Fallout New Vegas Preview

The latest installment of the post-apocalyptic series Fallout sees the release of Fallout New Vegas. Although the development has been passed from Bethseda to Obsidian Entertainment the engine is the same and the graphics and gameplay had the essential obligatory updates. The key difference is the location which takes place in Las Vegas three years after Fallout 3 and the city didn’t receive a direct nuke hit so most if the infrastructure is still intact and the inhabitants are virtually free of mutation. The scenery different to previous versions with it’s blue skies, desert landscapes plus the neon lights and strip joints are another change of scenery.

The location of Las Vegas for Fallout New Vegas was chosen as they where looking for a location closer to the West Coast and is a location the developers had become familiar with and wanted something different to Washington DC. Another of the reasons that Las Vegas was chosen is due to the feeling Americans have for the capital but with Las Vegas it has always been corrupt with vice and their feelings aren’t the same.

Fallout New Vegas opens with our main character being shot in the head and dumped in an unmarked grave and being pulled from the ground by a robot named Victor. we were nursed back to health by the local physician Doc Mitchell. The good doctor then hit us with series of questions, which serves as the character customisation process.

Venturing out into the town of Goodsprings  the new environment mirrors the Capital Wasteland with blue sky overhead, sounds from nearby birds and insects gives the environment that sense of life that the former Washington DC is devoid of. After the weapons tutorial with a local named Sunny Smiles, you’re soon embarking on basic quests and gunning down giant geckos. Our revenge mission was under way.

There’s more  emphasis on basic first-person shooter mechanics this time around, and although the VATS system from the previous game makes a comeback.  The director explained that melee and unarmed combat will have “some new functionality” and will be more tactics-based. VATs itself will be extra challenging to wield, as additional special attacks have been incorporated and accuracy will be dependent on more variables than before.

If the extra strategic dimension to combat isn’t enough for you, there’s always the option of Hardcore Mode – an extra difficultly setting for the experts among us. As well as bringing more realism to the table by forcing you to seek food and rest to avoid starvation and sleep deprivation respectively, ammo and currency now have weight and the healing of wounds is a gradual process that may even require medical expertise.

If you’ve played Fallout 3 you’ll know what to expect from Fallout New Vegas. If you’re already a fan you then you’ll enjoy Fallout New Vegas and is good starting point for those making a first purchase.