In Progress Let's Play: Fallout 3 DLCs (3/5) MOTHERSHIP ZETA!

[lightbane]

Oh god, that "little girl" is HIDEOUS. And somehow self-aware of her invencibility.

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

Finished the playthrough and have all screens. WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST SAW.

Reception

Mothership Zeta has received mixed reactions from critics, averaging a 70 for the PC and a 65 for the Xbox 360. Edge comments that "Mothership Zeta’s greatest asset is its looks" and that "[w]hoever designed such beauty should be pretty peeved at the game around it." Edge also noted that they "encountered a script bug so catastrophic that we couldn’t finish the game - we actually had to clip through a doorway and use console commands to bring everything back on track" and criticize the DLC for locking off most of the ship after completion. Eurogamer states that "the most disappointing factor about Mothership Zeta is how little subtlety is afforded to the details" and sums up the DLC as "repetitive, largely uninspired corridor combat, and boring, linear and samey mission design." Gamedaily praises Zeta for "keep[ing] Fallout's trademark humor intact", its improved graphics and for the new enemies and weapons introduced.

Also,

http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8747

Apparently, the last screens are users' fan-fiction. Modders fix'd it aight

 

[lightbane]

Edge also noted that they "encountered a script bug so catastrophic that we couldn’t finish the game - we actually had to clip through a doorway and use console commands to bring everything back on track"

But it was done by Bethesda so it's ok. Meanwhile, that New Vegas game is horrible, unplayable shit filled with bugs. Or at least what the reviewers say.

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

But it was done by Bethesda so it's ok. Meanwhile, that New Vegas game is horrible, unplayable shit filled with bugs. Or at least what the reviewers say.

When Bethesda bugs the fuck out of their games, it's "endearing", but Obsidian should be exiled from video game industry along with their bland writing. Nobody will miss them, they can't deliver majestic games anyway. Hell, they didn't do perfect job in patching it, but there weren't embarassments like dragons flying backwards. At least critics acknowledge Skyrim's bugs, even if it's their only criticism of this derp...

 

[TheEntitledOne]

Oh god, that "little girl" is HIDEOUS. And somehow self-aware of her invencibility.

Children of Bodom!

Or Sodom!

Or Georgia .

 

[Brother None]

At least critics acknowledge Skyrim's bugs, even if it's their only criticism of this derp...

Acknowledge, sure. But you're contractually obligated to either a) treat it as a joke or b) put "in a game of this EPIC MAGNIFICENT SIZE AND SCOPE, bugs are to be expected" somewhere in the article. Journalism 101.

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

I don't know to what degree they are literally paid off, and to what degree they are simply as oblivious as the next "casual", but there sure is an outrageous pressure in that enviroment not to "freak out" - there was that guy from Gamespot who gave Kane and Lynch: Dead Men "fair" and got fired. It's abysmal.

 

[Brother None]

Haha, no one's paid off. If anything, the "paid off" theory gives them too much credit. They don't need to be paid off, they do this for free.

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

Maybe "paid off" per se is not really precise, but the fact that they fired that guy for Kane & Lynch during the time when Eidos had a strong influence on Gamespot was probably mostly because of them.

One way or another, it's a mess - you're either carebear or out.

 

[lightbane]

That reminds me: The latest Skrimjob expansion DLC has TERRIBLE bugs, as in most of the new content being literally invisible, or vampires being too efficient and killing important NPCs, shopkeepers and the like. I wonder what they'll say this time. That being invisible is better because it leaves you more to your imagination?

 

[Oesophagus]

This is the first time I've seen any of the F3 DLC, because I could never muster the courage to play it myself



Oh god, the writing, the writing did it or me

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

That reminds me: The latest Skrimjob expansion DLC has TERRIBLE bugs, as in most of the new content being literally invisible, or vampires being too efficient and killing important NPCs, shopkeepers and the like. I wonder what they'll say this time. That being invisible is better because it leaves you more to your imagination?

Like you wouldn't believe Users on bethesda Dawnguard forums said that Master Vampires slaying unessential NPCs, vendors being among them, are "realistic" and count as C&C (seriously) because the world is "alive".

Efficient doesn't even begin to describe those vampire attacks - there are supposedly "Mysterious Traveler" NPCs that can enter General Goods Store in Whiterun and slit Belethor's throat while you are in completely different part of town; and some of the more brainwashed Bethesda fans are apologetic about that, too.

This is the first time I've seen any of the F3 DLC, because I could never muster the courage to play it myself

Glad I could be of service

 

[sea]

That reminds me: The latest Skrimjob expansion DLC has TERRIBLE bugs, as in most of the new content being literally invisible, or vampires being too efficient and killing important NPCs, shopkeepers and the like. I wonder what they'll say this time. That being invisible is better because it leaves you more to your imagination?

Like you wouldn't believe Users on bethesda Dawnguard forums said that Master Vampires slaying unessential NPCs, vendors being among them, are "realistic" and count as C&C (seriously) because the world is "alive".

