Opinions seem to differ wildly on which is the better Fallout. I haven't gotten to 2 yet but 1 is...wow.

2 has one feature that puts it head and shoulders above 1, the ability to push people. Doesn't sound like much but staring in frustration at your idiot henchman as he blocks the only exit from the small room you're in and won't move because his position is dictated in relation to your position and you can't get out because there's this drooling imbecile in the way, you really come to realise how good pushing people is...

You know you can order him to change distance and he'll go away, yes?

No he won't, I tried everything up to and including shooting him and it didn't move him

I know, powerfist! Or a hammer! Or making him a pile of dust!

I prefer Fallout 2 because it's a much bigger game with a slightly improved engine, but Fallout 1 presents a somewhat more consistent vision of the game world; Fallout 2 is a little too silly at times (New Reno in particular just bugs me).

Hmm... You got a point there. ;)

New Reno was fun, a single stray shot in the bar can trigger a city wide civil war

He made himself into dust at one point when he (along with the rest of the party) didn't notice glaringly obvious lethal laser grids. After half a dozen times trying to babysit them through, I left them as a problem for the cleaning lady and had a much better time of playing the game...