Fallout: New Vegas review

Beyond good and evil

Previous Fallout games suffer from something that has influenced other RPGs (including Bioware classics like Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic). In particular, there was a moral system where you either completely aligned with the “good” side or completely with the “dark” side. Such systems are problematic because they limit role play by instantly tagging player actions.

Fallout: New Vegas still has a “karma” system that mimics this approach. But most of the emphasis is on a type of reputation system that should be familiar to anyone who has ever played an MMORPG. Players can choose which groups to carry out the various missions for and this strengthens their reputation. And your reputation can affect both the missions you are offered and how other characters perceive you and your actions.

All of this combines to achieve the ultimate goal of any RPG: to make players feel like their choices matter. Based on this alone, I highly recommend this game.

Final verdict

The final measure of whether a game stands the test of time is its replay value. Will you come back to a title in the years to come, or is it a “universal” type of experience?

Fortunately, Fallout: New Vegas packs a lot of replay value. First, there is the character customization. Customizing your character’s appearance and stats means you can literally play a different way every time. And trust me: very different character builds result in very different gameplay experiences.

Fallout: New Vegas also has three distinct endings and four different DLCs that expand the world and story content. Once you fall in love with this game, you can keep experimenting with new things for a long time!

My verdict? Go ahead and buy this game. It is an extraordinary and unique experience. The only downside is that you will begin to realize all the potential that has been squandered by subsequent Fallout games.