“Fallout: New Vegas” is an action role-playing video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks. Released in 2010, it is a spin-off of the Fallout series and takes place in a post-apocalyptic open world environment spanning a region that includes parts of Nevada, California, and Arizona. The core gameplay is similar to “Fallout 3”, with the player character (known as the Courier) able to explore the game world at their leisure, complete quests, interact with various factions, and make choices that affect the game’s narrative and their standing with the various factions.
Unlike “Fallout 3”, which is set on the East Coast of the post-apocalyptic United States, “New Vegas” is set in the Mojave desert and includes the city of New Vegas (a post-apocalyptic interpretation of Las Vegas) and other communities. The game’s story revolves around the conflict between the New California Republic (NCR), Caesar’s Legion, and the mysterious Mr. House, with the player character’s actions determining the outcome of this conflict and the fate of New Vegas.
Game Facts
- Development Team: Many members of the “Fallout: New Vegas” development team at Obsidian Entertainment were part of the original team that created “Fallout” and “Fallout 2” at Black Isle Studios.
- Hardcore Mode: Unlike previous games in the series, “New Vegas” introduced a “Hardcore” mode, where players have to manage their character’s hunger, thirst, and sleep levels, in addition to health and radiation.
- Faction Reputation: The game introduced a reputation system, separate from the Karma system of previous games, that tracks the player’s standing with various factions in the Mojave Wasteland.
- Setting: While the previous game, “Fallout 3”, was set in Washington D.C., “New Vegas” moved the setting to the West Coast and the Mojave Desert, harking back to the settings of the first two games in the series.
- Voices: “New Vegas” has a robust cast of characters, many of which are voiced by famous actors and actresses, including Matthew Perry, Felicia Day, Danny Trejo, and Kris Kristofferson.
- Iron Sights: The game introduced the ability to aim using iron sights on guns, a feature that was not available in “Fallout 3”.
- Inspiration: The game’s story and setting are inspired by the real-world history and culture of the Southwest United States, as well as classic Western and post-apocalyptic films and literature.
- Wide Range of Endings: There are a huge number of different endings to “Fallout: New Vegas”, as the ending is influenced by the choices made by the player throughout the game.
- Gecko Skinning: A small but interesting fact is that “Fallout: New Vegas” reintroduced the ability to skin geckos, a feature not seen since the first two games in the series.
- Playing After the End: Unlike “Fallout 3” in its original form, “Fallout: New Vegas” doesn’t allow the player to continue exploring the game world after the main story has been completed, although this was later changed in “Fallout 3” with the release of the “Broken Steel” DLC.
Gameplay Tips
- Save Often: The game is known to have occasional bugs and crashes, so it’s important to save your progress frequently to avoid losing significant progress.
- Explore Thoroughly: There are many hidden treasures and side quests scattered throughout the Mojave Wasteland, so it pays to be thorough in your exploration.
- Speech Skills Matter: Investing points in the Speech skill can open up a lot of alternative paths in quests, as well as providing new ways to solve problems or avoid combat.
- Use V.A.T.S: The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) can be crucial in combat, allowing you to target specific body parts on enemies and often providing a much-needed edge in battle.
- Try Hardcore Mode: For a more immersive and challenging experience, try playing in Hardcore mode, which introduces mechanics like hunger, thirst, and the need for sleep, and makes ammunition have weight.
- Watch Your Reputation: The reputation you have with the game’s various factions can greatly affect your experience, opening or closing off different quest paths.
- Repair and Maintain: Always keep your weapons and armor in good condition. This not only ensures they’re more effective, but also that you get the best prices when selling them.
- Use Companions Wisely: Companions can be a great help in battle and also have their own personal quests which can lead to rewarding outcomes.
- Invest in Intelligence: An early boost to your Intelligence attribute means more skill points to distribute when you level up, which can be very beneficial in the long run.
- Don’t Rush: Take your time and explore the world at your own pace. There’s a lot to discover off the beaten path in the Mojave Wasteland.
Quotes
- Mr. House: “If you want to see the fate of democracies, look out the windows.”
- Robert Edwin House: “A time will come when you will answer for your crimes.”
- Yes Man: “Oh! He had some amazing theories. He thought, maybe, the detonation caused a seismic event that broke a water main, allowing the Test Site’s construction crews to, I quote, ‘drink delicious, healthful sips.’ Talk about water under the bridge!”
- Caesar: “I’ve had to kill a lot of people to get here, but you… well, you’ve killed a lot of people to get here, too.”
- Courier: “War never changes. Men do, through the roads they walk.”
- Arcade Gannon: “There’s a lot more troops here than we thought. No wonder we couldn’t hold Hoover Dam.”
- Raul Tejada: “Boss, I’m as loyal as any human can be, but if you’re expecting unthinking devotion like some kind of ghoulified dog… well, don’t.”
