I haven't finished playing New Vegas yet. Though overall, I am quite pleased with it. I thought that Fallout 3 was a pretty decent game, enjoyable, but I doubt I'll ever play through it again. Though I plan to play through the DLC when ever I can get ahold of them.
So, I was looking forward to New Vegas, but reserved. I was expecting a satisfactory experience with a Fallout game.
I was surprised by it though, I found its opening to much more engaging then from Fallout 3. (Though I did find the FO3 opening to be novel.) I really dug the line of "24 karat run of bad luck."
I found that recovering from an apparent grievous head injury served as an adjudicate and believable explanation for what my character, who presumably lived in these parts for years, wasn't knowledgeable about the surrounding.
I selected the Hardcore mode for my first play through. I admit the needing to eat, and drink on a semi regular basis didn't add to much to the gameplay, instead at times feels like paperwork for the game. Though I do find myself excited when I come across purified water and that is from having to eat and drink. Instead, I found myself having to be somewhat careful about what I brought with me and I scavenged.
This does though at times prevent me from questing when I wanted to, as I would have to return to my current house and restock on ammo (more often then not), and drop of the refuses I find. I begun a habit about slamming down the Sunset drink when I'm at a home, so I can drink water from the tap when I get dehydrated.
I'm happy that I don't have to manage ammo stocks for the friends that travel with you. As in my play through with FO 1 & 2, that always felt more like paperwork, and punishment then it was immersive.
The towns in FO:NV feel more real and complete then they did in FO3. I think the farms and ancillary abodes really help with that.
The dialogue options are more rewarding to go through, and I feel the use of stats, and other skills to give access to different dialogue options. It makes playing a smooth talker feel more impactful and meaningful.
Exploring seems to be more rewarding as well, as there something neat happening as you walk into town, such as when you come across Nipton or Searchlight.
It also feels more organic on how you're introduced to more areas, then in FO3. In FO3 it felt almost like a laundry list, of places to go visit. Whereas in FO:NV, you hear about the other towns either from NPC antics or through dialogue with named NPCs.
I especially like the friends quests. It adds a nice level of immersion to the game, and make it seems like the Courier and the friend are friends.
I like how your given an abode much sooner then in FO3, its a nice subitution for the Car. My play through with FO3, had the Megaton house coming in rather late. Though I dislike the number of load screens you have to go through in order to get to the Casino houses. I really wish you could fast travel to them. I also dislike that (for at least the Lucky 38 & Novac houses) that it doesn't come with enough crafting stations. I would have liked it if I could have used the stove as a campfire, or a reloading bench. The work bench is nice, but I find myself gaining the more useful items from campfires. Since there isn't a reloading bench in my house, I havent done any ammo crafting. I prefer to do so from my house, where I drop off my refuse. I am starting to have quite a collection of refuses too.
I dislike how blatant the options were. Such as computer that unlock safes. @.@ It felt contrived and lessen my immersion. I would have stilled like to have used my explosive skill to blown locks (even if it required a specialized ordnance, such as moldable C4 or some such.)
And uh... that all I can think for right now.
Overall, I'm quite happy with it, and can't wait to complete and play through it again.
Author
Topic: Fallout: New Vegas (Read 216570 times)