Also, when I was asking a while back about if I would like the Ace Combat games, I was hoping I might get a recommendation for the best possible starting point for someone like myself who has really never played a good air combat sim. Which AC would be a good start?
The gameplay is more linear in that regard, yes, but it's a hell of a lot more atmospheric and you have more variety in approach and environment than Fallout's underground. Sometimes you're facing spider infestations, sometimes you're wandering through the remains of a ramshackle village, and then sometimes there's absolutely nothing. The overworld just isn't as relevant to the narrative; it's no longer a place for humanity. It's now someplace strange and alien, and it shows the few times you do go up.
How does Metro work to be enjoyable gameplay if it’s set underground in a subway system? Wouldn’t that be like just navigating the every single enclosed space in Fallout without ever being able to explore the overworld?
I mean, they can't hurt. FO3 is a bit of a slog but I still had fun, and the Fallout universe is always worth a dive into. And honestly, even if I have to grasp for things to say about it, I've always loved and enjoyed Oblivion.
Of course, if you're looking for something similar in tone to Fallout but played deathly straight, both Metro games are on sale. And when it comes to post-apocalyptic survival horror, they're some of the best there is.