Efficient doesn't even begin to describe those vampire attacks - there are supposedly "Mysterious Traveler" NPCs that can enter General Goods Store in Whiterun and slit Belethor's throat while you are in completely different part of town; and some of the more brainwashed Bethesda fans are apologetic about

The worst thing is that could have actually been really cool if the game had been designed around it. Remember all that Radiant AI stuff about how if you kill an NPC, he'll be replaced by his son (mostly lies as many, many NPCs are still essential)? They could have actually created a living, breathing simulation-style world, if the game had fully embraced that side of itself.

 

[dextermorgan]

So how about an update?

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

UPDATE #2. Feels like the #30. But whatever.

Spoiler

We get back our stuff in that room, because only terrible Fallout DLCs take away it for the whole playthrough. And who could forget the fact that you couldn't pick up all of Gold Bars in Dead Money?!

But this is not a terrible DLC. It's an abomination worthy addition in Fallout 3 canon. Can the many happy customers be wrong?

No need to burden yourself with the heavy, cumbersome, useless clutter! It only detracts from the majestic experience that is tiresome corridor popamole shooting with homogenous space weapons without anything of interest that is Mass Effect Mothership Zeta.

Did I sound bitter? Well, at least it's relatively short.

Aside from that, the loot consists of Alien Atomizer(pistol), Alien Disintegrator (rifle), Shock Baton and Drone Cannon (timed grenade launcher), as well as Alien Epoxies (weapon repair kits), Biogel (healing item, Alien Crystals (no idea) and Squid Food.

We'll be EATING LOTS of it to cure our wounds at least until I'll turn on god mode and unlimited ammo halfway through. It was a bittersweet victory, sadly, but the one that was unavoidable.

Some profound dialogue to be found here.

FACT: We get evil karma for killing those scientists who experiment on humans and create unimaginable horrors (more on that later), but are unarmed. Makes sense

They turned it off! Last time I was here, I used this to get to the top of the ship.

It's kind of like an elevator, only it doesn't just go up and down. Feels sort of tingly, too.

So, this is it. Pretty neat, huh?

I never had the courage to wake them up, but I think you're going to need to. The spaceman has a suit, and we need him to use it.

And so are they released from their stasis. Their Radiant AI, which consists of staring at walls, suggests that they've adapted to the new immersive, wondrous world around them successfully.

Unfortunately, the spaceman is the only one that didn't survive it, so that means we have to walk around in his suit later on.

Anyway, let's meet our new crew.

I'm not going to translate it, but apparently some F3 fanboy done it already, and Toshiro lost his sword, the most important thing to him, on this ship. He also grieves on the fact that he can't communicate with us. Yes, it's apparently genuine Japanese. Yes, the sword is the "secret" here to force the player to take his sweet fucking time exploring this turd. Apparently there are also things like overcoat of our BRO General Constantine Chase from Operation: Anchorage DLC. I'm sure you couldn't have forgotten such a memorable character. No, I won't be looking for those secrets, but I found the notes about some prototype plasma weapon from before the War that tells us some conspiracy shit on the Enclave or whatever.

Yes, everything here is a lore rape.

After passing a speech check, Paulson reveals to us some terrible secrets from his past.

This guy was on the front lines during the Anchorage Reclamation and was kidnapped with the rest of his squad. We agree to help him to find them.

He can also make us some Adapted Biogel that lacks the unpredictable side-effects of the original version. Mysteries.

I guess you'd better take his suit. You're going to have to go if he can't. But first you have to get to the door to the outside.

They'll be waiting for you, but you can suck out all the air in part of the ship so they won't get in your way.

They have these generator things that power parts of he ship and make sure it has air. You'll have to turn some of them off.

There's one in the Cryo Lab, one in the Hangar Bay and one where they make the robots... the Robot Assembly area.

Once they're all broken, you can get through that door to the outside.

We can't really take him anywhere else. Same goes with Paulson and Somah and the other two areas. Besides, he wants to see his squad there.

END OF UPDATE #2.

 

[lightbane]

I wouldn't be surprised if this turd was the inspiration for the infamous "awesome button"...

Why the hell does that little girl know so much about that damned alien ship??

 

[Brother None]

Man Sally being a walking exposition tool is fucking ridiculously stupid and badly implemented.

GeeZee you are an true hero, don't give up!

 

[sea]

HOW DOES SHE KNOW THIS

HOW OFTEN DOES SHE SEE INJURED ALIENS

WHY DOES SHE KNOW THESE ARCHES "HEAL" THEM

WHAT IS "HEALING" IN THIS CONTEXT

WHY DOES SHE TALK LIKE SHE IS IN A VIDEOGAME

RARGHGHGGH

In fact, I like how all the characters are completely inept and unsure of themselves. "Oh, uh, I guess I could revive those frozen people, or something." Or something? What the fuck else, Sherlock?

 

[abnaxus]

The most rage inducing is that the samurai turns out to be using ninja tactics against the aliens.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Thanks for reminding me why to not replay F3... Some people told me Broken Steel was worth it... Libruls.

