Fallout: New Vegas Part 1

When I first heard of Fallout: New Vegas, I wondered to myself how they could possibly ruin Fallout even more. I wrote about Fallout 3 and how stupid it was and how the game had more bugs than a two peso prostitute. Yet, there was cautious optimism. There was word that it would be developed by Obsidian Entertainment and would actually have people from Black Isle Studios, those people who had experience with the previous Fallout games, to work on it. But then again, it used the same engine as Fallout 3 so FO:NV being a buggy mess was a foregone conclusion. In fact, I would have played this game sooner but the games shop I regularly go to pulled this product out because it was so buggy that they received too many complaints. Its the first time they ever did that and it was discouraging. Fortunately, I have acquired a "copy" but don't ask about its authenticity. I haven't finished it yet but I'll weigh in on how it is so far.

STORY

The opening cinematic shows you over a shallow grave about to be shot in the head by some asshole in a checkered suit. You take a bullet to the brain but somehow manage to survive. You are rescued by a robot and bought to a doctor in a small town called Goodsprings in the middle of the Mojave desert. After the doctor patches you up and you build your character, you step out back into the world ready for adventure. You are The Courier. Your job was to deliver a mysterious item but you got ambushed obviously. The main quest involves you going after the people who tried to kill you and unravelling the mystery behind the delivery you were supposed to make. Eventually you make it to New Vegas which is run by the enigmatic Mr.House who nobody has even seen. New Vegas seems to be exactly what you'd expect, a haven of vice and sin. Awesome. There's a lot of optional quests and exploration to be done.

Since the story is set in the West Coast, the same place as the first two Fallout games, there's a lot of references to the events of those games. The references aren't superficial. It really takes place in the continuity of those previous games. Shady Sands, Tandi, The New California Republic, and New Reno are all mentioned. FO:NV takes place in the same setting. Its nice that the source material gets attention with nods here and there. New Vegas is a thriving city and the towns outside it are actually important given the need for caravans and supplies. In other words, the locations MAKE SENSE unlike a town built around an atom bomb for example or a town of nothing but children like we had in FO3.

There are two main factions: The New California Republic and The Legion. The NCR originated from Shady Sands of the first game and is what you might consider the closest to an actual US government. The NCR has a rugged, wild west ranger thing about it but its hinted that the NCR are too big and bureaucratic. They aren't the good guys per se its just that the other factions aren't really into human rights and freedom and shit. The other faction is Caesar's Legion. Its led by a guy calling himself Caesar and is based on the Roman Empire. The Legion is no joke. They're numerous, fanatical and an actual threat to the NCR. Their also into slavery and subjugation of women. They are a ruthless and martial society. You might think that its ridiculous how there's a faction based on Ancient Rome but hey, its not too far a stretch. They're not shy about using guns. You gotta have some suspension of disbelief.

I'll continue about the gameplay and other elements tomorrow.