Very nice writing, that Shamus Young's article. But it's not mine. I am having fun writing this thread, criticize the game in points I am interested.
One thing of note, despite being a heavy F2 player, I judge this game based on Fallout 3's own meter of quality . NOBODY, no cat, will accuse me of nostalgia in this thread.
Shamus still has that weakness, judge F3 based on F1/2 standard, or FNV. Really, this game is of different category than those other. Hell, it's NOT even same category as FNV. Damn thing is a tactical game infused with heavy element of RPG, not a RPG infused with elements of tactical game (which is FNV).
+++ Mind you, I agree with most of his points. Our difference is like 1+1 = 2 and 1/1 + 1/1 = 4/2. Yes, there's a difference.
+++ Shamus complaint about there's no one person step out and fix this shit during development. I have another POV about that: I suspect this mess is a fucking compromise between stated design (marketing) original vision of this IP (retrofuturism) and the weirdness of Bethesda writing aspect (which should have a weirdo as controller from highest level of management). Anytime a compromise come to stated designs and original, this weirdo should be the one open his/her mouth and said "no, it's too boring" and make shits messed up even further. People complaint about Todd but I suspect not him because he's too much of a front man. Does Todd a Bethesda's "owner" level, same as Avellone at Obsidian? If yes, then maybe him.
Based on that, I dare say my F3 criticisms is the best in Codex, because Codexers has heavy tendency to judge shits in F1/2 standard, aka storyfaggotry. Plus Codexers are 99% bad tactical game players.