Fallout: New Vegas - The American post-apocalyptic dream

 When I first heard about the game I had already played in the past, the Fallen Earth classic (many hours of gameplay) and Fallout 4 in an internet cafe, which seemed like a game with a strange and unfamiliar mechanic. But most of all, it seemed as if - although the setting was specifically post-apocalyptic, something I adore - that this game had no identity, no soul. So when I heard about how good FNV was, I was skeptical. Everyone mentioning this game had the same opinion: best Fallout game, by far. I kept those rumors in mind, but thought of it as a game that was not my priority. 

Till the day came, when I was bored, needed a game to play and saw a steam ad about FNV on sale. One of those crazy steam sales every once or twice a year. 80% off etc. 

The cover was a killer, the setting seemed like reflecting my inner demons. A casino region ruled by a machine man amidst a wasteland desert full of bandits, monsters and functions warring over its territory. That’s some badass shit I would surely want to get involved in. Plus my pc is old, so my choices are limited. Nevertheless I could play the game. If only it weren’t for some bags and crashes… in this article - my first article in English -  I'll elaborate on why FNV was and still is a game ahead of the curve, surpassing the standards and setting new ones for the genre of mad max-esque post-apocalyptic gaming. 

Shall we start with the ambience.  The sound of the air of the Mojave desert alongside with the soundtracks of either the combat or the functions is capable of getting you in the mood, more than enough to keep you wandering around this post apocalyptic version of Nevada. I remember specifically a soundtrack that has stuck in my memory - the one right when entering the Fort, The Legion's function base. At this point, I have to admit that the title of the mission, Render unto Caesar, (Caesar is the leader of the Legion) has stuck into my mind and I often use it myself IRL.

Now that I mentioned one of the functions, I'll have to elaborate on this one and also on the other major ones, because each has something interesting to offer. The Legion of Caesar is exactly what you would think according to their name: They wear Roman uniforms and armor, alongside guns they also use spears, they have slaves and they behave exactly as the Roman empire, trying to expand their reign and to subjugate other functions. The brotherhood of steel has a hidden vault somewhere in the Mojave surrounded by mist. They view themselves as protectors of the technology of the old world that could be dangerous on curtain hands. Then there is the NCR, which stands for New California Republic (check the lore for further info). They are a military-police-type force and their aim is to enforce their law and ensure stability in the Mojave region as well as New Vegas. To do this they have to defeat the Legion of Caesar who also shares the same goal. Then we have Mr. House, the machine-man who alone saved Vegas from annihilation when the bombs destroyed the old world. The war between the former two factions is beneficial for his plans as long as they two are fighting each other and not laying their hands on New Vegas. He controls the strip of New Vegas where all the rich families hold their Casinos as well as the free side where poverty and crime reigns. In this damned region however, there is a faction that could be seen as saviors or a menace, depending on the judge. The Kings - an Elvis Presley-looking gang of folks with ideals about the freedom of man that try to help the people of the strip, though acting as any gang would: Holding control of their turf and all the services and the goods (such as water) this turf can offer. Another faction trying to help the freeside of Vegas, as well as other people of the wasteland, are the followers of the apocalypse. The best description I could give for them would be, a non profit organization like the red cross, but with guns. Last but surely not least, the Great Khans. Yes, their lifestyle is exactly what anyone would think according to their name. They live in yurts, they wear leather, they have a king. However, they sell drugs because things are not going too well for the economy of their function at that time. Thus the reason why they wish to make alliance with the Legion. To make the Great Khans Great again! The Great Khans are responsible at one point for many problems in the Mojave. First of all, they worked for the first antagonist by helping him attack and almost kill the protagonist, which was merely a courier, in order to steal a chip he was carrying - a small item with great technological power. Despite the above, the Great Khans are the faction I would like to join mainly because of their design and style. The next one would be the Kings. Too bad I never understood how I could join any of them. Thankfully, the game community offers another solution to reduce the loneliness of the player in the game.

