Review Score:

Bethesda released this past Tuesday the 3rd and final update for Fallout 3, Broken Steel. Broken Steel brings much more gameplay thanks to the level cap being raised to 30 but if you are looking for a unique campaign experience like those from The Pitt or Operation Anchorage. Broken Steel’s new campaign quests are slightly watered down but don’t let that deter you from the incredible amount of new gameplay opened up by the extended level cap.

Broken Steel picks up immediately after the final campaign from the original game and extends the game’s original ending. Everything may be beginning to look bright for the wasteland’s future but there is still a major Enclave encampment that needs taken care of. You are sent to Adams Air Force Base to remove the Enclave threat from DC. Getting there however is the problem. With Ghouls infesting the Presidential Metro that leads to Adams Air Force Base, and a new armament that needs creating for the Brotherhood of Steel, Broken Steel will surly complete that abrupt feeling ending.

2 new weapons will be put in your sadistic hands, the Tesla Cannon and the Heavy Incinerator. Both are as devastating as they sound and equally deadly with the Tesla Cannon being extremely overpowered as most enemies can only handle 1 or 2 shots. As part of the story line the Tesla Cannon is created to help support the final assault on the Enclave but the Heavy Incinerator is immediately available along with the new Enclave Hellfire Trooper that wields it. It was nice to see immediately in “Take it Back!” the new weapon and enemy given those that had previously completed the game a new spin on the final campaign mission.

New enemies are not exclusive to the new campaign missions with Albino Radscorpions and Super Mutant Overlords being thrown into the Wasteland to spice up those random encounters. With new subquests involving the Super Mutants you will get plenty of time to meet your new foes outside of Adams Air Force Base. Don’t think that being level 20+ will let you roll over your new foes! They will be quite the formidable opponents and present you with a challenge in the Wastelands. That is until you find the Tesla Cannon.

Even though you have routed the Enclave from DC, Super Mutants are still rampant in downtown DC and that is where you will spend most of your time after completing Broken Steel. While I can’t complain about being stuck in the wasteland with little to do quest wise, I’m certain the new subquests will occupy my time to level 30. I know I have not acquired every unique weapon so maybe my next task is to complete my arsenal.

With all the new content that Broken Steel brings, it seems to be released out of order. This really should have come first and the separate campaigns released prior. If you have yet to pick up any DLC for Fallout 3, pick this one up first! You will have the benefit of continuing to level up through the new ending as well as the additional campaigns. Broken Steel certainly does it’s job to complete the story with a grander finale which takes about the same time as the other DLC campaigns, around 4 hours or so, but it seems to lack the same amazing campaign experiences Operation Anchorage and The Pitt left me feeling with.

Broken Steel brings a few new enemies and a slew of new items and perks. With an additional 10 levels to achieve, 14 new perks, and 6 new achievements to unlock, and probably the largest addition to gameplay time, you will definitely be getting your money’s worth.

Fallout 3 Broken Steel is available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points [$10].