- Benny: “The game was rigged from the start.”
- Joshua Graham (The Burned Man): “I don’t enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it’s just a chore, like any other.”
- Mr. New Vegas (Radio Host): “And now, I’d like to play one of my very favorite songs for you.”
Game Controls
Movement:
- W, A, S, D: Move character
- Shift: Run
- Space: Jump
- Ctrl: Toggle sneak mode
Combat:
- Left mouse button: Attack with equipped weapon
- Right mouse button: Aim / Block (depending on the weapon)
- V: Open VATS
- F: Change POV (First/Third person)
- 1,2,3,…,0: Use quick-select items or weapons
Interaction:
- E: Activate / Interact
- R: Reload / Take all from container
- Tab: Open Pip-Boy
- I: Open Inventory
- M: Open Map
- J: Open Quest Journal
Other:
- Q: Auto-walk
- F5: Quick save
- F9: Quick load
- Caps Lock: Walk
Game Characters, Objects, Locations
Characters:
- The Courier: The player character, known as the Courier, is a delivery person left for dead in the Mojave Wasteland, now on a quest for revenge and to shape the fate of New Vegas.
- Mr. House: The enigmatic and reclusive ruler of New Vegas, who resides in the Lucky 38 casino.
- Benny: The head of the Chairmen, one of the Three Families running the New Vegas Strip under Mr. House’s rule, and the man who shot the Courier.
- Caesar: The leader of Caesar’s Legion, a large, slaver society based on the Roman Empire.
- Yes Man: An overly helpful and cheerful robot that assists the player in taking over New Vegas, should they choose to do so.
- Companions: The game includes a variety of companions who can accompany the Courier, including Boone, a bitter sniper; ED-E, a loyal eyebot; Veronica, a disillusioned member of the Brotherhood of Steel; and others.
Objects:
- Platinum Chip: The item that the Courier was supposed to deliver, which is central to the game’s main plot.
- Weapons: The game features a wide variety of weapons, from simple melee weapons to energy weapons and firearms. Some unique ones include the Anti-Materiel Rifle, Fat Man, and the mysterious Alien Blaster.
- Stimpaks: A staple of the Fallout series, these are healing items that restore the player’s health.
- Pip-Boy 3000: The device used to manage the player’s inventory, map, quests, and more.
Places:
- New Vegas Strip: The heart of New Vegas, controlled by Mr. House and the Three Families.
- Goodsprings: The small town where the game starts, and the Courier recovers from their injuries.
- Hoover Dam: A crucial location that supplies power to the region, currently controlled by the New California Republic (NCR) but coveted by Caesar’s Legion.
- Freeside: The district of New Vegas that lies outside of the Strip, filled with people trying to survive in the harsh post-apocalyptic world.
- Camp McCarran: The main base of the NCR in the Mojave Wasteland.
Weapons:
Guns:
- 9mm Pistol: This is one of the first weapons you acquire in the game. It’s relatively common and is a reliable choice for early encounters.
- Hunting Rifle: A powerful and accurate rifle, great for taking down enemies at a distance.
- Anti-Materiel Rifle: An incredibly powerful sniper rifle that can take down most enemies with a single shot.
- 12.7mm Submachine Gun: A high-damage SMG that uses relatively rare ammunition.
Energy Weapons:
- Laser Pistol: A basic energy weapon that’s common in the Mojave Wasteland.
- Plasma Rifle: Fires plasma projectiles that cause high damage and can turn enemies into goo.
- Gauss Rifle: A magnetic linear accelerator gun that fires high-damage superconducting projectiles.
- Q-35 Matter Modulator: A unique version of the plasma rifle with higher damage and lower AP cost.
Melee Weapons:
- Machete: A simple but effective melee weapon common in the Mojave.
- Super Sledge: A powerful melee weapon favored by Super Mutants.
- Thermic Lance: An industrial tool re-purposed as a weapon, capable of ignoring enemy armor.
- Chainsaw: A rare and powerful melee weapon that can quickly shred enemies.
Explosives:
- Dynamite: A basic explosive that’s common among Powder Gangers.
- Frag Grenade: A hand-thrown weapon that causes damage in a wide area.
- Fat Man: A portable nuclear bomb launcher. It’s extremely rare and its mini nukes can annihilate almost anything in the game.
- Missile Launcher: Launches explosive rockets at enemies. A powerful but unwieldy weapon.
Where to Play
- Steam: You’ll need a Steam account to purchase and play the game. Here is the link to the Fallout: New Vegas page: Fallout: New Vegas on Steam
- GOG: This platform specializes in DRM-free games and ensures they work on modern systems. Here is the link to the Fallout: New Vegas page: Fallout: New Vegas on GOG
