Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360)

Fallout: New Vegas is a game which shows that graphics aren't everything. Despite it still using the same engine as Fallout 3, it has been improved dramatically. Its gameplay is what will have you hooked for hours on end. With more locations, more quests, more guns, more endings and a lot more, this will be a game you will constantly be coming back to. I am currently in my 3rd play through and loving it.

The first thing I should mention is the graphics, for those of you expecting stunning graphics are anything better than Fallout 3 will be disappointed, the game is using the same engine meaning there is pretty much no difference. A lot of items have been recycled meaning any Fallout 3 players will be able recognise a lot of the old stuff, but there is still a fair amount of new visuals which has been added to game so expect a lot new visuals including Vegas itself which I have to say was a little disappointing but still nice to look at nevertheless.

Now that graphics is out of the way, time to focus on what is really important; the gameplay. This game is a first person shooter, and it may not be the best shooter around but its still great fun. Fallout: New Vegas now has iron sights, if you don't know what that means, it means you can look down you gun, this has replaced the zoom in fallout 3. The iron sights feel better to use but feel nothing like a first person shooter like for example Call of Duty. Other than that, combat is very similar to Fallout 3, melee, explosives and unarmed weapons can be used as well guns ranging from laser to ammo based(yes, they are called unarmed weapons). If you are looking for a shooter which will be as action packed and provide gun gameplay like Halo or Call of duty you wont find it here. You can also play in third person, but it isn't as great, you have to have the adjustable camera over the shoulder and even then its not as easy, however I would say it is definitely playable.

The true excellence in this game is its RPG features, the mojave wasteland has more locations than Fallout 3, more quests, and so much more. Quests have a lot of variety, from being more diplomatic to being more about killing an entire gang of raiders. The wasteland is huge, this may put people off the game as there is a lot of walking involved, thankfully you can use fast travel meaning you wont have to walk to places you have been to before. The size, and the large amount of things to do gives this game very high value for its money. Features added such as factions, weapon mods, ammo creation, and item creation all add more to this game. My two favourite things about this game is how more civilised it feels, in fallout 3 there is like 5 major towns and these aren't very big or very populated, the world feels more lonely and a little empty. Both the opposing armies in Fallout 3 had one small base and didn't exactly seem very powerful. In New Vegas, the world feels a lot more populated, the new armies, the NCR and the Legion actually feel like they have armies rather than a few soldiers and scout parties. There are a lot more places to visit which aren't full of enemies but instead npcs which can give you quests, items to buy, or places to stay etc. Factions are used for who you get on with in the wasteland and who you don't, for example if I was to behave myself around NCR members and get fame by doing a lot of quests for them, they will act friendly towards me, I will be allowed on their territory and if I wanted to I could do more quests for them, if I however went around killing their soldiers, they will hate me and attack on sight. By getting on with one faction may mean losing fame with another, the NCR's hero will be hated by the legion and thus attacked on site. Other than the two main factions in this game, there are a lot other smaller ones including gangs, tribes, towns etc.

It would take me ages to go into detail about everything as their is just so much to this game, so it will be better to play the game and see it for yourself rather than rely on just research, there is still a lot more like, gambling, armour, food etc. Like ever other RPG, you level up and get experience when you kill enemies and complete quests, every few levels you choose a perk which will get you some type of bonus e.g. one which does more damage against females..

The music in this game is decent but not brilliant, vegas has good and suitable music but around the wasteland it seems pretty quiet. The music is fitting but not that remember-able apart from the title screen song which is familiar. As for voice acting, its very good, and not boring to listen to which is very important as there is so much dialogue. All other sounds such as gun fire, lasers, etc are all fine.

To wrap things up, this game offers so much that it is worth what you pay for. It is a game which you spend ages playing as one character doing multiple quests, or a game which you can create multiple to see the many different endings and story arcs. If you want more of a challenge, difficulty can be changed from either east, normal, and hard. Hardcore mode has been added which makes ammo have weight, and makes you need to ensure you drink, eat and sleep enough to survive or face the punishment of death. It should be noted that there is also no multiplayer.

If you want a single player game which will last you for a long time then look no further, as you have found it. If you are a fallout 3 player, and you loved that game then you should definitely be playing this.