Giantbomb.com Fallout New Vegas Review - 4/5 Stars

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ichy

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2006
6,940
8
81
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's a lot more gameplay and replayability in New Vegas than in FO3. I'm at level 22 at this point, and feel like when I go through the game a second time around I'll easily be able to avoid repeating most of my quests and still hit level 30. So far I also like the main storyline a lot more.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
I think I'm going to replay NV. Has anyone played in hardcore mode? Was it still fun?

I played the first time through on Hard + Hardcore mode. Worrying about having to eat/sleep/drink just because of some timer was more annoying than anything. I wouldn't do it again, it just got in the way. I probably would have just done Very Hard mode and no hardcore.
 

Wardawg1001

Senior member
Sep 4, 2008
653
1
81
I think I'm going to replay NV. Has anyone played in hardcore mode? Was it still fun?

I second the above poster. If I do get around to doing another run through, I would probably just play on the hardest difficulty without hardcore mode on. The only real difficulty increase was the lack of instant healing from stimpaks/food/etc. Dealing with inventory management issues because of the weight of ammo is just annoying, not difficult, and interfered with my ability to test out all the different weapons. Sleep/hunger/thirst was pretty much the same. It does start to lower your stats, but hunger and sleep are really easy to keep up with, and thirst is only an issue if you dont make regular rounds to shops to buy up some water. I suspect if you pick up all the water you walk across and buy it every time you see it at a shop, you will never have any problems (though it also takes up weight, which is very annoying as well).
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
I second the above poster. If I do get around to doing another run through, I would probably just play on the hardest difficulty without hardcore mode on. The only real difficulty increase was the lack of instant healing from stimpaks/food/etc. Dealing with inventory management issues because of the weight of ammo is just annoying, not difficult, and interfered with my ability to test out all the different weapons. Sleep/hunger/thirst was pretty much the same. It does start to lower your stats, but hunger and sleep are really easy to keep up with, and thirst is only an issue if you dont make regular rounds to shops to buy up some water. I suspect if you pick up all the water you walk across and buy it every time you see it at a shop, you will never have any problems (though it also takes up weight, which is very annoying as well).

This and this.

Hardcore is annoying, not challenging.

That being said, F:NV is so. much. fun.
 

coloumb

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,069
0
81
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's a lot more gameplay and replayability in New Vegas than in FO3. I'm at level 22 at this point, and feel like when I go through the game a second time around I'll easily be able to avoid repeating most of my quests and still hit level 30. So far I also like the main storyline a lot more.

/agree

My first play through I made all of the choices *I* would make if it were real.

Next time I think I'll go completely dark side on everyone's ass.

Though..the big decision plot point in the game seems to be near the end depending upon who you choose to side with - so maybe it won't matter up until that point.
 

Joemonkey

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2001
8,859
4
0
Just finished dickin' around and finally beat the game yesterday, It all happened so fast once I went to the dam I wasn't sure what was going on. Here's how my ending happened:

I went to Ceasar's camp, was vilified, so killed everyone there, shot Benny in the face, took the chip, told Yes man I had it, he said to come back once I'd taken care of House. Used the code on the computer I obtained somewhere to open the antechamber, ran from the Mark I's in there, opened House's pod, shot him in the face, went back out, uploaded Yes man to the computer. Was told the president was coming to the dam and I should speak to some ranger about preventing him from getting assassinated, I figured I would do it after I went to the fort and activated the army of Mark I's there.

When I fast travelled back to Vegas I heard on the radio that the president was assassinated and was like "uh, what? oh well" Went back to Yes man, went to the dam, diverted power to the fort to release the upgraded Mark II army, killed a bunch of Legion, walked up to Lanius and used Speech[100] about 10 times to get him to retreat. General Oliver busts in (no idea who this prick is), pisses me off, and I tell Yes man to throw him from the dam. Then Yes man says some weird stuff about using House's programming to make him more assertive.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Started my second run through a few days ago. Going evil-ish and energy weapons this time around. Energy weapons are so puny and unsatisfying. I miss shotgun to the face or unloading an entire clip into someone...
 

Joemonkey

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2001
8,859
4
0
Started my second run through a few days ago. Going evil-ish and energy weapons this time around. Energy weapons are so puny and unsatisfying. I miss shotgun to the face or unloading an entire clip into someone...

