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While the first downloadable Fallout 3 expansion, Operation Anchorage, took players from the Capitol Wasteland to the frigid barrens of Alaska (albeit in a virtualized simulation) with big snowy peaks, blue skies and big outdoor areas, the second expansion, called The Pitt, returns to the dark and gloomy underbelly of Fallout's gritty storyline.
The Pitt revolves around a man named, Wernher, an escaped slave who promises valuable information to anyone who comes to his aid. The former city of Pittsburgh's overrun by Raiders who torture slaves, force them to smelt metal and collect it from irradiated areas. Harsh doesn't describe this new realm. Just getting over the bridge, with a sniper high above you, wild dogs and mines at every turn, is less of a welcome mat and more of a get out. Werhher claims that the man running The Pitt has found a cure for mutants, a cure that would prove invaluable to anyone.
Your task is to get into The Pitt and get that cure. Of course, you'll either have to trick your way in by dumping all your weapons before entering The Pitt's main gate, or if you choose to run and gun, you'll be stripped of all your weapons and tossed into the city as a slave.
Inside the city, you're introduced to a new weapon called the Auto Axe, created from the scraps of tools used by the slaves. The weapon comes in handy for chopping up The Pitt's newest mutated creatures, Trogs, who jump all over the place and have a nasty habit of sneaking up on you.
On Wernher's quest in the city, you find a woman named Midea who seems to be well connected to an effort to undermine the Raiders. Her goal is to get you to meet the city's mayor, Ashur, by entering The Arena. While we wished for a Thunderdrome-like battle, you'll fight three different bosses who don't pose much of a challenge. The reward? You get to meet Ashur.
After several conversations, you'll discover that Ashur's daughter Marie is the cure and you're faced with a moral dilemma: kidnap the baby and help Wernher or side with Ashur and kill Wernher. Choose to take Marie "for a walk" and Asher's snipers and other minions with very good shooting capabilities will make your escape very difficult.
Fans of Anchorage might have been spoiled by all the health and ammo reloads, whereas The Pitt returns to a healthy diet of Nuka Colas and stimpacks. While Anchorage presented bright vistas with blue skies and clouds, The Pitt's skies are dark with mountains replaced by industrial complexes. Shooters seem a little more accurate, most of the game is played inside buildings and crossing the bridge is the only fear you'll experience. There's an ingot gathering activity that helps you earn new items, but we much prefer combat.
For only 800 points, The Pitt provides a good 3-5 hours of extra playtime, a new weapon and several new achievements. Although it's something that Fallout 3 fans should experience, there's little to attract casual gamers.
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