New Californication

My journey through the Mojave began when Gamestation had a fantabulous deal where the game was £20 brand new.  Within the past week I have completed the story on Hardcore mode and am now working on grinding XP to get up to level 30 and complete all non-alliance related sidequests and discovering all locations as well as getting the other challenges for melee damage, energy weapon damage and stimpak points regained.

Once done, I will recommence my journey to achieve all other endings.

So far I have salvaged [prospected] quite a bit of gear and stashed it in my penthouse in the Lucky 38 and I intend to strip everything from every location before I’m done.

Now, seeing as the postcardy bit is out the way, this game is awesome.  I had reservations when I read the review as it seemed like just more of the same but nothing revolutionary.  I now realise that this is a really good thing.

Don’t get me wrong though, there are plenty of new features that do make this a completely different game as well.  Hardcore mode is not as tough as people make out, the game can be completed in 2-3 days regardless, but it’s the sidequests or, if like me, you notice a new location isn’t far and you venture off to discover it along your merry way.

Enemies are tougher and weapons are no longer as effective so you have to be smarter with your ammo types and whether to use melee, energy weapons or guns.

There appears to be a lot more to do in New Vegas than the Capitol Wasteland, and caps are more abundant thanks to the casinos – which come in handy considering that when you find the Gun Runners (they produce their own weapons and ammo) just outside the Strip – as the weapons are brand new their condition is 100% and they obviously come with a hefty price tag.

There are also a lot of easter eggs to be found and humorous scenes (sometimes not scripted, such as this glitch I snapped on my phone).

If you haven’t ventured into the Mojave Wasteland yet, do it.  NOW.