I went 100 energy weapons and they are crazy fun once you get this perk!

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Meltdown

Just keep your followers away from what you're shooting at, I also have this perk

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Bloody_Mess

and had a single shot from the gauss rifle using MC MFC's hit a single nightstalker in a pack of about 5 near Boone. It caused one hell of a chain reaction, completely destroyed the entire pack of nightstalkers, their giblets flying everywhere, and Boone went probably 30 feet up into the air unconscious. The rag doll physics about made me pee my pants I was laughing so hard...
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I went 100 energy weapons and they are crazy fun once you get this perk!

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Meltdown

Just keep your followers away from what you're shooting at, I also have this perk

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Bloody_Mess

and had a single shot from the gauss rifle using MC MFC's hit a single nightstalker in a pack of about 5 near Boone. It caused one hell of a chain reaction, completely destroyed the entire pack of nightstalkers, their giblets flying everywhere, and Boone went probably 30 feet up into the air unconscious. The rag doll physics about made me pee my pants I was laughing so hard...

Will have to try those out. Only Level 13 right now, and spreading my skill points evenly across a bunch of skills.

Think there should also be a perk that enhances energy weapon damage (not the fire one).
 

ichy

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2006
6,940
8
81
Grim Reaper's Spirit has been significantly nerfed. In FO3 once I had that perk and Lincoln's Repeater I was unstoppable. Go into VATS, blow someone's head off, regain full VATS points, rinse and repeat.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I usually stop using VATS by the time I'm high enough level to kill things in a shot or two. That is unless the shit hits the fan...
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,809
6,364
126
Just finished, 108 hours, defeated the Legion and the NCR. I did use God Mode after a dozen+ failures against Legates Camp though, was just too annoying to keep trying. What a great ending though.

Despite numerous Bugs, especially early on, this game was worth every penny and more.
 

spaceman

Lifer
Dec 4, 2000
17,616
183
106
its my GOTY for sure
beat it 3 way (house,yes,ncr)
gonna go thru again legion style
game has oodles of personality,music..and yeah some bugs.
way up there as far as single player games in my life.
mabe top 5.
 

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
its my GOTY for sure
beat it 3 way (house,yes,ncr)
gonna go thru again legion style
game has oodles of personality,music..and yeah some bugs.
way up there as far as single player games in my life.
mabe top 5.

I would MOD, my friend. MOD.
 

Chriscross3234

Senior member
Jun 4, 2006
756
1
0
I finally gave in and bought the game yesterday and played it for 5 hours straight! This game seems so much better than FO3 in just about every aspect. With the newest patch, I had no crashes and didn't run into any bugs/glitches.

I have a question about Primm. After talking to the NCR guys I decided to liberate Primm myself and I was successful in clearing out the gangers in town and in the hotel. For some reason I went directly into the hotel, killed all the gangers, and managed to skip the casino that all the town members were in. After killing all the gangers, I discovered and went into the casino and they all acted as if everything was normal and there was no mention or plea for help to liberate their town. Was I supposed to go into the casino before going into the hotel?
 
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JoshGuru7

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2001
1,020
1
0
The quest to liberate the town is given by NCR troops across the road and you should talk to them about your rewards. The townspeople will have a task for you now concerning the old sheriff who was murdered by the powder gangers.
 
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Chriscross3234

Senior member
Jun 4, 2006
756
1
0
Yeah, I now have that quest concerning the new sheriff. I just think that the way I completed the quest without talking to the townspeople first may have made their dialogue inconsistent. I'll just have to remember to do it right on my next playthrough.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
I have just ordered the game for £12.99($20),is the game really buggy?
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,809
6,364
126
I have just ordered the game for £12.99($20),is the game really buggy?

Not too bad now, they've squashed most of them. Still will Crash on occasion, either Quick Save on occasion or keep AutoSave enabled.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,666
21
81
its my GOTY for sure
beat it 3 way (house,yes,ncr)
gonna go thru again legion style
game has oodles of personality,music..and yeah some bugs.
way up there as far as single player games in my life.
mabe top 5.

I tried going through Legion, but all of a sudden the Legion turned on me when I fast tracked to their camp. I am pissed! Broken quests, even if fixed with a patch, require a new game start. Soooo many hours worked just to have to start all over again.