Fallout 2
Developers | |
---|---|
Black Isle Studios | |
macOS (OS X) | The Omni Group |
Publishers | |
Interplay Entertainment | |
OS X | MacPlay |
Digital, post-2015 | Bethesda Softworks |
Engines | |
Fallout Engine | |
Release dates | |
Windows | October 29, 1998 |
macOS (OS X) | August 24, 2002 |
Reception | |
Metacritic | 86 |
Taxonomy | |
Series | Fallout |
Fallout | |
---|---|
Fallout | 1997 |
Fallout 2 | 1998 |
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | 2001 |
Fallout 3 | 2008 |
Fallout: New Vegas | 2010 |
Fallout 4 | 2015 |
Fallout Shelter | 2016 |
Fallout 4 VR | 2017 |
Fallout 76 | 2018 |
Warnings
- The Mac OS X version of this game does not work on Mac OS X Lion (version 10.7) or later due to the removal of support for PowerPC apps.
Key points
- The game has two major fan-made patches and it is highly recommended to install one of them (but NOT both). The Unofficial Fallout 2 Patch fixes large number of bugs remaining in the game even after official patches. Fallout 2 Restoration Project combines these fixes with major modifications and additions and is closer to mod than patch.
- The majority of veterans recommend Restoration Project only after playing through the vanilla game at least once, so the unofficial patch may be a better choice for beginners.
- The European version of the game is censored, while the digital version is censored in some region.
General information
- The Vault - A huge wiki for the series
- No Mutants Allowed - General Fallout Discussion
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | US - Uncensored, EU - Censored. | |||
Amazon.com | ||||
Bethesda.net | ||||
GamersGate | ||||
GOG.com | Censored. Previous Interplay-published version supported OS X as well. Comes configured with the Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch and sfall. | |||
Green Man Gaming | ||||
Humble Store | ||||
Microsoft Store | Included with Xbox Game Pass for PC. | |||
Steam | Censored. Same features as GOG version. |
- Fallout Classic Collection includes Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel.
- The digital release of the Mac version is actually a DOS version which uses DOSBox in order to play it, though the retail version was a true native port.
Essential improvements
Patches
- Patch v1.02 updates the game to the latest version.
- Children Patch removes censorship from European and digital versions of the game.
Other Patches
- Unofficial Fallout 2 patch fixes over 1000 bugs with the game past the last official 1.02 patch.[1]
Fallout 2 Restoration Project 2.3.3 (Unofficial Expansion)
An expansion patch that's aim at lost content originally planned for Fallout 2 (ie dialogue, NPCs, locations, etc).
- Contains:
- A large amount of restored content.
- Unofficial Fallout 2 patch.
- Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch.
- Be careful with the full install of this package. The ammo mods change combat engine damage calculations and can increase the combat difficulty unreasonably.
- Vault-Tec Labs Wiki - additional installation information.
Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch
A utility/patch that modifies the game in memory to add support for windowed mode, higher resolutions, and various other enhancements.
- Included with the GOG.com and Steam releases.
Further details can be found in the official thread.
Peixoto's patch
An fan-mades patch that aims at fixing bugs, modern compatibility and QOL features.
- Allows nearest neighbor or xBRz scaling.
- Supports the original DirectDraw renderer, as well as the DirectDraw, DirectDraw 7 and Direct3D 9 renderers of the HD patch.
Fallout Et Tu
A Fallout to Fallout 2 engine conversion that utilizing Fallout 2's features into Fallout 1.
- Port of Fallout 1 into Fallout 2 that can be played from start to finish.
- Requires an installation of Fallout 2 and Fallout 1's MASTER.DAT.
- Patches lots of bugs, has all the quality of life of Fallout 2 and associated Sfall version as well as the FO2 hi-res patch.
- Has optional INI tweaks, including a motorcycle similar to the Highwayman, restoration of invasion timers, and more.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\[Note 1] |
macOS (OS X) | |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/38410/pfx/[Note 2] |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\data\SAVEGAME[Note 1] |
macOS (OS X) | ~/Library/Application Support/Fallout 2/saves/ ~/Library/Application Support/GOG.com/Fallout 2/saves/ |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/38410/pfx/[Note 2] |
- Save games can be transferred between Windows and OS X installations of the game.
