Fallout 2/Controls

A list of controls and menus in Fallout 2.

Main Screen
The screen is divided into two sections: the game view and the interface bar. The game view is the upper part of the screen where the action takes place. Your character and the NPCs inhabit this part of the screen. It is in the game view that you perform most of your actions: moving around, grabbing items, talking to people, targeting enemy critters in combat, opening doors, exploring, and more.

The bottom part of the screen is the interface bar. You will use the interface bar to perform game-related activities: accessing inventory, selecting a weapon or weapon mode to attack with, accessing the character screen, selecting options, and getting feedback from the display window.

Action Cursor
Using your mouse, you will perform actions using different types of cursors. Fallout 2 uses an Action Cursor to show what actions can be performed at the current time. There are four basic modes the Action Cursor can be in when you are on the normal game screen.


 * Movement (game view only)
 * Command
 * Targeting (turn-based combat only)
 * Hand (inventory only)

Normally, the only two cursor types available in the normal game screen are the Movement and Command cursors. Targeting is only available when you are in the turn-based combat mode. The Hand cursor is only available in Inventory, where it and the Command cursor are available.

Right-click to cycle between the available cursor types. Outside of combat, right-clicking will toggle between the Movement and Command cursor. In combat, the Targeting cursor is available by right-clicking when you see the Command cursor. Another right-click will cycle back to the Movement cursor. A left-click will perform an action that is based on the cursor type.

Movement Cursor
The default cursor is the movement cursor. It looks like a hex. Hex is short for hexagon, a six-sided polygon. Characters in Fallout 2 can be facing one of six directions. The movement cursor will control where your character can move to in the game view. Move this cursor around the screen.

If you cannot move to the location under the hex, a red X will appear in the center of the cursor. There are two ways to move: walking and running. One of the preferences, Running, will change the default move type.

Command Cursor
The command cursor is the way of telling your character to interact with the environment and other people. Right- click until the command cursor is displayed. Use this cursor to point to an object or person that you wish to interact with. If you move the cursor over an object or person, and let it rest for a brief moment, an icon will appear next to the command cursor.

This icon will tell you what the default action is if you left-click the mouse button while the cursor is over this object or person. To perform the default action, left-click once. To perform another action instead of the default action, move the command cursor over an object or person, and left-click and hold.

You must hold the left mouse button until a list of action icons appears. One of the action icons will be highlighted. Move the mouse up and down to change the highlighted action icon. Release the left mouse button to perform the highlighted action. The bottom action icon will always be Cancel. Pausing the command cursor over an object or person will also display the name of the object or person in the display window on the interface bar.