Review: Operation Anchorage

The new Gauss Rifle

Downloadable content is a new device developers have implemented to get new content to consumers. The idea is pretty simple; create an add-on to an existing game, charge a small amount for it, and make it easy for the consumer to obtain. For most games downloadable content has consisted of new clothing for characters new cars for racing games, or new maps for multiplayer games, few games have actually added full stories that add to the main story as downloadable content. This new delivery device has grown rapidly with the Internet capabilities of next generation consoles. PC gamers have been used to being able to download user created content and patches for a while.
Operation Anchorage is the first of three downloadable content packs planned for Bethesda’s award winning Fallout 3. Once the content has been added, via Microsoft Xbox Live on the Xbox 360, or the Microsoft Games for Windows Market place on the PC,  it will be loaded into the game automatically. When the player loads their game save they will be alerted by a radio distress signal and a new quest is added to the players Pip-Boy 3000, the content can be accessed at any point during the game, regardless of level,. O:A allows the player to join with Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts and help them secure new technology by completing a simulation of the liberation of Anchorage Alaska. In the simulation the player is stripped of all items and given a generic character, they must help complete three objectives in order to complete the simulation. The character is also given the command of a squad. While a good concept, it is poorly executed. The player can only give orders to the second in command, who gives orders to everyone else. The team mates will die in battle and the player can request reinforcements but it is very hard to notice when someone dies and your second in command fails to notify you. This results in starting a mission with a full squad then ending the mission with only the  second in command alive. The simulation itself is very linear, especially when compared to the main quests in Fallout 3. There are a few speech challenges but nothing that will dramatically change the course of the simulation. A high level character will breeze through this with no problem; a lower level character will have some difficulty. Once the simulation is over there are very little changes in the Wasteland, aside from the new items.
The biggest change the player will notice is the new items that become available after the player completes the simulation. The new weapons include a Gauss Rifle, Trench Knife, and Jingwei’s Shock Sword. The Gauss Rifle is the most powerful sniper rifle in Fallout 3; it must be reloaded after every shot, which dramatically reduces the rate of fire. The Trench Knife is a standard Combat Knife on steroids; it has spiked brass knuckles on the handle and can be repaired with a regular Combat Knife. Finally Jingwei’s Shock Sword is a unique Chinese Officer Sword, which shocks the enemy, giving damage after the initial strike, much like the Flamer. Other new equipment includes the Chinese Stealth Suit and Winterized T-51b Power Armor, all of which can be obtained after the player finishes the simulation.

The new Stealth Suit

What is important is asking “Is Operation Anchorage worth my $10?” the answer is not as simple. If you are a die-hard Fallout fan, than you most likely have played it, beat it, then played it again with a different character, however casual gamers might want to hold off. The simulation, being very linear, offers nothing new the player hasn’t experienced in the main quest. In fact some would argue that they appreciate the Wasteland more after playing O:A. After plaything through the simulation it becomes very clear that Operation Anchorage is a simple disguise for just adding new items in the game. The simulation isn’t done very well, the developers made it too obvious to the player that is was a simulation. Bodies disappear after being killed, hologram like walls block the player from areas, health and ammunition dispensers litter the simulation to help the player along the way. While it is a simulation, having the player being reminded that it is a simulation kills the whole sense of accomplishment one would feel doing the quests. The downloadable content also has a few bugs in it, many users are reporting various game play issues and problems, such as  the new content not being recognized in game. One issue that has been noted is with the ending, by not giving too much away, the problem is best described as something is supposed to happen between non-playable characters, but it doesn’t and the player is left with a sense of confusion and no recognition for what they have done. Other bugs include texture issues, friendly characters turning evil on the player for no reason, and random crashes. Operation Anchorage isn’t all bad, the combat is good and there are scripted moments during game play which add to the war setting. The characters are mildly interesting, although a bit shallow in development, and most of the dialogue can be funny.
In summery Operation Anchorage is a add-on that seems a bit rushed, and while hardcore Fallout fans will appreciate reliving the history of Fallout, casual gamers should save their money for the other two planned content packs, The Pitt and Broken Steel which will be released in February and March, respectively. Operation Anchorage is available for Xbox 360 and PC, there are no plans for a Playstation 3 release as of now. The add on costs 800 Microsoft Points, which translates to about $10.