Ah, the wonderful world of post-apocalyptic America. It's a sight to behold, we can tell you. Everyone thinks they're Mad Max, two-headed cows roam the fields, and when the dust blasts across the trailer park communities, you can find everyone round at Armpit's place, the fat barkeeper.

But this is a lawless world of giant scorpions, mutants, and bad language. Only you, as a member of the Brotherhood Of Steel, can hope to keep any peace, so it's off into the desert with you to sort out those pesky foul-mouthed mutants.

Fallout is, at its heart, made up of four things. The first of these is Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. The second is Mad Max. The third is Rentokill, and the fourth is Bernard Manning, Blend all four elements in equal parts, simmer in radioactive goo for ten minutes, and what you're left with is a game that plays exactly as it sounds; an interesting if somewhat mutated RPG of sorts - with swearing.

Three characters are selectable from the outset, and the 'elf, warrior, healer' personas of the Baldur's Gate world are translated across faithfully. There's Cyrus the muscle-bulked potty-mouth, Nadia the nimble (yet weak of course) elf substitute, and Cain the healer who looks like he's been under the patio for six months. In fact, this is Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance in scruffy overalls, and if you're familiar with its bigger brother, you'll be well at home with Fallout.

The RPG elements are, like Dark Alliance, asides to an otherwise straightforward case of brutal slaughter. You stock up on credits, barter for goods, and go from a mildly amusing stick-waver to a one-man walking army with wires sticking from every orifice. In single-player mode there's something relentless about the gameplay, a kind of grinding death dealing against a wave of Alfree bots that attack from nowhere. It's a staggeringly ferocious post-apocalyptic Gauntlet.

Two-player is much the same - just wave upon wave of enemy, only with the added touch of inventory swapping. The longevity lasts as long as you can, although there are incentives to be had such as weapons upgrades and 'services' from certain ladies you encounter. In fact, Fallout has all the hallmarks of a wet Sunday afternoon game. You want to vent some anger because the football pitch is water-logged, you want to give your brain the day off, and you've got a mate coming over because his girlfriend's parents are round. Plug this in, forget about the world, and enjoy the massacre for as long as your attention span will allow it.

Power
It looks the business, but it's all a little too worn and weathered to break any new ground.

Style
If toxic trailer trash is your style, then we welcome you to the house of high fashion.

Immersion
Deeply immersive, though not by design. You just have to kill one.. last... bad... guy! Okay, one more.

Lifespan
Depends how well you juggle your inventory. If you're a whiz then kiss a weekend goodbye.

Summary
It's Dark Alliance in a breaker's yard. Dirty, violent, sometimes amusing, and just the right side of a pleasant distraction.

1. It's a futuristic Baldur's Gate!
2. Plenty of weapons
3. Indulgently violent

1. Endless slaughter
2. Gets dull
3. Looks a bit dated
4. Needless swearing