Losing Limbs

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:39 am

One of the greatest and most valuable features of the original Fallout games was the caption screen that told you when you had blinded a Raider or shot a bullet through an enemy's gun-wielding hand to the point of reading "his fingers hang on by threads."

And then the deranged NPC's either fled like cowards or shot like Psychosniper's grandma.

Yet one of the most disappointing combat restructuring-s of Fallout 3 was that limbs were only damaged upon a death sequence. Meaning that an enemy won't operate under the effects - whatever strategic maneuvers you make in combat - to the extent they had to in F1 and F2. They will not be blinded, maimed, debilitated, or specifically damaged in any way until and unless he/she is DEAD... which really defeats the purpose of trying to VATS somebody's knees off.

In many ways I think this is what cheapened the VATS experience - and combat in general - in F3 that many observers failed to mention. It's such a simple structural feature that could have brought F3 closer to the original survival experience of the original Fallouts.

Anyway Fallout 3 had so many more problems but my question/observation is that the Obsidian's developer's had mentioned 'spearing somebody's arm to a wall' and I'm just hoping that there will be a way to do visible, strategic damage to an NPC without/before killing them.

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:57 pm

I noticed that too in Fallout 3 - the only visible damage you could do to someone was hitting their legs, which just made them limp at a walking pace.

I'm putting a lot of faith in Obsidian to make a real Fallout game.

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:26 pm

Unlikely to change, at least by NV. Engine's limitations will more than likely dictate that only the same level of VATS possibilities will exist as only the same number of body parts will exist. Shit outta luck until FO4

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:01 am

Or FOOL

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 6:01 pm

Personally I'm waiting for Batman Arkham City.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:36 pm

Indeed. Though it would be cute if they kept more original voice actors rather than dubbing in generics (case: Commish. Gordon). Also, having Two-Face as the first villain fought tops Vic Zsaz.

The story, though, seems to be a minimalist rehash of the No Man's Land plot. One of the best (if not the best) events in Batman's history, so it's a setting I, for one, look forward to.

Most of the villains were well-portrayed in the first game, with the exception of Bane. I doubt they're going to use him at all like his role in No Man's Land, so assuming he has a presence, it's all up in the air.

Also interested in seeing cameos/involvement of Nightwing and Azrael, as well as villains of the first game, assuming there's decent placement for them in the story.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 3:47 am

If it was possible to force limping (walking) by shooting someone in the leg then it should be possible to cause severe perception loss by shooting someone in the eyes and such even if its not graphical.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:50 am

You could also shoot weapons out of enemy's hands in Fallout 3, but it was obnoxious because if it was a somewhat rare weapon that you wanted it had 0% condition when you looted it.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:12 pm

This already happens when you cripple someone's head.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:30 pm

Hands down VATS sucks donkey cock.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:27 pm

So what's the problem then? It's not like we saw the limbs blow away when they were shot in Fallout 2?

I mean sure, it woud be awesome. But it's not a biggie.