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

The most rage inducing is that the samurai turns out to be using ninja tactics against the aliens.

JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE

 

[PlanHex]

I CAN'T SEE IT YET

 

[metzger]

where's the goddamn update, man
seriously

 

[Manjuice Nutella]

UPDATE #4 OUT OF 4. That's the final update, in which I'll wrap Mothership Zeta up. Enjoy.

Spoiler

Aight, we're in the Cryo Labs with that guy from Anchorage. We promised him to release his apparently frozen team from cryostasis, because it was either this dialogue option or some retarded opposite choice of being some inane dick that BioWare would percieve as very evil.

So we might as well help those fucktards.

Turns out there are much more abductees on that ship.

Only raiders, feral ghouls and super mutants there to release. Don't know why you'd do that. No secret loot afaik, or any reward whatsoever, you can just release them and kill them. THAT'S IT.

Yeah, otherwise we would get evil karma for killing them. Because they are really fucking innocent. Bethtards

There's got to be a way to revive them with their memories intact so they won't attack us on sight.

I think I may be able to use this medical equipment to bring them out of stasis properly.

How long can they last if you revive them?

I don't know for certain. I can get them on their feet and moving for maybe a few minutes at best.

HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW TH--

There's no way for me to tell what the aliens have already subjected them to. I can't understand these readouts. Their pain could be horrible.

Not as much as mine is, I believe.

This technology is out of my league so I'm just going to have to improvise. It's the best I can do.

Revive them and let them fight with us.

I'm going to need to watch their vitals carefully as I use the medical console to pump them full of the correct fluids and bring them back.

Don't know why you would do that.

<takes deep breath>

And we're out.

He's limping, btw. Apparently, he's not essential, but I believe his death isn't of any consequence.

After that, he can make us some Cryo Grenades and Mines you can use against the enemies. Don't know why you would do that when there's the god mode to dull the pain.

In case Bethtards got lost in the majesticness.

I thought I'd look for that General Chase Overcoat in the Storage, which is a side area, but I didn't find it.

Garbage is constantly falling down this whole. Yeah, that's Yao Guai. There are also Brahmins falling down. Because it's very funny.

<takes deep breath>

Some deep insight from the team members:

FUCK YOU.

For the next few minutes, we gotta press those buttons to blow incoming Alien attacks like a pinball.

That was... something.

Some deep insight regarding Toshiro Kago:

All we got to do is push three of those.

Apparently, they activated the Death Ray to blow up the Earth in retaliation. We pissed them off.

That's what we released by blowing up the local generator:

Human + Alien = Feral Ghoul reskin Abomination. In the meanwhile, my karma dropped to neutral, because I killed the poor, unarmed aliens that were doing that all along.

We also get to listen the recordings that shed some light and provide some insight on the horrific experiments that happened here.

That's the Death Ray control center. In order to disable it, we've got to blow not one, not two, but FOUR GENERATORS! How cool is that?

But it wouldn't be Fallout 3 without some awesome explosions, now would it? Let us test the inconceivable power of the DEATH R--

We had to blow it up anyway. Now, let us finish this once an for all

...

Blaaaaaaghhh!!!

...


.......


.................

Now, the final showdown.

As we can see, we can kill the final boss with three bullets.

BUT WHAT THE-

COULD THIS BE THE END OF CAPTAIN COSMOS AND HIS FRIENDS???

We have to distribute the powah to Zeta's shields when we're about to get hit and then into the weapon systems to attack the enemy ship-

-DIDN'T WE JUST BLOW UP THE DEATH RAY A WHILE AGO?!?? HOW DOES THIS WORK?!??! ANYONE?

Sigh...

...

.......

At this point, I can't even describe the majesticness.

Now, the feedback:

Yeah, we sort of accidentally something of some kind to conveniently return to the base game. Great job Bethesduh.

Great job indeed. But was it really worth it? The victory is satisfying, true, particularly the part where we one-shotted the final boss... and yet, I cannot bring myself to fully appreciate the majesticness of this wonderful adventure when confronted with personal tragedies around me, as the end is quite bittersweet:

Truly worthy of such mature setting like this.

But let us not worry about petty things! For it is the time for happiness and joy! We completed the Mothership Zeta! We deserve a Medal of Honor for such a feat, really.

At this point, I don't know what to make of the video game industry. We're not talking about some niche abomination like Limbo of the Lost, it's AAA title that was done by "professionals" and scores perfect 10s around the world. Where's this all going to? Will it be forgotten over the years, or will it be recognized as an undisputable classic and the milestone in this industry?

Discuss. Thanks for reading! And sorry for the delays, but it wasn't as enjoyable for me as I thought it would be when I began with Operation: Anchorage a few pages back. I know that's not really an excuse, but I hope you'll understand.

Comments are much appreciated, as always.

 

[lightbane]

I wanted to comment about the whole stupidity of this game, but then I took a plasma beam to the knee and I forgot it