Gauss Rifle

Lore & Background

The Gauss Rifle exists strictly within the context of a pre-war virtual reality simulation designed to prepare American soldiers for live combat against Chinese forces. This simulation depicts the liberation of Anchorage during early 2077, where the United States successfully drove out occupying troops prior to their own counter-invasion of mainland China. The narrative framework involves the Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts, who operate from a bunker beneath Bailey's Crossroads and require access to a special code held within this simulation to unlock an armory containing advanced technology. To retrieve this code, a detachment recruits the Lone Wanderer via a distress signal, asking them to navigate the virtual world. Inside, the player engages in various combat scenarios, including clearing cliffside bunkers and raiding enemy stations. The simulation environment itself dictates how these weapons function; unlike the main game, health and ammunition are replenished by supply stations located in specific areas. Furthermore, items do not suffer from decay, allowing powerful tools like the Gauss rifle to remain in peak condition throughout the mission.

In Their Own Story

The Lone Wanderer enters the Anchorage simulation after being drawn by a distress signal from the Outcasts, who are fighting off attacking super mutants outside the bunker entrance. Upon entering the virtual world, the player is immediately stripped of their personal gear and forced to utilize provided replacements to fight Chinese forces. The mission requires disrupting a massive forcefield before advancing on the enemy base to defeat General Jingwei in single combat. Once the simulation concludes and the code is secured, the Lone Wanderer gains access to the armory. Upon claiming their reward, an argument erupts between Protector McGraw and Defender Sibley. Sibley revolts against McGraw for sharing the equipment with the player, leading to a conflict where the player must choose to fight alongside McGraw and Specialist Olin or leave them to die at the hands of Sibley's rebels. Regardless of the choice made, the revolting Outcasts must be killed or evaded, marking the end of the simulation and the acquisition of the advanced technology found within.

Reader's Guide

Players seeking the Gauss rifle must complete the Operation: Anchorage downloadable content, which was initially released on Xbox Live and Games for Windows in North America and Europe. While a PlayStation 3 release was scheduled for June 2009, it faced delays due to bug fixes and compatibility testing before finally launching on October 1, 2009, alongside The Pitt. Inside the simulation, players should note that ammo is replenished at supply stations found in certain areas of the world. Reviewers noted that this expansion focuses heavily on action gameplay rather than the varied mechanics of the main game. Despite this shift, the Gauss rifle was highlighted as a standout feature. Critics like Phil Soletsky of Game Over criticized the story for not involving massive battalions, but Brudvig's praise suggests the weapon's performance compensates for narrative shortcomings. Players should be aware that enemy corpses disappear in this simulation, preventing looting, which makes the provided ammunition and weapons critical for survival.

Did You Know?

• The Gauss Rifle was specifically praised by IGN's Erik Brudvig as "freakin' awesome" upon the release of Operation: Anchorage.
• In the Operation: Anchorage simulation, enemy corpses disappear after being killed, meaning players cannot loot them for supplies.
• Operation: Anchorage was released on October 1, 2009, for the PlayStation 3, following a delay from its original June 2009 schedule.
• The Gauss Rifle is found within a virtual reality simulation depicting the Sino-American War in 2077, not in the open world of Fallout 3.
• Unlike the main game, items in the Operation: Anchorage simulation do not suffer from decay.