VATS

One of the most important aspects of Fallout 3 is the aiming and targeting method used. Instead of just pointing and shooting like in most video games, my character in Fallout 3 uses the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (VATS) in order to get the best hits on a target. The VATS allows works with all types of weapons, from baseball bats to mini-thermal-nuclear-missile luanchers, and is one of the most unique and fun parts of playing through the game.

The VATS allows for more accuracy when using any type of weapon. Activating the VATS will bring up an interface, showing the potential targets in the area and their most vulnerable parts. The VATS will also show you the probability that you will hit the particular body part of the target. You can choose to shoot to kill, a headshot, which is less accurate or you can aim to maim by shooting your target in the leg. This will bring up an interface that looks like this:

As you can see, the best option would not be to hit the heavily armored torso, despite its 95% hit chance, or his head, which offers a 35% chance, but his right arm, which wields a weapon. A shot from a powerful gun will likely disarm him.

The VATS also makes Fallout 3 more fun for the teenaged boy in all of us, by showing a slow motion animation of the bullet hitting the target, which may result in something like this:

Victim of Vault technology

The VATS is also practical from a game design perspective because of how having to worry less about shooting accuracy will allow gamers to focus more on the more immersive parts of gameplay, such as map exploration, engaging with NPCs and item collecting. Simplifying the most fun part of the game makes the challenges that the other aspects bring more rewarding.