Promotional image featuring the game’s main protagonist: the Courier. Image courtesy of Epic Games.
Among the gaming community, there are certain games that achieve a “cult classic” status, signifying that they are a timeless experience. “Fallout New Vegas” is definitely one of these, as many students at San Luis Obispo High School have either played the game, or have heard about it.
“I heard some people talking about the game. I’d like to check it out,” said junior Ethan Haendler.
“New Vegas” was released in 2010 as a spin-off to the critically acclaimed series “Fallout”, which centers around a post-apocalyptic America. The game itself was only made in 18 months, as the creators of the game, “Obsidian Entertainment” were rushed to release it. This caused the game to be quite buggy at launch, but thankfully most of these issues have been patched.
The story focuses on the Courier, who was shot by the game’s main antagonist, Benny. The Courier survives the attack and is tasked to find and recover the Platinum Chip they were supposed to deliver.
Players can choose between four major factions in the game, each having their own unique identity and motives. The NCR (New California Republic), who focus on maintaining liberty and security, Caesar’s Legion, a group of Roman-influenced warriors, Mr. House, a mysterious multi-billionaire, and Yes Man, a robot who wants to maintain the independence of the people.
Depending on who the player sides with, the fate of the Mojave Desert (where the game takes place in) changes greatly. As an example, if the player decides to assist Mr. House, he will use the power provided by the Hoover Dam to power his army and take over the Mojave Desert.
“I think Caesar’s Legion is the game’s best faction. Although their storyline is short, the appearance and beliefs of the Legion are really interesting,” said junior Jack Edwards.
The gameplay centers around exploring the expansive map of New Vegas, completing quests and leveling up along the way. Players over time can gain access to powerful armor, weaponry, and perks that allow the player to fight more powerful enemies.
“I like that the player starts off with very little, but as the game progresses, you get access to more and more options and playstyles later on,” said junior Maddox Barrett-Loiseau.
Many critics praised the game’s role-playing aspects, story, and overall gameplay. The game review platform IGN gave the game a solid 8.5/10, while Eurogamer gave the game a nine out of ten.
For any game enthusiasts at SLOHS, “Fallout New Vegas” is a must try.
Sources: gamefaqs.gamespot.com, pcgamer.com, eurogamer.com
