You guys need to relax. Big time.
Everyone who expected Fallout 3 to be Fallout 2 with new graphics should have known he wasn't going to get that. Fallout 3 is a good game in it's own right (yes, I played through both Fallout 1 and 2 before playing Fallout 3). And yes, it definitely ain't the same as 1 or 2. But that was to be expected.
I hugely enjoyed Fallout 3 and breezed through it far too quickly (should have taken more time, but couldn't stop...)... And really, in what way was Fallout 2's story better than that of the third? Think about it. There ain't much difference, you set out in search of something, find out about some conspiracy, and then make your decisions.
The only thing that really pissed me off about Fallout 3 was the ending, but about every player of the game feels that way. Too bad they released it THAT way.
Still, I liked it. To all you haters - really - stuff it. Everyone's entitled to his own opinion, so don't make them feel bad for liking the game.

You're right... If you take the plot of the first game and combine it with the second, then beat it on the head a few times and feed it some methamphetamine, you'll get something resembling the plot of Fallout 3 - just minus the good bit, the good writing, and almost everything that made Fallout and Fallout 2 good games.

I'm new to GoG and the reason i joined was because i wanted to see what fallout 1 and 2 were like after i had played fallout 3. I've played fallout 1, 3 and tactics and i agree that they're all good games, and i agree that fallout 3 had some very disappointing moments, but that was to be expected with its vast and completely explorable map. Sure there were several let-downs, but the fun bloody combat, decisions, and wide exploration held my attention for almost 230 hours and counting, while after beating fallout 1 twice I'm starting to grow bored of it. Fallout 1 is more of a "choose your own path" storybook than it is a game, with some barely interesting turn-based combat, that lost all of its challenge around level 10. Still a fantastic game, Fallout 1 doesn't really stack up to Fallout 3 in my opinion. Fallout 3's ending was bad, but has anybody noticed Fallout 1's ending? It was extremely predictable with a small twist at the end. Find the water chip, kill mutants, OH NO! Now you have to leave the vault for good. I would give Fallout 3 a perfect 10/10 as it is the game I have ever put the most time into, and Fallout 1 a 7/10 for being an enjoyable experience with dark humor, but lacking spice in combat.

I love this... you judge the game harshly because of the lack of vegetation and the fact that the water isn't purified yet, but you don't have a problem with giant iguanas tearing off people's heads? C'mon, you don't play a videogame for it's realism, you play it for its lack of realism to get away from reality for a bit...

What reality??? video games ARE real!

Although I have never played Fallout 1 or 2, I do feel I need to comment on this thread.
Fallout 3 is a great game if you can get past its quirks. Yes, it doesn't have sex. I was kind of surprised that a game with its storyline and basis would not have some kind of sex. I mean, Grand Theft Auto has sounds and a climatic finish. But that doesn't make the game.
What really didn't do this game any justice was:
1) The fact that you need to purchase DLC if you want to play the game open ended. If you do not, you can not continue after you finish the game. You have to reload it and play from a previous save point. The DLC is good once you get it, but for people who are lacking in funds it kills the game. When I bought it, the DLC had not been released yet so I put the game down after I finished it and didn't pick it up again for months.
2) I think the traveling system is flawed. It's hard to believe that no one would create some kind if vehicle to travel. There is a lot of walking involved and can kill the mood of the game. Traveling is tough, and can take a long time.
There are other great things about that game, and other bad things about it. But I don't feel anyone can compare Fallout 3 with Fallout 1 or 2. Yes, Fallout 1 and 2 are classic games. But Fallout 3 is a different era in gaming. Fallout 1 or 2 graphics have nothing on Fallout 3 graphics. But for the die hard fans, they are very amazing. And the replay value i'm sure is very high.

Uhhh... Yes, they do. Isometric third-person turn-based games were amazing and have way more going for them than first-person shooter games that use a flawed engine (GameBro). :P

I look at Fallout 3 the same way I looked at any of the recent Bioware games (kotor+ era), overall there good games and much more accessible to a wider audience,but they pale in comparison to the old Black Isle RPG's.
They offer a "Great Ride" just for me not a very memorable one.
I still remember whole dialogs word for word from Planescape, Baldur's Gate 1-2 and Fallout 1-2 ,Sadly I can't say the same about any of the more recent RPG's I've played...
In a way I wish to see a developer try to recapture the old feel of the classic isometric RPG's with todays technology.
Great system,lots of content and great story line.
This 3 "simple" things are the ingredients to a great RPG ,No stupid gimmicks, no crappy "martial arts" combat and no 1st person view.

Indeed. We need a new game company that produces games "by gamers for gamers"...

Have you read my post really carefully? I wrote that some people take games way to seriously. F3 bends reality but so do other games. I never said it's a bad thing. On the contrary, otherwise games wouldn't be fun.
I advise you to read what people actually write, not what you want to read.

Easier said than done my friend, because at this day and age, companies are whores, and not the good kind. They are whores for money. 3D makes money.
Edit: I said day in age, not day and age.

I know I know mate ...sigh
In this day and age for every Tim Schafer you got 50 Cliff Bleszinski's (or worse)...