Bethesda certainly knows how to extend the life of their games be it riding your armor-clad horse in the forests of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and now the radiated wasteland of Washington, D.C. in Fallout 3. With two add-on missions already available, Operation Anchorage being the first and The Pitt being the second, Bethesda releases the third with Broken Steel for the Xbox 360.

While Operation Anchorage was a bit of a letdown, it was The Pitt that was a genuinely worthwhile and fun add-on with much to offer. Both also offered new weapons (the Gauss Rifle and Auto Axe) as well as new armor (Chinese Stealth armor) but it is Broken Steel that adds a number of extras as well as a new set of Achievements all for 800 Microsoft Points. Interestingly enough, Broken Steel feels more like an epilogue or extended ending to the main game. As such, this review will spoil the ending for those who haven’t finished the game.

In other words, if you didn’t finish the game, I suggest you look away now.

**SPOILER ALERT**

I should get one thing out of the way first, though. While you can install the download even if you didn’t finish the final mission, Broken Steel’s new missions won’t appear until you do complete the game.

For those who have finished the game, you probably already know that Project Purity was a success in some way or another whether you decided to go the good route or the evil route where you spike the water supply to kill every mutated freak around. Either way, the water is finally clean but now there is the question of distributing the water to places throughout the Capital Wasteland.

After the choice you make in the end of the game, you wake up two weeks later with reports that the tidal basin is filling with the clean water your mother dreamed about and your father helped carry out in the game. It’s rather an awkward start to this adventure but you’ll soon know the impact of your decision from the characters you meet. What you’ll also find is that the Brotherhood of Steel is about to launch their last assault in an effort to wipe out the remains of the Enclave once and for all. Joining the Brotherhood, you will take part in a number of missions (and side quests) that will lead to a surprising ending.

One of the first things you’ll notice right away after starting up Broken Steel is the fact that the level cap has increased from 20 to 30. This also means that you’ll not only be gaining more levels beyond 20 but also new Level Perks. Some of the Perks are actually catered to your good or evil karma while others do something as cool as making sure you’ll always have a trusty dog with you if you ever lose Dogmeat (it‘s called Puppies!). Another Perk, called Nuclear Anomaly, where you basically erupt like a human nuclear bomb whenever your health reaches 20 or less.

The missions are actually quite entertaining as you join the Brotherhood and carry out missions that will help them secure various outposts and familiar locations within the Capitol Wasteland. Unlike Anchorage or The Pitt, you won’t be going off the map on this one but rather carryout out the missions in familiar locales as well as new ones. Adams Air Force Base, for instance, is an interesting locale with the Vertibirds aircrafts.

Luckily, you’ll have the benefit of the Brotherhood armaments as well as the return of Liberty Prime … it’s good to see the big guy again as he tramples and blasts its way around the “commie” hordes. Speaking of armaments, there’s the new Tesla Canon you’ll be able to make and use in the game and it just so happens to be one of the more powerful weapons in the game to date. With the ability to blow Vertibirds and those annoying gun turrets with a single electrifying blast, you can just imagine what it can do to a human enemy or one of the newer enemies.

Oh yeah, there are new enemies to face in the game that includes the more dangerous Super Mutant Overlord or the more vicious Ghoul Reaver. Even the Enclave’s troops have new members among their ranks such as the Enclave Hellfire Trooper that carries around other cool weapons. The Heavy Incinerator will, no doubt, be a new favorite as well.

The main quest line can be finished in about six hours or so but the real treat comes in the form of the final missions that will lead to a promising ending. If you were greatly disappointed by the ending of the game, Broken Steel promises a rewarding ending.

Fallout 3: Broken Steel is the best add-on Fallout 3 fans have been waiting for and it will not disappoint in the very least. Yes, the new weapons and armor are great and the new level cap is just what we need but it’s the missions and side quests that make this so worth the 800 Microsoft points. If you thought The Pitt was a good excuse to go back into the wastes then Broken Steel is the reason you’ll happily stay a little longer.

Gameplay: 8.0
Broken Steel is good news for those who didn’t want Fallout 3 to end or weren’t satisfied with the ending. Either way, you’ll have a great time aiding (or disrupting) the Brotherhood’s final assault to wipe out the remains of the Enclave. Add some great new weapon and armor as well as fun side quests and you have a fitting end to an amazing game. 

Graphics: 9.0
There are times when you’ll just want to sit back and watch the Brotherhood and Enclave forces battle it out in this download. While Broken Steel takes places in the Capital Wasteland setting, it’s great to see new life in familiar places.

Sound: 9.2
Nothing has changed much in the sound department unless you count the sounds of the new weapons.

Difficulty: Medium
The Super Mutants are definitely more dangerous now and even those pesky raiders will be able to prove challenging in Broken Steel. The missions will certainly keep you on your toes so you’ll be glad the new weapons pack a powerful punch.

Concept: 9.0
Yet another reason to head back to the Capital Wasteland, this download extends the ending and does it well. The added missions and side quests are actually fun but very short and there are moral choices to make. The new Tesla Canon and Heavy Incinerator are some much better than Gauss Rifle. Oh, and Liberty Prime is back and still just as awesome.

Overall: 8.8
As far as add-ons are concerned, Broken Steel is by far the best one to come along for Fallout 3 since The Pitt. Feeling more like an extension of the main quest rather than a standalone side quest, the battle to eradicate the Enclave once and for all is just the right ticket for Fallout 3 fans.