Refreshing and different for the Fallout franchise, but remains true to its roots.
Many people, as stated above, may have never heard of this game, nor seen it on store shelves. It was one of those games that was released amidst a plethora of other highly anticipated games, and it was sadly shrouded and overlooked. It's unfortunate too, because Fallout Tactics is a gem of a game, and there just isn't anything quite like it.
For starters, Tactics is very reminiscent of games like Commandos and Jagged Alliance. It's not quite as complex and involved as games like Baulder's Gate, but looks very similar in terms of interface. It is a squad-based, Fallout-themed, tactical strategy game. If you've ever played Commandos, as I mentioned above, you will have a very good idea of what to expect from Tactics.
Whatever it is, or was, that attracted you to Fallout 1 and 2 all those years ago, I guarantee Tactics has it. It's got the blood, guts, and gore. It's got the horridly offensive language, sex, drugs, and ridiculous over-the-top violence. When you shoot an enemy with a shotgun at point blank, he will literally explode in to a gory satisfying mess of blood and chunks of flesh. The bad guys will repeatedly taunt your characters with nasty language and death threats. Every naughty word you could possibly think of is used frequently in Tactics. Not to mention R. Lee Ermy (the drill sergeant from the movie Full Metal Jacket) is your commanding officer and narrator/quest-giver.
I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a lot of maturity in my games. I love the gore, the sexual themes, and the naughty language. It is simply my taste. Fallout Tactics delivers, trust me. You will get it all. It has proudly earned its "M" rating, and wears it with pride.
Oh yes, back to the review. I went a tad off track there. For anybody that has played Fallout 1 and 2, Tactics will be familiar in content and story, but slightly different in gameplay. All of the weapons, style, flare, items, skills, perks, pip-boy, and atmosphere from previous games are very present in Tactics. The difference is essentially the gameplay.
I can't really put into words how the game plays, but if you've ever played Commandos, Baulder's Gate, Icewind Dale, or Jagged Alliance, you'll have a relatively basic idea of what to expect. Of course I only use Baulder's Gate as an example of interface, and not play. Tactics is in no way an RPG and certainly not as complex and in-depth as Baulder's Gate.
But if you liked Fallout 1 and 2, and are still unsure about Fallout 3, give Tactics a try. It's hard not to like. It may be a step away from the conventional formula, but it's truly a unique and worthy addition to the Fallout universe.
I know for myself, personally, I was extremely skeptical of Fallout 3. It may have received an excellent rating, has pretty graphics, and is wildly innovative and different, but sometimes I just want more of the same. And Fallout 3 just isn't impressing me.
But for those of you who enjoy the old-school tried-and-true, Tactics will deliver, I guarantee.
Enjoy it. It is a superb game. You'll be hooked for hours and hours... and hours. There are a few MINOR graphical glitches however. From time to time, the blood and guts of the corpses of enemies you've killed will flicker and disappear/reappear. But honestly, who cares? It is such a minor issue, and not worth downgrading the game for.
Conclusively, if you are a classic Fallout fan, Tactics is a great step for the series. It keeps much, much closer to it's roots than Fallout 3. So if you're looking for more Fallout, but are not sure about Fallout 3, give Tactics a try!