Alright here it is, A Real forum review for the new addon for Fallout 3 Operation Anchorage and some information about it. I love Fallout 3 just as much as the next guy, most likely even more. I have logged over 80 hours on this puppy, and it deserves a fair forum.

Operation: Anchorage is 800 Microsoft points which comes out to an even $10. I paid $25 for the 2000 point package so I could buy the next F3 Add-on "The Pitt" too, But after playing Operation: Anchorage I am seriously considering buying GTA San Andreas on the Game Marketplace instead.

Fallout 3 is all about exploring and picking up new items and gear, and doing things that you decide to do. Anchorage isn't that. You start out Getting a radio signal, but i wont ruin the whole addon incase you do buy it. Basically its this, its a Simulation Pod you hop into and it places you on the Alaskan mountain sides taking orders from another soldier. You have a choice from here (One of the only decisions you will make in the Addon), you can go in guns blazing or covertly with your knife and stealth boy. You move through the mountain and do all of the objectives and it throws you into the second section of the Downloaded Content. Here you choose a few men to come with you, which rocked, and you finish off the rest of the DLC by killing the Chinese. The fighting is fun, And the new Snow Scenery is welcomed with open arms. But without the Fallout 3 style of gameplay (Picking up items, finding places to explore, gaining/losing karma), its just a fairly average first person shooter. When you kill any men, they disappear in a "Matrix" sort of way as some put it. Also, both part 1 and 2 only last about 1 to 2 hours each, depending on how fast you run through them. But there is no exploring to do, because it has a Visible blue wall that you cannot pass that is just off the objective path. So basically you do the objectives and get out. Did I mention it was a "Simulation"? After you finish the simulation you get the new Gauss Rifle, 2 new small melee weapons, the T-51b Winterized Power armor, and a very nice stealth suit. All of which you can take back into the wastelands.

But here's the thing. You remember that huge robot Liberty Prime in the Citadel, and how he was supposed to liberate alaska? Well he never shows up. Infact there are no really cool/major battles like the game addon info suggests. The most you get are some invisible guys who on "Hard" difficulty are defenseless against your shotgun. you fight 2 to 4 people at once, thats it. Plus you have no karma deciding factors, Given it is a simulation, I understand. But the whole time, you know that it is a simulation, it never pulls you in. there is always that, "it's a sim" feeling. I died once.

So lets recap here.
- Pros
-Great Graphics
-3 new weapons that you keep with you in the wastelands after
-2 new sets of armour that you keep with you in the wastelands after
-1 new Perk: Covert Ops - 3 points in medicine, lock picking and repair
-Nice new change of scenery

-Cons
-2 to 3 hours of Gameplay
-No "Fallout 3" type gameplay, just an average First Person Shooter type gameplay
-"Recharge and Refill stations" for ammo and weapons, you cannot bring your own in
-Absent "Liberty Prime"
-No awesome battles, just a few people at a time
-Very little decision making
-Awkward storyline fitting, doesnt make sense with rest of Fallout 3 game very much.

So in all, I give it a 5 out of 10. For 10 dollars if you really enjoy Fallout 3 you should probably get it. You might hate it, you might love it. you can always get the second or third expansions coming soon. in the third one you can get to level 30 and go past the end of the standard Fallout 3 story.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: VOW Corvette55,