Fallout 3 – The Pitt

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios | Publisher: Bethesda Softworks | Release Date: 2010 | Genre: RPG / DLC | Website: N/A | Purchase: Steam

The first Fallout 3 DLC, “Operation: Anchorage” was interesting from a lore perspective, but somewhat lacking in all the things that make the base game so great. Thankfully it appears that this second offering is more in line with what Fallout 3 players want from a DLC. You are once again lured to your destination by a distress signal on the radio, but this time you encounter a runaway slave pleading with you to save his people.

Once you have organized a slave disguise for yourself it is off to the former city of Pittsburgh, now affectionately known as the Pitt. Enter the city disguised as a slave means that you are once again stripped of all your belongings, but this enhances the experience and ensures that things don’t become a walk in the park. Some of my favorite moments in this DLC involve creeping around with a flimsy slave outfit while being stalked by Trogs, the only new enemy that you will encounter in the Pitt. These foes were once human, but succumbed to the radiation and disease of the Pitt which caused them to transform into feral animals. You will also face wildmen and slavers, but the Troggs are the only new enemies that really look unique.

The Pitt is quite a gloomy place, filled with so much smoke and pollution that it makes the wasteland look cheerful in comparison. The place is filled with slaves living in squalor and doing all the dirty work while the slavers lord over them. There is also an impressive scrap yard area with towering vertical spaces offering some of the most spectacular views in the game. Your time in the Pitt is spent blending in with the slaves while working towards getting close to the leader of the slavers who apparently has a cure for the ailments that are striking down the workers. Along the way you will have to engage in some gladiatorial combat for the amusement of the slavers as well as scavenge steel ingots to unlock some cool new gear. The storyline is more engaging and actually has moral choices, unlike Operation: Anchorage but the ending is a bit abrupt and can force players down a path that they did not want if they are not careful about choosing.

I must admit that I enjoyed this DLC a lot more than the first one and Bethesda absolutely nailed the atmosphere. I actually jumped a few times when some Troggs managed to sneak up on me as I was busy clambering around the towering structures. The gruesome new auto axe weapon will also become a firm favorite of melee players and is definitely worth a trip to the Pitt. The DLC kept me hooked until I unlocked all the new achievements and perks so hopefully Bethesda can maintain this high standard for future DLC.

*Review originally published 2010.