I have Fallout 2, I'd like to try the orginal. Is it worth it?

yes

Absolutely. Many of the references in Fallout 2 will be explained. In a lot of ways Fallout 1 is better. It fits the setting and atmosphere more but, as it should be, the developers tweaked the engine after the first game so when it comes the NPC control, you have even less then in Fallout 2.

Is it as long and open-ended as Fallout 2?

F1 is half of F2: it is shorter, has less items, very few upgradeable ones, 80% of containers throughout the game is empty (in F2 it is about 40%), fewer joining NPCs, fewer quests...
It is not so bad, although. I played the sequel first, too, and I was a bit disappointed after playing original. I am glad I've played both games, but I am a bit disappointed.

You should play F1 if getting it is not a problem and you liked F2. But it is not worth much trouble. Consider playing FT:BOS.

I personally prefer fallout 1, I don't know why but I always get bored half-way through fallout 2 a problem I've never had with the first game.

p.s I agree with the new JR Jansen playing Fallout 1 will make you apprieciate the second one more as a lot of the fallout 2 easter eggs will be understood after playing the first game.

What particular easter eggs? Except Mil. Base.

Even if it is true that Fallout 1 have less NPC, items and places to explore, it has one of the most original plot set in the post nuclear war era. Fallout 1 is definately worth a try if you really want to immerse yourself in the story and not too fussy of these shortcomings. BTW, after playing Fallout 1&2, I still think Fallout 1 is a much better game.

Hello,
yes, indeed. F1 does better "fit the mood". It lacks some of the refinement of F2, yet it is close in quality. Fun, fun, fun.....

- Twilight

Let's see.
Shady sands aka NCR.
Vault 15's raiders, you see their predecessors so to speak.
The entire 'how mutants came to be' story, remember Marcus' dialogues.
Vault 13.
Tandi.
Why VC has so many waterchips.
The ghouls in Broken hills talking about Necropolis.
The 'Cafe of broken dreams' random encounter.
etc, etc.......

Vedran, i've played through half of the BOS but i find it too repetitive. Kill, loot, kill, loot...
I think Fallout 1 is about 12 bucks now, so i might give it a try.

Summa summarum:
Fallout 2 is better, but you should play Fallout 1 too, preferably before sequel. After that, BoS is worth seeing as an addition to Fallout world.
(De gustibus non est disputandum)

Every Fallout game is a masterpiece in its own right. Play 'em all.

Buy it. Period.

Well if you like cool graphics, stremaline action etc etc.. Don´t bother.

If you liked Fallout 2, yes definately.

Fallout 1 is as stunning as the first time you riooed open the box to Baldurs gate wondering if it would be another mod like game and almost stunned as your old Pentium 100 screamed out adventures to you ;)

Fallout 1 is more story driven then Fallout 2, more fealiing, better over all feel IMHO. You are fresh out of your little enclave into the wilderness, no money, you use bottlecaps and tires are the fashion of the Post Nuclear catwalk.

Alot of things in Fallout2 comes from here and frankly, the missions feels better since it relies more on a story then the 2:nd version. A bit outdated, but still a good game.

Fallout BROS is also a good game, but more of squad basics then anything else. If you liked Terror from the deep or UFO, enemy unknown.. You will like it. You can set it to turn based and relax. ;)

Hate to interrupt the lovefest, but I found Fallout to be a bore. Sure, the skills system and the worldview were interesting at first, but after you've seen one town, you've seen them all.

The same can be said of Fallout II.

I really like the fallout games. The only thing I didn't like is the fact that you have a time limit in Fallout 1. It's still a good game, but I would have enjoyed it more without the time limit.

The original Fallout is still one of my favorite CRPG's of all. I really liked the atmosphere, the humor, and the story. I loved the perk system and it was a blast to play my favorite character build, a sharpshooter with aimed shots and massive criticals. The highlights of the game for me was when I acquired the powered armor and the plasma rifle upgrade. I thought the end game was really unique in that you were the "hero" yet it didn't exactly end up all warm and fuzzy like most games.

As far as the criticism about the game world and the cities...how many CRPG's are much different in that respect? Are the developers supposed to make unique artwork for every city, even though they are all in the same approximate region? Also, this was supposed to be post-holocaust SW United States. How different really is LA from San Diego, especially after both cities had been nuked?