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

[HybridSquirrel]

Spoiler

so i made it to the strip...did some mumbo jumbo...killed the guy in the 38 casino....uploaded mr. yes.....what do i do now? I told the legion to F off.....and im kinda just an outcast now.

 

[slag]

ABC

 

[disappoint]

In case you want to know how to kill deathclaws or scorpions easily

spoiler:

Spoiler

If you set up Archimedes as a weapon you can buy this ray gun off some kid in Freeside named Max. He runs around trying to shoot his friend Stacey. It looks like a toy gun but it shoots a deathray from that Archemides thing.

 

[Kyle]

I've been trying to get into this game but its just a steaming turd. The gameplay is horrible, the action is slow, VATS is a joke, and the quests.. well, suck.

I'm stuck on one of the early quests, where the chick tells me to go get some roots or something to make something. I got the quest, then had to sign off and go to bed. Come back the next day, and I think she said one of the roots is up near the school. I can't remember for sure, because I don't know how to get back the details of the quest. At any rate, i head up to the school and cant find the root she's talking about. So frustrating. I think Tresspasser had better gameplay though. At least it kept me wanting to play. The main character runs slow, looks goofy, and the game just doesn't *click*.

To each his own I guess- I've been sucked in, had no trouble with the quests (they show on your map where to go btw) and have really enjoyed it so far- I'm not at the strip yet but think i could get there any time- just doing some side quests now.

 

[coloumb]

I've been trying to get into this game but its just a steaming turd. The gameplay is horrible, the action is slow, VATS is a joke, and the quests.. well, suck.

I'm stuck on one of the early quests, where the chick tells me to go get some roots or something to make something. I got the quest, then had to sign off and go to bed. Come back the next day, and I think she said one of the roots is up near the school. I can't remember for sure, because I don't know how to get back the details of the quest. At any rate, i head up to the school and cant find the root she's talking about. So frustrating. I think Tresspasser had better gameplay though. At least it kept me wanting to play. The main character runs slow, looks goofy, and the game just doesn't *click*.

The root is very small and on the ground surrounded by other plants - honestly - don't let that one lame quest determine how the rest of the game plays out. That quest is nothing more than letting you know you can collect plants/items to make more powerful foods / drugs depending upon the level of your survival skill.

The quest line you are on is mainly just a "here's how you kill mobs" [assuming you don't know how to use Fallout's combat system] and "here's how you look for plants to make something" with a few caps as a reward.

 

[Elcs]

I'm kind of glad I didn't have the funds to drop on New Vegas at release.

Sounds like it definitely needs a few issues ironing out

But also extremely good if you're not so affected by them.

 

[DefDC]

I'm kind of glad I didn't have the funds to drop on New Vegas at release.

Sounds like it definitely needs a few issues ironing out

But also extremely good if you're not so affected by them.

I was one of the early posters who was assulted by bugs. After the first patch and changing the shadow setting in the game (I haven't had to edit the ini at all), I haven't had any more problems. No CTD or freezing. I think it's a safe buy. (YMMV!)

I'm having a blast. The only problems I'm having now is resentment towards my job and family keeping me from the game!

 

[Rakewell]

The only problems I'm having now is resentment towards my job and family keeping me from the game!

LMFAO This.

This game makes me resent having children.

"What.... What, hon. Daddy's playing a game."

 

[shortylickens]

I've been trying to get into this game but its just a steaming turd. The gameplay is horrible, the action is slow, VATS is a joke, and the quests.. well, suck.

I'm stuck on one of the early quests, where the chick tells me to go get some roots or something to make something. I got the quest, then had to sign off and go to bed. Come back the next day, and I think she said one of the roots is up near the school. I can't remember for sure, because I don't know how to get back the details of the quest. At any rate, i head up to the school and cant find the root she's talking about. So frustrating. I think Tresspasser had better gameplay though. At least it kept me wanting to play. The main character runs slow, looks goofy, and the game just doesn't *click*.

VATS is not a joke. VATS is awesome. You just have to learn how to use it effectively.

 

[airdata]

I've been trying to get into this game but its just a steaming turd. The gameplay is horrible, the action is slow, VATS is a joke, and the quests.. well, suck.

I'm stuck on one of the early quests, where the chick tells me to go get some roots or something to make something. I got the quest, then had to sign off and go to bed. Come back the next day, and I think she said one of the roots is up near the school. I can't remember for sure, because I don't know how to get back the details of the quest. At any rate, i head up to the school and cant find the root she's talking about. So frustrating. I think Tresspasser had better gameplay though. At least it kept me wanting to play. The main character runs slow, looks goofy, and the game just doesn't *click*.

I spent about 5 minutes running around not finding that stuff before deciding to move on. You can go into the data menu in the pipboy, then quests and select the quest and it should add markers to your compass to point you to where your quest objectives are located.

You can also zoom in so that the game is in first person view instead of 3rd person. I find the third person view a little hard to play with also. Game is fun though. If I didn't have to wake up in the morning I could have easily played well into 3-4am.

 

[skace]

Slag's post reeks of someone who simply didn't understand what they were doing. I wouldn't even bother trying to convince him otherwise. Hell, he could be trolling for all I know. Once you realize he is rating the game off of... the 3rd possible quest in the tutorial and hasn't even ventured anywhere in the world, the rest of his comments seem incredibly silly by comparison. Not to mention NV is roughly an expansion, anyone who is playing it should have played Fallout 3 already, so complaining about VATS and other things that were in the original Fallout 3 in an identical fashion seems odd.

Anyhow, I just realized how weak my character (who I haven't raised any gun skills on) has become now that I'm running into legion, nightstalkers, etc.

