In context. Ask 10 different gamers what they think of the Bethesda Fallout series (which will exclude FO and FO2) and you’ll get 10 different answers, both positive and negative. However, many would agree that Fallout. New Vegas was the best of the three first-person shooters; we’ll keep pretending Fallout 76 doesn’t exist.
Fans often mention Fallout. New Vegas as the best in the franchise, with many crediting the success to Obsidian Entertainment’s return to development duties. If you haven’t played New Vegas, now you have no excuse, as Epic has included it in its catalog of free games. The Ultimate Edition normally retails for $20, but from now until June 1 at 10 a.m. EDT, you can get it for the same price as the five-finger discount.
Fallout. New Vegas is hard to criticize. From its role-playing elements to its classic western soundtrack, Obsidian has managed to pull it off in every direction, righting everything Bethesda got wrong with Fallout 3.
Unlike FO3 and FO4, which Bethesda set in its home turf in the American Northeast, Obsidian set New Vegas in southern Nevada and central California, with the ruined Las Vegas as the main focus. The setting was a nice aesthetic change and appealed to those from the western US who were familiar with the area.
The dialogue made more sense in New Vegas, and the interaction with the factions was also significant. Unlike Fallout 3, helping various gangs has tangible consequences. Bethesda tried to replicate this in FO4, but felt forced.
For example, at the beginning of FO4, Bethesda deliberately directs players to an encounter with the Minutemen faction. The situation is so dire that the player feels compelled to help them. the whole point is to introduce Bethesda’s faction building gameplay mechanics.
Regardless of how you feel about the franchise, Fallout. New Vegas is free. Even those who played it before on PS3 or XB360 might want to take advantage of Epic’s offering. The game is old enough that a potato can run the title at max settings without breaking a sweat. Plus, a replay 13 years later will feel like a whole new game.