Fallout: New Vegas is a gem in the Fallout franchise, and it will always be worth a visit long after new entries arrive. In the lifetime of Fallout: New Vegas, certain traditions have come to exist in the community that are considered the canon way to experience the game.
The post-apocalyptic Nevada setting of Fallout: New Vegas has plenty to offer players and there are a few encounters and quests that players should make sure to experience above the rest. On the other hand, some parts of Fallout: New Vegas have become a low priority in comparison.
The Community's Unwritten Rules for Fallout: New Vegas
Wild, Wild, Wasteland is the way to go when selecting the perks of a new character in Fallout: New Vegas. What it ultimately comes down to is the choice between seeing aliens or not seeing aliens, so in this context, there’s a clear winner. Aliens in the Fallout games have over time become a recurring meme and staple in the franchise, so players shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Nevada’s extraterrestrials.
The alien encounters can also net players unique Alien weapons, but the real reward here is getting to partake in the memes firsthand. As iconic as it is in the franchise, Power Armor isn’t necessarily worth the hassle in Fallout: New Vegas. Power armor in Fallout: New Vegas has some incredible defensive qualities, but the amount of effort required to finally be able to wear these armor sets is quite a commitment.
By the time most players get to see the Brotherhood of Steel’s questline through to receive access to Power Armor training, they will likely already have some powerful weapons and armor to have gotten this far. Power armor in Fallout games is a signature feature of the franchise, but in Fallout: New Vegas it’s more of a collector's item.
Becoming familiar with the storyline’s point of no return is crucial to making the most of any Fallout: New Vegas playthroughs. The game eventually comes to a conclusion and there’s no way to continue exploring the wasteland after this besides reverting to an earlier save.
Having the knowledge to prepare a save file at the right moment can save players from redoing some of the content close to the end of the game. Also, the perfect time to hop into most of the DLCs for Fallout: New Vegas is with a fully leveled-up character and arsenal, so saving before completing the main storyline is highly beneficial overall.
Players owe it to their allies to complete their quests in Fallout: New Vegas. The allies in Fallout: New Vegas are very powerful teammates, and they will follow players into the far corners of the wasteland with minimal hesitation. Allies will take and dish their fair share of bullets and haul around the player’s heaviest items, as well as provide some offhand expertise in certain situations. With how invaluable the allies are in Fallout: New Vegas, the least that players can do to express their gratitude is complete quests for them.
Quarry Junction is the true endgame of Fallout: New Vegas. The Quarry Junction location can be enticing to players because it is so close to the starting location, but it houses some of the deadliest creatures in the game. Deathclaws and cazadors serve as hurdles that prevent players from reaching the Vegas Strip too early, so it’s best to take the beaten path and avoid these areas until much later.
Quarry Junction isn’t the only location with Fallout’s iconic Deathclaws, and it’s also arguably not the hardest, but its immediate vicinity to the tutorial area makes it the most memorable. The location itself isn’t too rewarding either, yet none of the other locations quite offer the same level of retribution when players eventually transform from a measly wanderer to a walking death machine.
Fallout: New Vegas is available now for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.