Fallout: New Vegas Reviews

Several more reviews of Obsidian Entertainment's return to Fallout have permeated the web this weekend, though I'm surprised at some of the reactions people are having to the game.

GameSpot gives it a 7.5/10:
Fallout: New Vegas is an expansive and complicated RPG that encourages you to see and do as much as you can. This is an explorer's game, always lavishing new and interesting quests on you and giving you a lot of flexibility in how you approach many of them. It builds upon Fallout 3's mechanics in interesting and esoteric ways, making it a comfortable evolution to one of 2008's best games. It's unfortunate that it suffers from so many bugs and other inconsistencies. Role-playing veterans expect glitches in games this complex, but this one far exceeds tolerable limits for these kinds of issues. And yet as busted as it is, Fallout: New Vegas is periodically awesome and consistently compelling. If you've got the stomach for some technological lunacy, this is one gamble that will pay off.

GamesRadar gives it a 9/10:
Despite the crashes and technical hiccups, New Vegas makes up for its rough spots with an engaging main quest and an ocean of side quests to keep you busy for hours as you prepare for the game's final conflict. It may not have the same 'wow' factor as Fallout 3, but Fallout: New Vegas still delivers the goods with an expansive new region of the wasteland to wander through.

Yahoo gives it a 4/5:
It's a shame, perhaps, that once you reach it New Vegas itself is slightly empty and a bit small - but that doesn't mean its various casinos and dancing lady emporiums aren't packed with interesting people and even more interesting jobs to offer. What with the script being tighter and the characters better defined than before (despite the still oddly squidgy heads) it'd be tempting to proclaim New Vegas as a more creative game than Fallout 3. Sadly its countless bugs, glitches, technical malfunctions and AI oddities hammer home the fact that this is a game that needed more time in the oven. Once it's patched up this will again be a marvellous (if radioactive) adventure; until then tomorrow's society won't be the only thing that's broken down.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun doesn't score it:
The way it sounded in previews, Hardcore mode was going to provide New Vegas with an additional, survivalist dimension. Instead, it's just a handful of weak extra rules that have little impact on the rest of the game. Hardcore mode is, at least, ripe for a modder to come along and fix up, which I suppose describes a lot of New Vegas.

Game Interface gives it a 9/10:
Overall, Fallout: New Vegas will keep you busy and entertained for a long, long time. Here's the part where I should put in some cheesy line about what happens in Vegas staying in Vegas. but I won't. With compelling quests, a huge variety of things to do across a large game world, nearly infinite ways to progress your character, tons of items to play with, and a really fun combat system, there's nothing holding you back from enjoying this game. Play through once as a (good) guy then flip to a more sinister approach, and you'll see what I mean. While it's not as innovative and (new) as some might have hoped, it is certainly the continuation of a winning formula. If you haven't experienced Fallout, shame on you. but better late than never. And if you own Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas belongs on your drive right right beside it.

Den of Geek gives it a 4/5:
Overall, New Vegas is a great, yet flawed, familiar and buggy action RPG that may not have the wow factor of 2008's title, but still offers far more content and immersive gameplay than most other titles around at the moment.

PALGN gives it an 8.5/10:
Fallout: New Vegas gets off to a slow start, and the engine is showing its age. Nonetheless, it's extremely addictive and immensely rewarding for those willing to put in the time to see all the Mojave Wasteland has to offer.

Cheat Code Central gives it a 4.0/5:
Fallout 3 is one of the best games of this generation, and fans should be thrilled to see a new story told in a similar fashion. We're looking forward to spending more time in New Vegas, and checking out the DLC when it comes out.

Reghardware gives it a 75%:
Fallout New Vegas was lots of fun, but isn't really the major step up from Fallout 3 that I was expecting. I did like the fact that I couldn't predict where the game was leading me, and to all intents and purposes I was free to wander at will. Plenty of players have moaned that they liked various earlier installments of the game better than this one, for a variety of reasons, but I think their main disappointment was that this didn't seem like a standalone game. Has over-familiarity bred contempt?

RandomNPC gives it a 9/10:
Fallout: New Vegas is a very impressive game. The sheer scope and level of detail are backed up by a well-written immersive and interesting world, clever dialogue delivered by a top-notch cast, and excellent gameplay that will appeal to both RPG and shooter fans. Though they have the occasional hiccup, the visuals and interface with the exception of the horrible map system are also at the top of their game. On the downside, there are numerous bugs, but they are mostly rare or minor and likely to receive a patch in the near future. Even with these problems taken into account, bugs included, Fallout: New Vegas is still an excellent game that offers dozens if not hundreds of hours of entertainment. Hardcore mode is quite well-done and will likely add quite a bit of interest to those who are into that sort of thing. Both newcomers and fans of Fallout 3 will surely get a great deal of enjoyment out of it, though despite the improvements made in New Vegas, personal preference of setting is more likely to effect which they will enjoy more.

PSX Extreme gives it a 7.7/10:
One massive issue Fallout: New Vegas has besides all of its technical problems is that price tag. Let's face it, this is a game built on the original where the mechanics were barely touched. It's an expansion that's being charged full price for. While I'd certainly consider Fallout New Vegas a good game, it loses a lot of points to what I can only attribute to as lazy developing. A dated game engine, coupled with a plethora of gameplay plaguing technical problems, boring voice acting, sub-par visuals, and a bloated price tag compromise an otherwise good game. $60 it's not worth - slash $20, and then we're talkin'.

The Review Crew gives it an 8.5/10:
If you liked Fallout 3, you'll like Fallout: New Vegas. Why? Because it's more of the same. The kind of person who likes Fallout is a person who enjoys exploring without the need of a carrot on a stick. The combat continues to be fun, the enemies varied and interesting, and the outstanding writing continues the history of excellent narrative. I realize that this is not a sequel; this is to Fallout 3 what Vice City was to GTA 3. That is to say, a progression, not an evolution. With a announced list of upcoming downloadable content (first on Xbox 360) that we have no reason to doubt will continue the legacy of quality that Fallout 3's DLC did, this game might break my record for time wasted. Joyfully well wasted in the wasteland.

And That Gamer Podcast gives it a 3.5/5:
As a whole, Fallout: New Vegas is a good game. It has a great story, fantastic characters, and a phenomenal leveling system. If it weren't for the occasionally choppy graphics, technical bugs, and lengthy times of pointless vapid walking (you know. all the stuff they spend millions of dollars to work on!) this game would be awesome. As it stands, it's alright.