Welcome to Alaska, aka Palin country (cold state, hot governor)! It’s the land of oil, soft drink swilling polar bears and politicians shooting at moose from helicopters. It’s also the setting for Fallout 3’s new DLC, Operation: Anchorage. But is it worth your money?
In order for downloadable content to be worth your money it has to be affordable, timely, and give gamers something they haven’t had before. Fallout 3’s Operation: Anchorage meets this criteria, and leaves you wanting more.
Jumping into the new DLC is easy. Once the content is downloaded and your game disc is in, you’ll be notified of a radio broadcast distress call. Fast travel to the Red Racer Factory to hear a message asking for help from any “outcasts”, this will lead gamers to the outpost for the outcasts from the Brotherhood of Steel. In order to get into a high tech weapons armory, they need someone to complete an old VR training program. Since you’re the only one with a device that can interface with the computer system (your Pip-Boy), you get the job.
The VR training is broken down into two missions, both dealing with the liberation of Alaska. The first and most straightforward is The Guns of Anchorage. Here you’ll run around snowy mountains, blasting away at the invading Chinese, knocking out their massive artillery guns. The second mission is a slightly more complicated three-parter that ends with you commandeering a Chinese base.
Gameplay is classic Fallout 3, but with enough tweaks to feel like you’re almost playing a different game. In virtual Alaska health and ammo aren’t picked up from the enemy (which disappear Matrix-style when killed) but from dispensers located at random locations. New weapons, including the powerful Gauss rifle, are now available and gamers will also get a chance to work with and command NPC’s. Other gameplay elements like the barren, snow filled setting and unique enemies like the stealth camo wearing Crimson Dragoons are not only welcome, but feel like a tip of the hat to other classic games (Metal Gear Sold/Gray Fox anyone?).
Operation: Anchorage is a blast to play and the weapons earned after completing it are certainly useful in the Capital Wastelands, but it’s not without some flaws. The VR missions are very short, taking only 2-3 hours to complete and can’t be replayed once beaten. This DLC also doesn’t let gamers extended level progression past 20 or continue the game past its original ending. You’ll have to wait for the Broken Steel DLC for that.
Despite its shortcomings, Operation: Anchorage is a must own for Fallout 3 owners. It may be short and sweet, but anything that can add life to a title this good needs to be played.
Pros: Extends the life of a great title, adds some history to the Fallout 3 back story, same solid gameplay but in a new environment
Cons: Very short, doesn’t add level progression past 20, no replay value
Verdict: Buy
The Info: Platform: Xbox 360, PC, Price: 800MS Points ($10)
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