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
GOG Galaxy | ||
Steam Cloud | Syncs up to 953.67 MB of game data (maximum 1000 files). | |
Xbox Cloud |
Video
Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | Use Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch. Pre-installed with GOG.com and Steam. | ||
Multi-monitor | |||
Ultra-widescreen | |||
4K Ultra HD | Use Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch. UI does not scale with resolution and is extremely small in 4K. Pre-installed with GOG.com and Steam. | ||
Field of view (FOV) | |||
Windowed | Use Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch or see Windowed. | ||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | |||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | |||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | To minimize screen tearing, disable fullscreen optimizations on the executable of the game. | ||
60 FPS and 120+ FPS | Locked at a low frame rate. Mouse movement not clamped to engine frame rate. | ||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Windowed
Edit config file[citation needed] |
---|
|
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | |
Mouse acceleration | ||
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | ||
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support |
Controller types |
---|
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | ||
Surround sound | ||
Subtitles | ||
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Italian | Check here for the retail and GOG.com versions, and here for the Steam release. | |||
Polish | Local retail version only. For digital releases use this patch. | |||
Russian | Local retail version only. By 1C-Softclub | |||
Russian | Unofficial localization by «Левая корпорация» and «Fargus Multimedia» |
Issues fixed
Color Fixes For Older Games
- See Rainbow color problems in older games for other solutions.
ddraw.ini mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Install the High Resolution Patch[citation needed] |
---|
Install the Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch. |
Error Initializing Video Mode 640x480
Custom Resolution[2] |
---|
|
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 | Requires the Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch or sfall. |
DirectDraw | 3.0a, 7 | DirectDraw 7 support requires the Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch. |
OpenGL | OS X only. |
Executable | PPC | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | ||||
macOS (OS X) |
Utilities
sfall
An engine modifications for Fallout 2, allowing the base game to run correctly on modern operating systems.
- Use D3D9 for rendering for a much improved compatibility with newer systems. Also allow to bind mouse wheel.
- Adds additional features for modders.
- Included with the GOG.com and Steam releases.
- GOG.com and Steam versions uses outdated build.
- Vault-Tec Labs Wiki - additional information can be found here.
Fallout 2 Save Editor
An simple save editor for Fallout 2.
- Also known as F2se.zip.
- Compatible with mods.[3]
Falche2
A character editor for Fallout 2.
- Also known as Fallout 2 Character Editor v2.10.
- Can edit your character stats, perks, skills and more.
- Not compatible with Fallout 2 Restoration Project 2.1.2b (Unofficial Expansion).
Mods
MIB88 Megamod
An mod pack that add new content and other enhancements.
- Use other mods and fan patches. Available in both English and Russian.
- Add new locations and additional enhancements, including those from other mods and patches.
Restoration Project Extensions/Standalone
These mods can also worked with the Restoration Project mod, although some can also worked on the base game as well.
Extensions
- EcCo - an gameplay overhaul for Restoration Project.
- Gangster Armor - add a gangster-styles armor for Restoration Project.
- Francis Dialogue Fix - Fixes the dialogue for Francis.
- Condensed Temple of Trials (Restoration Project) - add a new map for Fallout 2.
Standalone
- Weapons Redone - an gameplay overhaul that balance combats and weapons usage.
- Vintage Firearms - Replaces most of the weapons with real-world vintage firearms.
- Compatibility requires skipping the install of included
item.lst
file inside \Data\Proto, use Restoration Project's version instead.
- Home Sweet Home - add a new location on New Reno.
- Condensed Temple of Trials (Vanilla) - add a new map for Fallout 2.
System requirements
Steam
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | ||
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium 90 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 16 MB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 565 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | SVGA | |
Sound (audio device) | DirectSound or SoundBlaster Compatible |
Disc Version
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | 95, 98, NT | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium 90 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 16 MB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 600 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | DirectX 3.0a compatible |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
,%PROGRAMDATA%
, or%WINDIR%
might be redirected to%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details). - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
- File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
- Games with Steam Cloud support may also store data in
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/38410/
. - Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
- The app ID (38410) may differ in some cases.
- Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
- See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.