Luck has not been with "Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel" from the beginning, but as you'll observe on tonight's "X-Play," every dog -- and postapocalyptic action RPG -- has its day.

Numerous setbacks -- including lawsuits, the closing of development houses, and the official cancellation of the series that inspired the game -- have plagued the production of this title, one of the last surviving vestiges of Interplay's formerly mighty Black Isle Studios division.

Now the product finally ships, albeit to great scrutiny from a chagrined public. For our part, despite repetitive quests and save-game annoyances, we enjoyed bashing the mutant denizens of this brave and ugly new world.

You dropped the bomb on me

Every threat publicized during the 1950s has come to pass: America is the victim of a nuclear holocaust, cities smolder, parched wastelands appear where there was once verdant farmland, and vicious gangs control the nation's boundaries. Worse, an army of murderous mutants ravages Earth's scant population, turning helpless survivors into hideous freaks. From the chaos arises the Brotherhood of Steel, a band of retro-futuristic knights so tough they make Mad Max look like Marsha Brady.

You can select one of three unlikely heroes at the outset. You're given a choice between hulking badass Cyrus, rough 'n' tumble chick Nadia, or Cain, a genetically altered weirdo clad in a freakish mask. Each has different talents, and all possess basic skills, including the ability to jump, duck under steam pipes or laser beams, and charge up special attacks. No matter whom you opt for -- you can assume the role of only one protagonist -- the stage is quickly set for a sprawling adventure that's played from a comfortable overhead perspective.

Keep it simple, stupid

"Brotherhood of Steel" breaks from role-playing tradition in several ways. Apart from jumping challenges and real-time battles, ranged combat is much more pronounced than it would be in a fantasy setting. You'll also run into rampant cursing and adult subject matter. We can't think of any other game that lets you tell unsavory characters to go <censored> themselves. Rampant brushes with gore make for a surprisingly dark quest. The game frequently uses mutilated corpses and exploding enemies for atmospheric effect.

But the game's most distinguishing feature is its simplicity. Although you can collect piecemeal armor or makeshift weaponry at leisure, keeping track of their statistical worth isn't as much of a concern as it is in similar games. Straightforward indicators tell you how much damage a double-barreled shotgun does, how much damage a riot helmet deflects, and whether the item in question is currently accessible. An on-screen health meter and ammo tally also minimize frustration, as does an intuitive menu system where you can see your inventory, skill set, and quest log. At all times, you can even access radar, which indicates points of interest on the current playing field.

What goes up, must come down

Your journey starts out promisingly in the town of Carbon, but it rapidly runs into a few snags. Much as you'll love seeing the kickback effects from emptying a homemade rifle into mutant warriors' bellies or mauling giant scorpion bosses with massive sledgehammers, melee is extremely repetitive. Unfortunately, it's the aspect of play most emphasized in the mission design.

Too many essential tasks and optional subquests degenerate into button-mashing brawls where you simply hunt for a creature or object. Such failings become even more painful when you're forced to backtrack through multilevel complexes, scouring for the item or individual you missed. Nothing pisses off a player quite like being given the mandatory task of killing 25 raiders and then looking for the last one for 15 minutes, only to find him hiding in a corner somewhere.

Poor save point choices are also common. Recorder kiosks often demand you endure more loading times immediately after you load a saved game. Whoever thought of this should be shot. Important objects that blend into dimly lit backgrounds, far too many scripted encounters, and grating sound effects present considerable hang-ups too.

We can be happy underground

Warts aside, "Brotherhood of Steel" is entertaining. When you play it in bite-size sessions, you'll appreciate wading into a sea of overgrown beetles or phosphorescent foes, spiked baseball bat swinging. Despite a few design shortfalls, the gameplay succeeds admirably, as does its presentation. Casual enthusiasts will be stoked, even if legions of loyal "Fallout" fans are left in the cold. But why is a previously PC-specific franchise receiving a console-only send-off? Maybe its designers worked with radiation for too long.

"Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel" (Xbox)