When you come across certain locations or characters the music switches to something that reminds me of the Cathedral music in Fallout 1, kinda sinister music with a bell clanging away.

Is this the developers way of saying "pay attention! character or faction from the original games!"?

I mean, really.

No, I think it's just suppose to give this air of uncomfortableness and make you more alert. Just a narrative device basically.

I agree with this.

that.

As the three stooge's wiseman posters posted above, atmosphere is the raisin.
Go into the abandoned stores they have an annoying effect too, like a banjo / harmonica tune that rattles quickly..
I keep looking around for some random encounter when I hear it.

Cue up any of your favorite movies that has a scene where tension builds up to an event or climix in the action. Then, turn the sound down so you don't hear the soundtrack music. You will find that the feelings of dread or anticipation or anxiety or other emotional response that you feel when watching the scene is not there because you don't hear the music.

true, i suppose a sort of ' tubular bells' theme will create tension, just as you turn round and see a deathclaw in your face..............Brown trousers time. :nuke:

Hmm maybe you are all right. But is it the same music from the Cathedral part in FO1?

It may be for both atmosphere and a little for nostalgia.
The first time I entered Nipton and the Necropolis song from F1 (At least I think it was) started playing I felt a very pleasant chill through my body.

That IS the cathedral music from Fallout 1.

New Vegas ships with most (if not all) of the original Fallout music tracks.

Not surprising. If you think voice actors are expensive, just try commissioning original music!

No reason to not recycle music. If it sets the right mood for the cell, I don't care if I have heard it in another game. And, at least it is from a game that is part of the series.

Oh I'm not complaining... I greatly prefer the older tracks to anything in the recent series...
I truly wished that they had contracted the original composer for the FO3 & NV ambient background tracks. :shrug: