After seeing the videos and presentation of Fallout 3 at this year's E3, I felt a sense of nostalgia and full confidence in Bethesda. The Fallout series is one that hasn't been touched since the release of Fallout 2 back in 1998. The series has even changed hands from Interplay to Bethesda, makers of Oblivion. Now this would have instantly turned off some fans and I'm sure it did, but these fans should have greater confidence that the overall spirit of design in the Fallout series will continue with Fallout 3.

One of the things that attracted me to Fallout 2 was the sense of overwhelming freedom that it gave you. When I played Fallout 2, there was an overwhelming sense that you could do just about anything you wanted to in the game world. After just hitting the ripe age of 13, there was nothing more hilarious in my newly adolescent mind then the ability to pick up hookers and get an STD or even shoot up drugs. Now I know what you’re thinking, “What the hell is he saying that for?” To be honest, it wasn't those actions specifically that made it fun, but it was the idea that I had free reign over my gameplay. Interplay gave me the feeling that I was powerful and that the character was unique to me. The recent trailer from Bethesda, the subsequent talk at Microsoft's conference and even the banning of the game in Australia (more on that later) instilled this same feeling in me once again.

"Pick a part and blow it away!"

For those of you who may have missed the walkthrough, attendees and those across the Internet were shown several minutes of gameplay footage for Fallout 3. We were told a little bit about the back story and shown some of the features of the Pipboy 3000. The new combat system, which combined real-time and stop-motion combat, was also shown. All of this was tied into a neat little package that put emphasis on the fact that players were given what they sometimes aren't: freedom.

In the video, the statement that players would be able to take an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument further supported my feelings. Bethesda also made the statement that players will be able to walk through the center of Washington DC and be provided with 100 hours of gameplay. It was at this point that Bethesda gave me a feeling that Fallout 3 would be true to the series and further take the whole “sandbox” game idea to the 3D level.

"Go in any building?"

One of the last indicators that Fallout 3 would stick to the gameplay style of its predecessors was the ban of the game in Australia. Now that may sound outright mean and I do hope that Australians do not miss out on this title, but the fact that Fallout 3 did not meet with approval from the OLPC in Australia has given me further hope for Fallout 3. Allegedly, the game was denied for sale because “'Material that contains drugs use and sexual violence related to incentives and rewards is Refused Classification.” This ban was the icing on my cake of Fallout 3 faith.

In the end, only the final product may enhance or destroy my trust in Fallout 3. If everything we have seen thus far is any indication of what we may be able to see in the final product, then I think fans of the series will feel wholly satisfied. Drug use, “sexual violence”, and gruesome deaths are some of the hallmarks of the Fallout series and Bethesda has proven that it will stay that way in the latest game.