I didn't like Fallout 3 as much as I should have, it didn't feel like enough with just a few towns and gatherings of people. I also didn't like how little of a main story there was and how fast it escalated in challenge. You basically would have to go from Megaton to D.C. within three levels. It's very hard to take down a Behemoth with a Hunting rifle. There also wasn't enough guns. When compared to Bethesda's other games at the time, like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion I was a little disappointed.
I did like the tutorial and the first bit of the game that took place in the Vault but if you're one of those people who rush the campaign, you're going to have a bad time. If you don't go straight to side quests the moment you leave Megaton (Whether it be a crater or not) you are going to be ill-prepared and going to be eaten by Brahmin.
I find New Vegas very good, although they made stealing a very easy thing to do. As in Fallout 3. In New Vegas I always start with Repair, Science, and Lockpicking as my three tagged skills. It allows you to get the 9MM SMG at the doctors house, open the safe in the Saloon using Science, and the safe in the School with Lockpicking. I feel that these are the most important as they will allow you to get more resources that you can use to kill people.
I liked how the campaign was made, a lot longer, without being daunting. Although, they have yet to make a campaign that gets out of the lacking of campaign that occurs in nearly every RPG game. There were a lot more guns then I expected, and I also got Gun Runners Arsenal, which nearly doubled that. The problem with the guns that came with this though is their price. In the Fallout universe, there are a set number of caps in it, scattered around the map. Each gun costs way too much and it seems like you have to find every single cap if you want to get one. What's worse, you have to buy them from the Gun Runner Robot, who is encased in a building so you can't kill him and get you're caps back or more weapons. This is crucial in Fallout and I feel that they just squashed the feeling down a drainpipe.
I agree with what your saying, the games escalate in difficulty way to fast, and as you said there just isnt enough settlements and people in the game, especially in Fallout 3. But they are very good games, im excited to see if there is another sequel in the making!
