Hey now everybody, hope you're all doing well, and welcome to my review of Fallout: New Vegas! I first discovered this series back in 2008 when Fallout 3 was released. At the time it was a very impressive game with a unique feel, a massive open world to explore, and a wide array of interesting characters to interact with. After that initial experience I've been a huge fan of this franchise and have enjoyed, almost, every game that followed. It's been so long since I've played a Fallout game I decided to go back and replay one of my old favorites, New Vegas. Nearly ten years have passed since I last played this so hopefully it still holds up. Now let's dive in and I'll tell you all about it.
Fallout: New Vegas is an action RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The franchise is owned by Bethesda Game Studios and they usually always handle the development process, but this was more of a spin off than a main series entry, so they let Obsidian take the reigns for this one. Even though New Vegas was made by a different team of people it's not something you'd really notice. The developers knew how beloved Fallout 3 was and they did a great job of making their game feel like it was a large, stand alone expansion. There are some subtle differences you might notice throughout the game, but overall this is exactly what you'd expect in a Fallout sequel.
The game takes place in New Vegas, and the surrounding areas, in the year 2281. You play as a courier working for the Mojave Express, and the story begins with you making an important delivery. Suddenly you get ambushed by a mobster named Benny and his group of thugs. They steal your package and shoot you in the head, throwing you in a shallow grave in the middle of nowhere. Benny leaves you there assuming you are dead, making off with whatever was in that package. Fortunately for you someone comes along and takes you to the nearest doctor, and miraculously he is able to bring you back from the dead. This is where the game really begins, and now you set out on a revenge mission that takes you all across the New Vegas wasteland.
When you start exploring the New Vegas strip looking for clues as to Benny's whereabouts you are introduced to Mr. House, the man in charge of everything in the city. He fills you in on what was in the package, what importance it has, and the whereabouts of Benny. Mr. House was the recipient of the package you were supposed to deliver, and he wants you to go retrieve it for him. Now you are faced with many choices that will affect the outcome of the game. Do you put your trust in Mr. House? Should you hear Benny out and help him, or kill him? Or do you say screw both of them and try to take control of New Vegas for yourself? There's really no wrong answer, but whatever you decide will determine what ending you receive.
Following the main quest line will take you to many new locations across the map, but there's a lot more to discover out there. Some of the best moments in the game for me were side missions that you might not even find if you don't go off the beaten path. There are other factions that are battling each other all over the wasteland, and you can decide whether or not you want to help them, or destroy them. You have a karma system that fluctuates depending on the choices you make, so some groups might help you, and others might shoot you on sight. This makes your experience with the game unique, and it gives New Vegas a lot of replayability.
As you play through the game you will continuously level up, earning experience points that you can spend on what abilities best suit your play style. The choices you make here will also factor into many aspects of your playthrough, opening up new options for you. Having a high lockpick stat will let you open doors you couldn't access otherwise. Spending a lot of points in the speech stat will give you more dialog options, allowing you to control conversations. Having a high repair stat will let you fix broken machinery and weapons. The game gives you a lot of freedom to play it the way you want, which is something I appreciate.
The main aspect of any Fallout game that appeals to me the most is the satisfying gameplay loop. Explore, find new location, engage with enemies or NPCs, collect new gear and loot. You have your main quest line that you can focus on, but I enjoy just wandering around and exploring the map. The more you explore the more loot you find, and the more you level up. You start off with very little, but eventually you become pretty tough, and amass a small arsenal of weapons and armor for your reward. I can get lost for hours just partaking in side quests, which usually result in earning some unique equipment, or meeting some interesting characters. That's what I love most about these games, being let loose in a huge map, never knowing what you might find.
One thing that bothered me right off the bat was how slow your character moves. It took me a very long time to get used to the slow walking pace, and there is no run button. You can fast travel once you discover a new location, but otherwise you're stuck moving at one speed. These games are well known for being glitchy and New Vegas is no exception. You're bound to experience some form of bug throughout your playthorugh, so remember to save often. Some enemies can be a real pain in the ass, ganging up on you and killing you very quickly. There were moments where I got ambushed and didn't stand a chance, which can be frustrating. Lastly, the main quest line isn't all that exciting or interesting, and can sometimes get a little tedious. I had the most fun just wandering around doing my own thing rather than trying to complete the story.
Even though not everything holds up all that well this is still a fantastic game, and one of my favorite Fallout titles. If you are someone who enjoys exploring than this is for you. The game gives you a lot of freedom, lets you make your own decisions, and rewards you for wandering off the beaten path to discover what lies hidden in the nooks and crannies of the wasteland. I had a great time revisiting this one, and since I was playing the Ultimate Edition that comes with all the DLC there was plenty more to do even after I finished the main game. It's a little rough around the edges in some places, but still a classic that's worthy of your time. I would definitely recommend this to any fan of the series, and I'm going to give Fallout: New Vegas a grade of........................................
B
Thank you for reading my review of Fallout: New Vegas, I hope you enjoyed it!
