Posted by Chris 'Ace' Pacheco on February 6, 2010

First Fallout: New Vegas Details

A couple of days ago, we showed you the teaser trailer for Fallout: New Vegas. It raised a lot of questions like “How does Vegas still have power?” and “Who was the mystery dude at the end?” For those who are subscribed to PC Gamer have gotten a new issue containing new info about the game. For those that don’t have a subscription to PC Gamer, will have to wait until it’s out on newsstands. But if you want to know the goods, we go it for you here. Fallout: New Vegas comes out this fall for the XBox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

• There is an optional hardcore mode, the character needs to drink water, ammo has weight, healing isn’t instant etc. Normal mode is more similar to Fallout 3 gameplay.

• The storyline is focused on the New California Republic vs. Caesar’s Legion vs. New Vegas residents.

• Set in the Mojave wastelands. Vegas didn’t get many nukes. More intact buildings, as well as desert vegetation. Vegas itself is mostly intact.

• You don’t play a Vault Dweller (or descendant of one) but a courier, left for dead and saved by a friendly robot.

• There is a screenshot of a vault suit as well.

• There is an assault rifle looking like the M4, as well as a new big gun with a backpack, held like a minigun.

• There are special moves for melee weapons in VATS – specifically a move for a golf club called “Fore” which seems to be a groin shot.

• Bartering is not just lower prices but negotiating for better rewards.

• Followers can be managed through a context-sensitive menu, with orders like “follow”, “stay” or “attack”.

• The Hoover Dam is in the game and is supplying electricity to the city.

• There is a quest to rescue a ghoul from some super mutants. The ghoul can then become your companion.

• The Geckos are back.

• There are both dumb and intelligent super mutants, including the elite Nightkin.

• Some super mutants look similar to the ones in Fallout 3, while others are new. There is e.g. a female super mutant with a 1950s hairstyle who apparently is one of their leaders.

• Screenshots include a guy with a beard and straw hat, a ghoul an NCR Ranger

• The only picture of New Vegas itself is concept art and not a screenshot

• Some location screenshots include a huge model dinosaur advertising a hotel, some satellite dishes, an array of solar panels

• A character generation shot showing a “vigor machine” instead of the skill book

• NCR base is the McCarran Airport, Caesar’s Legion is based in the Vegas Strip, while super mutants are based in a place called Black Mountain. There is also a town called Fremont and another called Primm. A topless revue is mentioned as being in the latter.

• NCR Ranger armor is similar to a brown combat armor with sleeves, there are concept arts of a Ranger

• Skills have a bigger effect on conversation choices. E.g. someone with a high Explosives skill may be able to have a conversation about explosives where appropriate.

• There is a Reputation system in addition to Karma.