In connection: Ask 10 different players what they think of the Bethesda Fallout series (excluding FO and FO2) and you’ll get 10 different answers, both positive and negative. However, most will agree that Fallout: New Vegas was the best of the three first-person shooters – we’ll continue to pretend that Fallout 76 doesn’t exist.
Fans often refer to Fallout: New Vegas as that preferably in the franchise, with many attributing its success to Obsidian Entertainment’s return to development responsibilities. If you haven’t played New Vegas yet, there’s no excuse now because Epic has made it their own Free catalog of games. The Ultimate Edition usually costs $20but from now until June 1st at 10am EDT you can purchase it for the same price as a Five fingers discount.
Fallout: New Vegas is hard to criticize. From its role-playing elements to its classic western soundtrack, Obsidian has managed to get everything right that Bethesda got wrong in Fallout 3.
Unlike “FO3” and “FO4,” which Bethesda is set in its own turf in the Northeastern United States, “Obsidian” is set in New Vegas in southern Nevada and central California, with a devastated Las Vegas being the primary focal point. The setting was a nice aesthetic change and appealed to those in the western US who were familiar with the locations.
Dialogue felt more meaningful in New Vegas, and interactions with factions were meaningful as well. Unlike Fallout 3, ticking off or helping the various gangs has tangible consequences. Bethesda tried to duplicate this in FO4, but it felt forced.
For example, at the beginning of FO4, Bethesda intentionally leads players into an encounter with the Minutemen faction. The situation is so bad that the player feels compelled to help them – the whole goal is to introduce Bethesda’s factioning gameplay mechanic.
Regardless of your take on the franchise, Fallout: New Vegas free is a no-brainer. Even those who played it back then on the PS3 or XB360 might want to take advantage of what Epic has to offer. The game is old enough that a potato could play the title at maximum settings without breaking a sweat. Also, a 13-year replay will feel like a whole new game.
