Fallout 3 was going to be another isometric CRPG from Black Isle, before Bethesda completely turned it into a first-person RPG. Luckily, fans who yearn for that older version can sort of play it now, as fans have made it playable via PC mods.
This mod for Fallout 2 (via Nexus Mods) will now let players experience what Black Isle originally had in mind before Bethesda got their hands on this franchise. Originally codenamed “Van Buren,” the Fallout Yesterday mod gives players a brand-new storyline, locations, quests, and so much more.
Considering how the original Fallout 3 will be lost to time, this is a very cool fan project that fans of this franchise are going to appreciate. While there’s no doubt that the Bethesda games are a success, it’s always interesting to ask “what if?” and make them happen with mods.
It’s always interesting to see what Fallout fans will mod next, as they either go back to the old CRPG setting or remake older games. Some fans decided to remake Fallout 2 and make it more inline with the current batch of FPS RPGs. It goes to show just how passionate these fans are when it comes to the post-apocalyptic series.
Depending on who you ask, Fallout 3 is either the best thing to happen to this series or the worst. There are fans who miss the older CRPG style and their concerns are pretty valid. However, the current style of this series did give fans Fallout: New Vegas, which is one of the franchise’s best entries.
A lot of eyes are on the Fallout franchise these days, thanks to Amazon’s excellent adaptation of the source material. Fans and critics alike praised the show for managing to make a unique story that feels inline with the games. Bethesda capitalized on the show’s popularity by releasing a current-gen update for Fallout 4, though that was a buggy release.
PC players interested in this Fallout 3 mod should legally purchase Fallout 2 and then download the mod. Curious players who haven’t touched Fallout 3 can pick it up on PC now.