Fallout: New Vegas

Returning to the Fallout universe is always a pleasure. A unique post-apocalyptic world full of mysteries, places to explore, missions to complete and monsters to kill. Even though it's not numbered, Fallout: New Vegas is not an expansion or DLC, but more of a spin-off title. It's not a sequel either, and it's about as long as its predecessor.

Fallout New Vegas is an entirely new episode in the series, developed by Obsidian with many members from the first two titles. So, brace yourself and get ready to go back into the nuclear wasteland of Fallout.

About the game

This story begins when we, our character, gets rescued by Doctor Mitchel, after receiving a bullet to the head. We are left for dead in a desert until a good old robot comes to save us and takes us to the professional care of Dr. Mitchel. In doing so we are interrogated with all kinds of questions to know more about us and some psychological tests.

If you've played any of these games, you already know that these questions determine the starting points, values, and abilities of our character. So you can go two ways, whether you answer them honestly, or you can answer them to suit your game style. Of course, you can also answer them randomly.

A whole new world

As the name implies, Fallout New Vegas takes place in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. And from the very beginning of the game, you can see the difference. Not only is the sky more blue, but the whole land is more colorful, suiting what used to be a colorful city.

When you compare it to Fallout 3 you can see the difference not only in color but even in art style and direction. And even though it's still not the city full of neon lights and colorful buildings it used to be, it's still pretty lifeful. Fallout New Vegas feels a lot like an old western movie, in every way.

Even though they both have a lot in common, New Vegas improves most things from Fallout 3. New mechanics, more polished fighting systems and little tweaks in the general gameplay. All these to make the game stand out from its predecessor, and it does so gracefully.

Review

Fallout New Vegas is a natural next step for the series. Coming from Fallout 3, we find everything that makes the franchise great still present in this entry. And they are not only present but also enhanced and polished. And even though there are some changes to the general game mechanics, it's still similar enough to the game type we all know and love.

Freedom to go anywhere, explore wherever we want, make choices, interact with the world, cool missions, an excellent plot, funny side missions, all this and more awaits in New Vegas.

• Graphics and Visuals: Graphically, the game is still pretty similar to Fallout 3. Of course, it has some upgrades and more details, but it still feels a lot like its predecessor. It's in the art department that they are very different. With a more colorful world, and new scenarios and monsters, this title stands out from all the other past entries in the series.

• Gameplay: The new fighting mechanics add an interesting twist to the game style of Fallout. And thanks to the new orders and interactions we can have with team members, everything becomes more fluid. Missions, choices, and interactions are excellent in this game.

• Sound: A soundtrack fitting for this adventure is there at all times keeping you in good company. Both the original soundtrack and the licensed music present in this title are amazing. And the sound design is still one of the coolest in the Fallout series.

Fallout: New Vegas is a huge open-world RPG, set in a post-apocalyptic world that is on the brink of a political overhaul. The game is set four years after the events of Fallout 3, and follows a character known as "The Courier". The Courier is tasked with delivering a package to the town of New Vegas in the middle of the desert, and during his journey, he is robbed and left for dead. After surviving the encounter, the Courier starts to explore the wasteland around him and search for his attackers. The game is similar in style and gameplay to Fallout 3, but stands out due to its branching narrative paths and improved gameplay. When it comes to the "best modern Fallout game", there's a constant argument between whether Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas is king. While this argument is ultimately subjective, one thing is true; Fallout: New Vegas is a really, really good game.

The fundamental gameplay of Fallout: New Vegas is very similar to other Fallout titles. You explore the environment, meeting characters and discovering quests. You'll embark on a variety of adventures to new locations, looting and surviving the best you can. As you uncover the various factions and remaining groups around New Vegas, you'll have to make decisions on who lives, who dies, and who you choose to group up with. The world is teeming with various activities and stories to uncover, and a large part of the experience is discovering those things.

While the structure (and a good chunk of the gameplay) is similar to past Fallout titles, New Vegas makes some great changes in a slew of areas. For instance, new guns and armor have been added into the game, expanding the arsenal you can collect. You can also craft more goods than ever before. You can create new weapons, craft supplies, and even upgrade your existing gear. The "V.A.T.S" system has been added upon, providing additional strategic abilities and precision during combat. Leveling up your character has become more robust than before, thanks to the addition of several new perks and character abilities.

Among all these gameplay changes, it is perhaps the story changes that are the most apparent. Previous Fallout games were well known for giving their players choice, and those choices ultimately affecting the outcome of the game. This was surprisingly absent from Fallout 3, and luckily, Fallout: New Vegas brings back branching story paths in a big way. As the Courier, it's your decision on who to trust and who to keep on eye on. There are various factions around the desert area, and you'll encounter most of them as you explore. Who you choose to side with is completely up to you, but your choices have impact. Certain quests have different outcomes, some characters will treat you differently, and the game's ending will change depending on your choices. Overall, Fallout: New Vegas makes some interesting changes, but the narrative changes are perhaps the most impressive.

If you like first person shooters, RPGs, or just games that let you explore and experience the story at your own pace, then Fallout: New Vegas is right up your alley. It expands upon the mechanics and gameplay of Fallout 3 in meaningful ways, has a twisting narrative with multiple branches, and is tons of fun to play. With the slew of new gameplay additions and a plethora of quests and stories to uncover, you'll likely spend dozens of hours in the world of Fallout: New Vegas and barely bat an eye. If surviving the nuclear apocalypse sounds fun to you, then you should definitely grab Fallout: New Vegas.