The first mod I installed was ‘unlimited companions’. I wanted to feel like I had my own in-game gang and the one companion rule seemed way too limiting. However I have to mention that there are many mods for this game that upgrade both the aesthetic and the gameplay experience.

Of course there are many other smaller functions and communities of humans and mutants like ghouls and nightkin alike with npc that are memorable and enjoyable company.

The factions might be plenty but there are only a few that essentially progress the game. Legion, NCR, Mr. House and the one I did not mention before, Yes Man. Although the former two are individuals and not functions, we could count them as such due to their technological prowess and the authority they can bestow to the people and environment around them. 

On one hand, Mr. House is a man with an aged broken body, laying in the Lucky 38 casino, still living with the aid of a hyper-computer. He controls with his securitrons the whole New Vegas, keeping its inhabitants, the Casinos and the families that run them at bay. He used his high-tech to protect Vegas when the bombs fell and he keeps protecting and ruling over it. His goal is to take out all the factions that aim to conquer and control New Vegas. His goal is to become an autocrat and improve humanity. On the other hand there is Yes man, a robot that formerly worked for the man who stole the chip from the Courier to exploit its potential for his own benefit. However, for some reason, Yes Man is willing not only to work for the protagonist but also guides him on how to handle the other factions and to take control over Mojave and New Vegas, if he decides so.

I’ve played only once this game and I chose to stick around with Mr. House for a while but then he ordered to genocide the brotherhood of steel. I had already done some missions from their vault and I got there to finish the remaining ones, trying alao to find a different course to progress the game, maybe persuade House to spare them. No way. Instead of that, Veronica (one of the companions that was a member of the brotherhood of steel) got exiled, and right before trying to become a member of the followers of the apocalypse, a bunch of BOS murder that whole outpost. Right after taking care of them my first thought was, “aight, that’s it. Time for genocide”. I went back to Mr. House. Took the mission and headed back to their Vault. I almost pressed the button to self destruct their whole Vault. Then, right before getting on the computer, I talked to a younger npc - thought I’d get some extra mission. It turned out to be just a little girl that wanted to congratulate the Courier for his contribution to the BOS. Anyway I decided not to start blasting and to spare the BOS. But in order to progress the game I had to take a different path. So I went back to Lucky 38 and ended House. It was a hard choice that saddened me more than any other game. Even than the ending of gta iv. But taking the path of Yes Man was the most preferable of all other options. With him, there would be some form of control over the area with the aid of the securitrons but there would be any solid governance over the whole mojave region. 

 When I replay this game someday in the future, there are only a few small details I would change. Not the main course of action. More importantly, I’ll be more informed about the details in the game when I choose to enter its world again. 

A funny thing about the gameplay. Although the tutorial was very clear about the battle mechanics, I completely forgot about the VATS system. For those not familiar with Fallout games, VATS allows the player to pause the time and choose specific parts of the enemy body to attack. Imagine playing until almost half of the game without knowing that. Early game, I could not kill even those flying little fucks buzzing on my face. Fortunately a friend told me about it. 

Since we got into the gameplay topic, I would like to share with you my secret recipe for destroying Deathclaws (the strongest monsters in the game). Rocket launcher from afar aiming to the legs. Once enough rockets damage it there, its legs will become cripled and so it will walk slower. Then, you can hit it with any other weapon even from closer range since it will never reach you at that speed. But never melee. It is impossible without cheats. Although the game is quite melee friendly and I’m a huge fan of melee weapon fighting, meleeing a Deathclaw is never a smart idea. Try to ignore the urge. For your own shake. 

I’d like to give some credits to the creativity of the DLC’s as well.

