By Nolan Warner

Fallout 3 had a mixed reception in the gaming community, but most gamers considered it to be a great game. It offered an interesting story and a long play time, tons of content and the ability to upgrade one's character as well as fun, relatively active game play. Now, Fallout: New Vegas has hit the shelves, and it’s got a lot to live up to if it's going to be considered a worthy follow up to Fallout 3.

The first thing that many fans of Fallout 3 will notice when playing New Vegas is that the game is essentially the same. The graphics and overall look of the game, including menu style and text, are very similar and often completely identical. The V.A.T.S system, an aiming tool introduced in 3, is still present. The objective of the game is the same: to explore the world and upgrade your character, while completing both the main and side missions. Karma is also still a factor in the game, providing good karma for good actions, bad karma for bad actions, and an option to stay neutral by mixing up your tactics. As is any RPG, it's all about character progression and exploration. Bethesda's special feel and set up, that fans of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3 enjoyed, is very much present in New Vegas, despite the game's being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, rather than Bethesda itself. All of that said, the game is essentially the same as Fallout 3, just in a different setting with new guns, people, and stories. In a way, it feels like an expansion to the game, not a standalone title, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as anyone who enjoyed the game will enjoy New Vegas as well. But this game, just as its predecessor, has some major issues.

The game takes place in the area surrounding Las Vegas, now called New Vegas, where a group known as the New California Republic is taking control. They have restored Hoover Dam, thus providing the city with power and fresh water, which are extremely valuable assets in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. There are several threats to the Republic, including but not limited to Caesar's Legion, a group invading from the east that wishes to loot and pillage the city and its people. The character which the player controls in the game comes from neither faction, but was a courier delivering a package to the city from a nearby town. When taken hostage and seemingly killed by some shady men who take the package, the character is miraculously rescued and brought back to health by a doctor in a nearby town. Thus begins the player’s journey in the wasteland of the Mojave Desert, as they track down their attackers and do whatever else comes up in their path.

Firstly, it's glitchy. Very glitchy. Many of the issues that were found in 3 have carried over, such as occasional freezing and bugs that cause minor and sometimes major irritation. Secondly, the game places some irritating restrictions that make playing more difficult. A larger amount of items that can be found throughout the world are owned, meaning that they must be stolen for the player to use them, causing a loss of karma. Further, the game shares the infamous problem of the first, in that at the end of the main story line, you are no longer able to play on your character.

It is easy to overlook those flaws by appreciating the many good attributes of the game. Not only are there those familiar aspects from the first game; there are some new features that make the game a fun play. There's hardcore mode, a mode in which the player must feed and rest their character to survive, and the fighting is much more difficult. Ammunition also takes up inventory weight in this mode, posing a major challenge. This game mode is optional, and not recommended for the first play through of the game, even for an experienced gamer. But it still offers a fun twist to the game that can be enjoyed, so long as one does not allow the frustration of playing in this mode to get to them. The game also has variations in ammo types for different guns, which adds diversity to the fighting. Weapons can also be upgraded, which allows the player to upgrade their equipment and ability without having to abandon their favorite weapons. The game also has factions around the wastes, and the player can earn good or bad standing with these factions by doing good or bad actions for or against them. This allows the player to choose between the bad guys, the good guys, and those who don't care about the issue between the NCR (New California Republic) and Caesar's legion.

All things considered, Fallout: New Vegas is a game that, although being very similar to Fallout 3, is fresh and enjoyable. Its faults are easily outweighed by its perks, and anyone who enjoyed 3 or any other RPG would likely have a fun time in New Vegas. There are new features that make the game exciting and fresh, so its similarity to the previous installment in the series doesn't make it boring for someone who had a good fill of said installment. Gamers who enjoy RPGs are sure to have a good time in the wastes of the Mojave Desert.