As far as shooting goes, if you ever shot a weapon in Fallout 3 or NV, you know how guns work in TOW.
Though there is also a somewhat larger number of melee weapons, which are fun. You can also talk yourself into almost anywhere and out of almost anything. I am trying a "peaceful route" first. Don't know how long it lasts, of course, but so far, the usual wild mobs (group of enemies randomly around the map) aside, I haven't killed a soul. Well, except thed very first guy I met, of course. I mean, he gave me his gun. Voluntarily. That's like begging for it, right?
)
Anyway. I am heavily specced into lying and persuasion. It's fun.
I think it would be just as much fun playing the classic "kick the front door, kill everything, then question those who are still breathing" method, though like I said earlier, the gunplay itself is very fallout-esque, which means it's serviceable but nothing to really write home about.