Dead Money. Trapped inside a ghouled-filled old-mexican-style town, you are forced to enter and rob a mansion which holds a treasure in gold coins. Ok this is by itself quite tempting, but here’s the catch. You’ll have to steal it for someone who abducted you once you entered the DLC and put an explosive collar in your neck. Well you’ll have the chance to fight back, but until then you’ll have to deal with those fucked up NPC’s that would make any therapist go nuts: a mute cyborg girl, a ghoul narcissist singer with trust issues and a nightkin with two identities (which YOU can switch in game by choice during the dialogues). Nevertheless, the more crazy NPC’s the more fun in a setting already fucked up. Although I enjoyed the story of the Sierra Madre, its characters, setting and enemies, I feel almost sad to admit that it was the most troublesome of all gameplay wise. The main problem was that this dlc did not allow fast travel. This, alongside that it gives very little resources along the way, makes it annoying. Not to mention that at some point, you had to find your way through abandoned houses and up to the roofs without any guidance. Instead of complaining, I will just state this: this DLC was the first reason that I used cheats in the game.

Moving forward, the lonesome road was by far the most chilling. Both in terms of atmosphere and story. The first thing which comes to mind is “oh great another more lonesome and sad road I have to endure through the radiated wasteland”. However, it seems as if the lonesome road goes for the path of the antagonist. A road of someone who has given up to the madness and devastation of the new world. A mindset so empty that only hatred and revenge can fill. At least until the Courier brings him home again (if chosen) by explaining to him that a new world can arise from the ashes. Stopping him from causing another nuclear devastation upon all of the west. However, even though the ending I chose was chilling, having no other way, I sent the bombs towards the Legion. An act I did not necessarily regret. Later on I learned that you can make a little robot to cancel the launch. Oh well. Maybe in another playthrough in the future. At some point in the game, you might hear about the burning man and how the legion hates him so much. In the DLC ‘honest hearts’ you walk across the grand canyon protecting a caravan, until a native tribe attacks and manages to kill everyone except the Courier. Then the Courier aligns himself with another native christianised tribe alongside two NPC with a strong role along the tribe (and main role across the DLC). One is the preacher and the other is the burning man. Meeting this deadly motherfucker from up close, the Courier learns his story. He was on the side of Caesar helping him build his function back in the days, but when things turned crazy he revolted. So Caesar ordered him burned. He fell into a river and managed to survive with a burned skin. Thus beginning a long time grudge. The contrast between the preacher and the burned man is very interestingly showcased by the choice the Courier has to make involving the future of the christianized tribe.When the time was approaching, the choices were either to listen to the preacher and help the tribe to flee and leave this land available to the opposing tribe, or stand alongside the burned man and battle against them. You can understand that given the circumstances, I had no obligation to choose peace.This DLC reminded me of the endless hours of Fallen Earth, riding with the horse around canyons. 

Ingame, old world blues is a phrase referring to a type of nostalgia for the pre-war world that might occur to certain people. In this DLC, a bunch of brains that belonged to scientists that now exist with the aid of machines, abduct the Courier, lobotomize him and make him confront their sworn enemy, the brain of a former fellow scientist that also has the Courier's brain. Don’t ask me how the courier can operate without his brain. Ask the brain itself when the time in the game comes, since you can actually start a conversation with it. Makes total sense, I could not understand your confusion. Yes you got it right. This DLC has an air of vintage sci-fi. Even the ominous ambience of the game is most of the time traded for old songs that play on repeat and can easily get stuck in your head, like “why don’t you do right” by Peggy Lee.

Final thoughts. This video game is not a gem; it is a monolith. Everything, from the endless hours of walking the Mojave to its ambience, from the encounters with the heads of the functions to chatting with the companions, is forcing you to question the road that you walk and the choices that you make along the way. One thing is sure. You can’t keep everyone satisfied and not hurt or benefit anyone - not in this game. 

Now that the time of Fallout 5 approaches, I feel urged to note that Fallout New Vegas 2 can and has to happen. Obsidian has to take the lead once more and shine with a brand new sequel. Perhaps the story could take place decades after the first one. When the Legion is stronger and decides to strike once more. Nevertheless, with or without a sequel, FNV is a solid complete game experience in all aspects and even 13 after its release remains relevant to the hearts of many players remaining an irreplaceable action rpg amidst a flurring industry.