So I really like New Vegas. I do. Love the story, the companions, the weapons, almost everything.

But there seems to be something missing. Something that F3 had that made it so good. Something that NV is missing.

It's weird. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is.

What do you think is missing from NV that made F3 such a memorable experience?

The open world that was so aesthetically pleasing and easy to explore.

I say either Random Encounters or the large amount of humanoid enemies (Supermutants, Talon Commpany Mercs, Raiders)

There are Supermutants, Fiends, and other humanoid enemies, but not nearly as many as there are in 3, and they don't seem nearly as dangerous

A linear Main Quest. Don't get me wrong, the replay value in New Vegas is phenomenal, but on my very first playthrough I got so lost in the intersecting quests that I ended up helping Yes Man when I intented to go pro-NCR. Now I know better.

Atmosphere, Fallout 3 was just amazing in that department.

This is very vague, but I'll try...

The Capital Wasteland seemed more alive, in a way. I had the impression of visiting a place where things were happening whether I was there or not.

Everyone in New Vegas seemed to be waiting for me to show up.

Sorry I can't express this better.

To name a few things(this is all my personal opinion!):

The fact that it felt like the war had just happened, is a huge minus in most other veterans' books, however I find it a huge contribution in setting the mood. Sure, it's not too realistic, but so what? It's a game, made for your entertainment! Furthermore, this makes the random encounters click with the enviroment, and they too are a very important catalyst for creating the Fallout 3 vibe.

Super Mutants, or pretty much enemies in general, were VERY lacking in NV. In Fallout 3, you'll run into creatures in a lot of places, randomly placed as well, whereas in NV, the enviroment is static and dull, meaning you'll run into the same enemies in the same places every playthrough. The Super Mutants mark Fallout 3 especially. Though realism in accord of the lore is again broken, it doesn't bother me too much. They act as "the other" Enclave pretty much, meaning you have 2 opposing factions in the game. Though not too diverse, I really enjoyed scouring the ruins of DC, running into Super Mutants wherever I went never got old for some reason.

The DC area is a well known location to most people. Despite not having ever been there myself, I am familiar with the most known buildings in the city, as well as the monuments. This is a very good addition to the game in my opinion. The fact that you can go around the city, and the outskirts for that matter, and randomly think: "Hey, I know this place!", is very cool, and helps you connect with the game world a bit more.

And then there's the radio... This was pretty much what did it for me when deciding which of the 2 games I preferred; 3 or NV. The songs on the radio would NEVER get old to me, even if Butcher Pete played 3 times in a row, and Three Dog's news broadcast looped a few times. The songs were much better in 3, although I do know the NV songs fit the setting. Not only the songs though; The announcer, Three Dog, was a MUCH MUCH more lovable person than the machine known as Mr. New Vegas. Remember how Three Dog would actually refer to you before each broadcast by a title varying with your Karma/Level? Mr. New Vegas doesn't seem like he gives a hoot about what you do!

These are all my opinions, but I don't know, there is indeed something else in 3 that gives a different feel from NV, but I can't put my finger on!

New Vegas suffers from the "been there done that" syndrome....I remember the sense of awe and giddiness I had when I first played FO3....most of NV we've done in FO3... character development, earning perks, VATS, collecting items, recruiting companions, and so on. It's a bit early to criticize until we play the other 3 DLC's but if it was NV that came out before FO3, I have a feeling that the complaints would be endless.

Memorable locations. I loved the design of the Strip of course, but some of the faction towns like Caesar's camp left a lot to be desired. Also, radio was better in 3.

this. 100%. The Mojave is sooo boring (I guess it's meant to be, but it doesn't make for a good game)

1) Random encounter - strange enough, I never ambush by legionnaire after I piss Caesar's Legion
2) Main storyline - basically main story of New Vegas end at Ring-a-ding-ding! If I do not help Mr. House/ Yes Man, platinum chip is just a piece of scrap metal...why was I had to be shot then?
3) Land mark - for me, there are just 3 interesting land marks in Mojave - Hover Dam, Helios One and Lucky38
4) Exploration - not much to explore in this desert...and I am very disappointed when I found the strip is so TINY!
5) Radio - in my opinion, RNV is very boring. I prefer GNR.
6) Broken Steel DLC - yeah, i know what you guys want to say...

