Posted November 1, 2010 at 06:10 pm
So, I've intended on doing a review of Fallout: New Vegas for a while. Obviously, there are a lot of reviews out there already, but I'd like to give my own perspective, if you'll allow me.
Pre-Summary: Buy it.
When it started, I had crashing problems, but I found out it was my computer's fault, and now I'm down to maybe one crash every few hours. If you ask me, you could probably use a break after a few hours, anyway. Also, there are fixes out there for lots of the problems, such as unreasonably slow frame rates, mouse acceleration, and official ones for various other glitches and problems. So I think the game is doing pretty well now, technically.
As for gameplay, I have opinions!
First, one of the newest additions is 'Hardcore' mode. In this mode, ammunition has weight, stimpaks heal over time, and you must eat/drink/sleep to survive. I've been playing this mode, and I really like it, but if you're doing it for the end reward, you may want to reconsider. Highlight to see the reward spoiler: An achievement.
Other than that, I find hardcore mode to add a whole new element to my experience; one of realism in a world that could certainly use more immersion.
As for the weapons, it seems like there are tons of new weapons. And many interesting ones. I've been thoroughly enjoying hand-to-hand combat, which is something I didn't do much of in Fallout 3. Not much to say about the weapons though. It's your basic fare of new stuff for a new game.
My favorite part of this new system is the skill checks in conversations. Before, in Fallout 3, it was based on a percentage, so no matter how high your skill, there was a chance you could fail and forever ruin the rest of your game for that quest. In this one, you see right away that you have 62 of the required 75 points in Speech to pass this check. Sometimes you can purposely fail the check for funny dialogue, but sometimes failing a check is as permanent as it was in Fallout 3. Barter is also a highly useful check this time around. You can often swaggle your way into higher pay with it.
A new feature is the reloading stations. You can break down ammo and rebuild it as other ammo, depending on the materials you have on hand. It's a lot like the forge in Fallout 3's expansion "The Pitt" but much more involved. Another thing about ammo is there are different types. Armor piercing, for example, will break through an enemies armor, but does less damage to flesh. Hollow point, however, will damage flesh massively, but will shatter upon hitting armor. There are many different kinds, and if you love to maximize your efficiency, these are for you. If not, the standard issue ammo is always a good choice.
Level-up perks this time around come only every even-numbered level (unlike in Fallout 3 where they were every level) BUT you now get perks based on completion of challenges, based on what you do most. If you kill lots of bugs, you get the Bug Stomper perks, and there are multiple levels of it. You also get perks depending on who your companions are. So by the end of the game, you'll have more perks than you would have in Fallout 3.
The level 30 cap, I just don't understand it. I didn't like it in 3 and I don't like it in New Vegas. But there are mods for it.
The factions are new, and really super interesting. You can wear disguises and ally yourself with whoever you like. This time, if you're evil, it's not just "Ooga booga, I have all your pork 'n' beans." Factions like or dislike you based on your quest decisions, and you can get special treatment with any of them. If you play your cards right, you can make pretty much all of them like you. It's a very complex web of intrigue that adds a whole other dimension to the game. It pretty much obsolesced the karma system, which is still there, but I don't pay any attention to it. There aren't any perks for it either, that I've seen.
Also, remember in Fallout 3 when accidentally grabbing a bottle cap would make an old lady shoot your brains out? Now, you just become less popular and they take your stolen items back. It makes much more sense to me.
There's so much clean water this time, too. It's such a nice change.
It is much more crowded here in the Mojave Desert than it was in the Capital Wasteland. Some people don't like feeling like they're all alone. I kind of like it, because it makes every contact with another person meaningful and enjoyable. This is purely preference, but it is a big difference.
The radio isn't nearly as good as it was in Fallout 3, and it doesn't seem like there are enough radio stations. This is a big let down for me, but I rarely use it anyway, because your radio gives away your position when you're sneaking. The song lists are shorter, and randomized poorly.
Fallout: New Vegas also uses ambient music from Fallouts 1 and 2, which was very interesting if you've ever played them.
All in all, if you loved Fallout 3, you've already bought this game or decided you were going to, so I'm not talking to you. If you just liked Fallout 3, I think you should still buy New Vegas, because it has improved in nearly every area except the radios.
