Okay, so remember my post earlier when I said there was nothing I was anticipating more than the Sonic 4 demo at E3? I totally lied. Anyone who knows me knows I bleed Fallout. For E3 2010, I lived only for Fallout: New Vegas. Lucky for me, I’ve got an editor in chief that’s got my back, so he penciled me in for the private booth tour at Bethesda, where I got a hands-on look at the next chapter in the Fallout saga.
The demo opened up on the Vegas strip, and I had the opportunity to play the slots and some roulette before heading out into the desert. I tested a few of the new weapons, including a Plasma Blaster, which had the feel of a Plasma Pistol but the kick back and aim of a Heavy Incinerator . With the addition of so many new factions and gangs into New Vegas, the karma system seems to have changed somewhat, alerting you to karmic shifts and how they will affect you in the area your player is located. I also observed a number of alerts that popped up after completing certain events, which the booth attendant (of course) refused to explain. While the nature of the alerts is hard to describe, it appeared as though they were keeping track of something, achievements that require collecting or performing a certain number of tasks, represented by a fraction (completed/total). I heard mention of the Brotherhood of Steel, asked my attendant if she could tell me more, and promptly got shut down. I’m guessing the ole BoS are not only around, they’re probably the antagonists, too.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m a Seattle girl, I love the rain and own sweaters in about fifteen shades of gray, so I loved Fallout 3‘s doom and gloom aesthetic. Fallout: New Vegas clears the skies and adds a healthy dose of red and orange to the color palette, giving considerable lift to the visual experience. If Fallout 3 was too depressing for you, then it’s New Vegas sibling might be more your style. You can find out starting October 19 on PC, XBOX 360, and PS3.
With E3 2010 came a few new press assets, including a trailer and some screenshots. Check out three new shots in our Fallout: New Vegas gallery, and an E3 trailer, above.
