Oh Boy! New Fallout Screens!

New Fallout: New Vegas shots are in and it looks tasty. It also looks different, but not graphically. You vain little thing.

There’s certainly more inspiration from the originals present here. The robots in the first screen adhere to this theory. I mean look at them. They’re humorous. But not in a subtle, satirical way. They’re just funny lookin’. Is this a good thing? Well… to be honest with you probably not no. Fallout 3 oozed charm, satire and black humour. This looks like Fallout put it’s silly hat on and walked down the road with it’s willy out. Also, it’s the same engine as Fallout 3 as well. Easily forgivable of course, it’s a fantastic engine that serves it’s purpose. However it is two years old, and if you’re only going to make minor gameplay changes and ruin the entire feel of the game? Then… well. You’re not getting a purchase off me.

However, it could easily be a return to form. A true, 1950’s view of apocalyptic America that remains faithful to the original vision while exploiting all of the best bits from Fallout 3. If it’s the latter, then I have an erection.

Fallout Stuffs

So, most of you will have seen the above image by now, and no doubt it’s counterparts and probably thought one of two things. You’ll either have smiled and thought “Ah! Thank God for that! New Vegas is more of the same, and after the epic that was Fallout 3, that’s very much a good thing".” Or, you’ll have gone, “NOOO” FANBOY RAAAGGE! IT'S JUST THE SAME GARGHHH” and presumably, choked on your own rage vomit.

At first, I was choking on my rage vomit, but as I was lying on the floor gasping for air I realised that the direction New Vegas is taking is no way a bad move.

See, I’ve just started a fresh game of Fallout 3 on the PC and already I’m once again completely immersed in the wasteland. If New Vegas is promising us Fallout 3 all over again, and THEN some… well colour me speechless because they are Gods amongst Men and we must worship these people.

Of course, I’m still sceptical that it may turn out to be a bland, samey version of Fallout 3 but at the moment? They have the benefit of the doubt. You have until Christmas guys and gals. Do me proud.

Fallout: New Vegas

New Trailer! Watch it now!

Opinions? Well don’t mind if I do. Also, I’m going to ignore the rumours going around about being able to play as ghouls etc. All seem a bit… fake to me at the moment, so I’ll acknowledge them once they’ve been confirmed. Anyway, here we go:

I like:

• That Robot. Yes, I know, a stupid thing to start on but I just do. It’s awesome.
• The logo. It’s very very similar to the original logos which could mean a return to the very original Fallout style. Large deserts, grey super mutants, turn based RPG system etc. This could also be enforced by the trailer starting on a TV screen and slowly panning out, which of course is identical to the opening of the original Fallout.
• Although it’s only a teaser trailer, the graphics are certainly better than anything released prior to Fallout 3’s release. A new engine perhaps? Improved graphics would certainly be a welcome improvement.
• The location. Vegas could well be an extremely fascinating direction for the Fallout series, or an extremely bad one. If the game delivers huge desert landscapes, hundreds of locations and of course a living breathing post-apocalyptic representation of Vegas then I would be very happy indeed.

I dislike:

• While it’s fresh in your minds, let’s go back to talking about the location. If the game delivers an empty, barren wasteland with hardly anything to do and a representation of Vegas that’s about as populated and as interesting as the cities on Borderlands then that’s it. I won’t care. The Capital Wasteland was the best thing about Fallout 3 and that’s a fact.
• It’s not being made by Bethesda this time around. Instead, it’s been given to Obsidian Entertainment who are famous for Neverwinter Nights 2 and Alpha Protocol. That’s it. To top it off, Bethesda aren’t even publishing it in some parts of the world. Eep? I think so.
• The possibility that it’s too over the top. I’m all for satirical videogames, but Vegas gives Fallout the opportunity to be so tongue in cheek that it not only alienates fans of the series but anyone who dares play it, expecting something with at least some seriousness in it.

Overall though? I’m excited. How could I not be! Fallout 3 was incredible.