Bigger and badder
The structure of Fallout: New Vegas is very similar to Fallout 3, though there are now 400 locations to explore rather than 200, as well as crafting to get stuck into and tons of new weapons and modifications to experiment with. The narrative driven, objective-based gameplay predictably revolves around combat, and lots of it, as you come face to face with various factions, mutants and robots intent on causing you harm.Far from being a run-and gun game though, New Vegas features a heavy amount of customization which you have no choice but to get to engrossed in. Equipping your character with the best tools for the job is paramount to your success, as is learning the strengths and weaknesses of the items in your inventory and trying to build your avatar up into a powerful, killing machine. You do this by crafting him to your particular play-style with a wide range of traits and perks, such as Four Eyes which gives your perception skills a boost while wearing glasses making you more proficient with dynamite. Customising your character goes very deep and impacts on the game profoundly, affecting your play style, every battle you face and every NPC that you meet. One of the beauties of New Vegas is watching your character progress and witnessing how your choices affect absolutely everything.
The brown-splattered, murky post-apocalyptic setting of New Vegas - in particular we're referring to the Mojave Wasteland - isn’t a million miles from what you may have seen in Fallout 3, but things have been brightened up slightly with clear blue skies giving way to dark clouds, and there's much more to be seen on your journey across the wastelands. You can now pick plants, for instance, to make potions and there's always something to see in the distance that's worth exploring, either to get more loot or to open up new objectives. Each time you step out into the Wastelands there's a feeling of danger and trepidation, and a buzz to be had out of not knowing what’s going to happen next.
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