 

[Miklebud]

Head on over to the NV Nexus. There's a d3d9.dll file someone wrote which GREATLY improves FPS. It really works... Mine is up like 40 FPS after using it.

http://www.newvegasnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=34778

I added this last night and it drastically improved the graphics and FPS! I recommend this to anyone who hasn't done this yet.

I just made it to the strip last night after I think about 20ish hours and Level 14. I'm frustrated I'm here at work and can't be at home playing!

 

[Lumathix]

Head on over to the NV Nexus. There's a d3d9.dll file someone wrote which GREATLY improves FPS. It really works... Mine is up like 40 FPS after using it.

http://www.newvegasnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=34778

Does this work with Steam version?

 

[ichy]

I'm kind of glad I didn't have the funds to drop on New Vegas at release.

Sounds like it definitely needs a few issues ironing out

But also extremely good if you're not so affected by them.

It has already gotten a lot better for me after the first couple of patches.

 

[Rakewell]

Does this work with Steam version?

That's what I have...

 

[Miklebud]

Does this work with Steam version?

I'd assume so. Just add the D3D9.dll to your FO:NV Directory. Made a big difference for me.

 

[skace]

Ugh I keep forgetting to get that modified d3d9 file. The game runs ok for me, but a 40 FPS increase is not something I can afford to pass up....

 

[CVSiN]

VATS is not a joke. VATS is awesome. You just have to learn how to use it effectively.

I dont even use it prefer to play more like a shooter .. but then again I'm using mods and everything else to cater more to this style of play.

 

[CVSiN]

Ugh I keep forgetting to get that modified d3d9 file. The game runs ok for me, but a 40 FPS increase is not something I can afford to pass up....

after the Nvidia driver update last night the game is running much better with no strange artifacts for lack of a better term that was there before the new drivers.
and it seems alot smoother as well.

I was altready very smooth on my new rig without the file so I cant compare.
everything maxed at 1920x1200 on i7 game box

 

[BurnItDwn]

Finally ran into a few bugs last night....
The quest where you need to rescuce the girl from the casino and reunite her with her hubby who is hiding out in vault 22 .... NPCs didn't exist ... (I read it's because I killed the casino bosses for another quest, and it bugs out the rescue quest.)
One other thing I noticed, is that I had a quest where I was supposed to get the women to sell her caravan to the caravan company, and I got her to sell it, but the quest is still lit up even though the quest is completed.
I've still got the "Return to Caesar" quest, even though I gave the platinum chip to Mr house, and have killed hundreds of legionaries. Even if I did return to Caesar, I'd be KOS, so the quest should have been failed I'd think... (I'm vilified there after all.)

But, other than some wierd quest bugs, nothing as far as graphical issues. Performance usually is good most of the time, but ocassionally there are a few places where the framerate drops like crazy. Had the same issue near the aircraft carrier in FO3... Running Phenom 2 x4 with Radeon 4870 @ 1920:1200 with 8xAF and currently no FSAA. I'll grab the d3d9.dll, maybe it'll let me run with max FSAA.

 

[Rakewell]

Finally ran into a few bugs last night....
The quest where you need to rescuce the girl from the casino and reunite her with her hubby who is hiding out in vault 22 .... NPCs didn't exist ... (I read it's because I killed the casino bosses for another quest, and it bugs out the rescue quest.)
One other thing I noticed, is that I had a quest where I was supposed to get the women to sell her caravan to the caravan company, and I got her to sell it, but the quest is still lit up even though the quest is completed.
I've still got the "Return to Caesar" quest, even though I gave the platinum chip to Mr house, and have killed hundreds of legionaries. Even if I did return to Caesar, I'd be KOS, so the quest should have been failed I'd think... (I'm vilified there after all.)

But, other than some wierd quest bugs, nothing as far as graphical issues. Performance usually is good most of the time, but ocassionally there are a few places where the framerate drops like crazy. Had the same issue near the aircraft carrier in FO3... Running Phenom 2 x4 with Radeon 4870 @ 1920:1200 with 8xAF and currently no FSAA. I'll grab the d3d9.dll, maybe it'll let me run with max FSAA.

There's a second version of that file that a lot of radeon users are finding better luck with:

http://www.newvegasnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=34778

 

[PUN]

Anyone dropped 12k on a body implants?
Thinking of buying a regenerative implant.

 

[Rakewell]

Anyone dropped 12k on a body implants?
Thinking of buying a regenerative implant.

Yup. Not a major upgrade, but good nonetheless. There's certainly enough loot out there to get your caps back, though.

 

[TraumaRN]

Anyone dropped 12k on a body implants?
Thinking of buying a regenerative implant.

I did all my SPECIAL upgrades. I didn't get the tougher skin or the regenerative implant. I've noticed that by getting the Luck implant(now my luck is at 7) I have much better luck at the casinos.

Anyways, I also got the .dll fix and wow so much smoother and better FPS.

Also I did this fix which is good any of us that are running more than 2 cores:

Fallout 3 New Vegas freezing & random freezes mid game, BSOD errors

Random freezes including BSOD errors can occur on certain multi core hardware environments due to incompatibilities with the game engine. You can try to avert these issues by limiting the game to use only two cores.

1. Open fallout.ini file in My Documents\My Games\FalloutNV with a text editor such as Notepad.
2. Look for the string bUseThreadedAI=0
3. Change it to bUseThreadedAI=1
4. Add another line beneath the above, iNumHWThreads=2
5. Save and close this file.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for fallout_default.ini file in installation dir (default C:\Program Files (x86)\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout New Vegas)


After applying both fixes I noticed better and smoother gameplay and only 1 crash in about 3-4 hours of gameplay.

 

[coldmeat]

My luck is around 7 or 8. I played blackjack at one of the casinos and only lost 1 or 2 hands, winning every single other one until I made so much money I got banned. Was so easy it was getting boring.