Totally agree with both of these key factors !!!!

DLC for continuing i feel should defo be implemented otherwise whats the point of killing the NCR/Caesar etc.. if you dont get to see the effect if has on the people in the game??

I personally loved seeing the effect on the DC area for completing "Project Impurity". If they were to go on, they'd need to make changes for every slide. ie, if you convinced the Khans to leave the Mojave, and you have Vault 19 Powder Gangers joining up with them, post game, Red Rock and Vault 19 need to be empty. Seems like a lot of work

The post apocalyptic feel. One of the devs (either Sawyer of Avellone can't remember) stated this too. That as the timeline moves on, the world starts to pick up the pace and snap out of the apocalypse. He said he hated it (I do too) but it's just something that happens as the franchise moves on.

The world was much better in Fallout 3. In New Vegas i can just aim at a landmark on the horizon and leave the character on auto-move, in most cases there is nothing in between. And the explorable locations in New Vegas are very small and/or quest related. But that's why i use IWS and AWOP

And the radio music svcks, which why i have a modded radio stations too. The background music is mostly great, though.

NV does a lot of things better than Fallout 3, though. To slightly alter what Mr. New Vegas says: "Both of them svck in their own special ways"

It is all opinion. No, the radio does not svck, you think it svcks but i dont. Is your opinion better? No <_< . plain and simple. Random encounters are what i miss. but lots of random encounters for no reasons just gets old, in fallout 3 most of them were so easy it turned out thatt it was just giving me crap too sell. my two cents anyway. :read:

Ah right, forgot to include "Disclaimer: In my opinion." :hehe:

:thumbsup:
I do like the amount of super mutants though, i gess that console player dont like the less amount of encounters, but for PC player just get some mods and your fine.

Some clever chap done a neat essay about this though I can't find the link but I miss the amount of prewar information from old terminals. Plus FO3 had a sense of claustraphobia. It's dark and dank you can't see alot of the enemy because they're down the escalator or in an adjoining room or behind some rubble. You lose that when the game is more open like FO:NV. Still think FONV is great though.

I miss the sense of fear and awe I'd get in DC. Sure FONV has a few fear/awe moments, but nearly as many, or as stunning as FO3. Remember the first time you ran across the super mutant & beohemouth vs. Talon co. fight in the capital building? Or the first time you got to GNR when the cars blow up to your left and out pops this pissed off beohemouth bearing down on you. Or any time you leave a building or subway and a squad of talon mercs/regulars are waiting for you. Each time I was thinking holy %@*% . I just get that feeling in FONV.

Something I think is missing from NV...
Hmm...
Oh!
How about balance?
Or brutal combat?
Make it or break it SPECIAL?
Map node system?
Old ghoul and super mutant design?
Rotgut?
Energy Weapons being the top dogs all the time?
Big Guns?


Lots of things I think is missing from NV.

Random encounters would be at the top of my list. After a play-through or two knowing where everything spawns can get a little boring.

Mystery and it constantly sets an awesome mood with the music and pre war info on the terminals.

One thing I definitely don't miss from 3 is mirelurks, I hated those things.

In 3 there was a sense of horror and impending doom. some places were really creepy and disturbing, like the abandoned vaults. I kind of miss that. it made the game feel epic.

NV is more fun though, the characters are wittier, there's actual gambling, and the neon lights break up the otherwise dull brown landscape. The storyline (though i'm still playing it) seems less martyr-ish and more realistic too. I also very much like the addition of a 'hardcoe' mode.

What we need is a wasteland dlc, more random encounters. caravan escort missions, legion/ncr tracking u down to kill u.