Also, Operation: Alaska brought that missing ingredient to the table. The DLC let the character in an optional highly stealth-focused adventure. So, instead of taking out your good karma rage (spawned from all those tedious fine deeds and fair bartering of which were oh so worth it) on the simulated population of Alaska, you can take your character through the entire Operation, crouched and covert.
It is this option that makes Operation Anchorage the element that turns Fallout 3 from a very good game to a great game. It gives this FPS/RPG/post-apocalyptic adventure a Half-Life appeal. Usually, a Fallout 3 quest usually makes the choice of approach for you based on your karma level, etc. However, Operation Anchorage gives you total control of your choices, not by dialogue, but instead by actions. It’s a subtle change, but a refreshing change nonetheless.
However, Operation Anchorage is not without its flaws. For starters, the DLC ran very slow and would sometimes freeze. Now, I mostly attribute this to the fact that I had my Xbox recently fixed due to red-lighting, but I wanted to mention it because I’m not the only one who has had this problem. Also, I found Operation Anchorage to be glitchy. Many of the enemy character models would get stuck in walls or the game would just freeze up all together.
But, the most annoying part of this DLC was the fact that it literally kills your companion. I had been running around with one of the best companions in the game, Fawkes, for about 10 hours. We shared great times killing radroaches, molerats and the like, helping me level up along the way. However, upon entering the simulation, a small notice told me that Fawkes, my heavy-weapons-toting companion, was dead.
Now, I understand that it wouldn’t be realistic for Fawkes to come with me in the simulation, but is it really too hard to ask for him to be able to wait for me until I got back? It almost made me want to stop playing it altogether.
“¦but, I knew that Fawkes would’ve wanted to me to continue on without him, and I’m glad I did. Operation Anchorage has already solidified itself as one of the top DLC’s of 2009, and has made me excited for the next installment of DLC for Fallout 3. Add to that the inexpensive cost (800 Microsoft Points for 4-5 hours of play) and you’ve got yourself a bargain.
This review is for the Xbox 360 version of Operation Anchorage. This DLC is also available on PC.
Boo on O.A you cant loot anything!!