holding their own set of abilities and attributes. The three characters pick from is the barbarian Cyrus, the babe Nadia and the mutant Cain. Since there is a pinch of RPG in Fallout: BHOS you can level-up your characters and customize there traits however you wish. This extends the life of the game if you where so inclined to march into the post-apocalyptic world one more time.

Overall Fallout's gameplay is a little flawed and the use of the Baulders Gate engine could have used a little more tweaking, but this aside the game is fun and the setting of being in a mutant infested wasteland can never grow old.

Graphics & Sound:The graphics in BHOS overall are average. The perspective of the camera is fixed top down and you can only rotate left or right, there is no option of zooming which is a little behind the times. Although with this type of vantage they have creatively crafty the levels which make for some interesting objects which you normal wouldn't see. Overall the graphics match the depressing bleak colors of the games settings which accomplish its goal. It doesn't have to perdy, to work.

Fallout: BHOS is a mature game, with this in mind the characters do indulge in some, well lots of profane language. Being a dirt farmer can do that to you, I assume. BHOS is the most edgy dialog in a console game I have played yet. It's great to see everything isn't marketed towards the younger pre-teen crowd. Although if you're against all that you will be instantly turned off by this game, but in retrospect the violence is more brutal then a few R-Rated words.

Crudeness aside the voice over work is done quite well in Fallout and the music and sound effects snuggle right into the wastelands burly overtones. Interplay went for the background music of metal bands like Slipknot which fits like a glove. When the gameplay starts to get intense they brilliantly start to the madness metal of the fallout soundtrack which helps put you over the edge into the postal rage. Great stuff, nice audio.

Innovation:BHOS could be called innovative if you are comparing it to the other Fallout games. Almost everything has changed about the way you play the game but they kept all the same content. This is different and refreshing, but most of its fan base would of love to see another turn based combat system. In the other hand it is not an innovation to re-package a game. There isn't much new and considering they use the Baulder Gate gaming engine with minimal tweaks. Dark Alliance and Fallout:BHOS are too similar for my tastes and at best BHOS feels like a re-package of Dark Alliance.

Mojo:I just shelled out a good 8 bones at the bar to get my self primed for some senseless violence, but as I stumbled out of the bar I ran into my good friend Ruby. the hooker! I agreed to look for "Mr. Pussy" ?! And decided to indulge in a little mature action for the low price of 10 shillings! It's a good time in the Fallout Universe, as it always has been. If you're not chattin it up in some dirty infested town, you'll be blowin apart anything that moves with an abundance of wasteland zombies! Mojo! Mojo! Damn right, Fallout brings it like no other!

Lowdown:It might not be Fallout3, but if you're a Fallout fan then you will enjoy this title enough to look past the shallow action and checkpoint gameplay. Fallout: BHOS will appeal to any who likes violent hack em' up games, and I'm sure they will enjoy the harsh language, beer and hookers too. After all it's only a game, good shootin'.

Gameplay: 6.5, Graphics/Sound: 7, Innovation: 6, Mojo: 8.5 . Final: 7