Buy it, would you kindly? (Crap, wrong game.)
Pre-Summary: Buy it.
When it started, I had crashing problems, but I found out it was my computer's fault, and now I'm down to maybe one crash every few hours. If you ask me, you could probably use a break after a few hours, anyway. Also, there are fixes out there for lots of the problems, such as unreasonably slow frame rates, mouse acceleration, and official ones for various other glitches and problems. So I think the game is doing pretty well now, technically.
As for gameplay, I have opinions!
First, one of the newest additions is 'Hardcore' mode. In this mode, ammunition has weight, stimpaks heal over time, and you must eat/drink/sleep to survive. I've been playing this mode, and I really like it, but if you're doing it for the end reward, you may want to reconsider. Highlight to see the reward spoiler: An achievement.
Other than that, I find hardcore mode to add a whole new element to my experience; one of realism in a world that could certainly use more immersion.
As for the weapons, it seems like there are tons of new weapons. And many interesting ones. I've been thoroughly enjoying hand-to-hand combat, which is something I didn't do much of in Fallout 3. Not much to say about the weapons though. It's your basic fare of new stuff for a new game.
My favorite part of this new system is the skill checks in conversations. Before, in Fallout 3, it was based on a percentage, so no matter how high your skill, there was a chance you could fail and forever ruin the rest of your game for that quest. In this one, you see right away that you have 62 of the required 75 points in Speech to pass this check. Sometimes you can purposely fail the check for funny dialogue, but sometimes failing a check is as permanent as it was in Fallout 3. Barter is also a highly useful check this time around. You can often swaggle your way into higher pay with it.
A new feature is the reloading stations. You can break down ammo and rebuild it as other ammo, depending on the materials you have on hand. It's a lot like the forge in Fallout 3's expansion "The Pitt" but much more involved. Another thing about ammo is there are different types. Armor piercing, for example, will break through an enemies armor, but does less damage to flesh. Hollow point, however, will damage flesh massively, but will shatter upon hitting armor. There are many different kinds, and if you love to maximize your efficiency, these are for you. If not, the standard issue ammo is always a good choice.
Level-up perks this time around come only every even-numbered level (unlike in Fallout 3 where they were every level) BUT you now get perks based on completion of challenges, based on what you do most. If you kill lots of bugs, you get the Bug Stomper perks, and there are multiple levels of it. You also get perks depending on who your companions are. So by the end of the game, you'll have more perks than you would have in Fallout 3.
The level 30 cap, I just don't understand it. I didn't like it in 3 and I don't like it in New Vegas. But there are mods for it.
The factions are new, and really super interesting. You can wear disguises and ally yourself with whoever you like. This time, if you're evil, it's not just "Ooga booga, I have all your pork 'n' beans." Factions like or dislike you based on your quest decisions, and you can get special treatment with any of them. If you play your cards right, you can make pretty much all of them like you. It's a very complex web of intrigue that adds a whole other dimension to the game. It pretty much obsolesced the karma system, which is still there, but I don't pay any attention to it. There aren't any perks for it either, that I've seen.
Also, remember in Fallout 3 when accidentally grabbing a bottle cap would make an old lady shoot your brains out? Now, you just become less popular and they take your stolen items back. It makes much more sense to me.
There's so much clean water this time, too. It's such a nice change.
It is much more crowded here in the Mojave Desert than it was in the Capital Wasteland. Some people don't like feeling like they're all alone. I kind of like it, because it makes every contact with another person meaningful and enjoyable. This is purely preference, but it is a big difference.
The radio isn't nearly as good as it was in Fallout 3, and it doesn't seem like there are enough radio stations. This is a big let down for me, but I rarely use it anyway, because your radio gives away your position when you're sneaking. The song lists are shorter, and randomized poorly.
Fallout: New Vegas also uses ambient music from Fallouts 1 and 2, which was very interesting if you've ever played them.
All in all, if you loved Fallout 3, you've already bought this game or decided you were going to, so I'm not talking to you. If you just liked Fallout 3, I think you should still buy New Vegas, because it has improved in nearly every area except the radios.
Buy it, would you kindly? (Crap, wrong game.)