Preview: 'Fallout: New Vegas'

Nuclear holocaust may be a chilling thought, but its aftermath has fascinated mankind since the dawning of the atomic age. Countless books, films and video games have delivered both terrifying and fascinating takes on the post-apocalyptic scenario, yet few have done so with the poignancy and vividness of the Fallout series. Its latest instalment Fallout 3 introduced gamers to one of the most immersive environments ever seen on home consoles - the Capital Wasteland. Despite its breathtaking scope, fans have been crying out for the opportunity to explore more of the radioactive world formerly known as the USA, and with Fallout: New Vegas, they get to do just that.

As you may already know, this isn't a fresh take on the Fallout concept. Bethesda may have passed the development torch onto Obsidian Entertainment, but little has changed where graphics and gameplay are concerned. New Vegas was built using the same engine as its predecessor, and will no doubt be indistinguishable at times. However, the change of setting could not have conjured up a starker contrast. The game takes place in what was once Las Vegas, three years after the events of Fallout 3. Unlike most of the cities depicted in the series' universe, Vegas did not receive a direct hit when the nukes came raining down, so most of its structures remain intact and its inhabitants virtually free of mutation. The blues skies and desert landscapes are a radical departure from the hazy irradiated backdrop of the Capital Wasteland, while the neon lights and strip joints promise a further tonal shift.

Speaking to DS, project director Josh Sawyer explained the rationale behind the Vegas setting. "We moved the action to Vegas because we wanted a setting that was close to the West Coast, as that is a setting we have become familiar with in the previous games in the series. We also wanted something that was starkly different from Washington DC," he explained. "In the United States, a lot of people think of Washington as the cornerstone of our country, a city of American virtue. Whereas, Las Vegas is a city of American vice, that continually reinvents itself, destroys itself, rebuilds itself. Because it's a city of vice, we thought that contrast was good, and also the visuals are much different to set it apart."

During our hands-on session at gamescom, it was apparent that the development team has strived to create the yin to Fallout 3's yang. While its forbear began with the protagonist's birth, New Vegas opens with our main character being shot in the head and dumped in an unmarked grave. After being pulled from the ground by a robot named Victor, we were nursed back to health by the local physician Doc Mitchell. The good doctor then hit us with series of questions, which serves as the character customisation process.

Selecting attributes is more of a streamlined affair than in Fallout 3, over in a matter of minutes. Venturing out into the town of Goodsprings, we were hit by a sense of déjà vu. At first glance, the new environment mirrors the Capital Wasteland, though closer inspection yields several key differences. Aside from the azure blue sky overhead, sounds from nearby birds and insects gives the environment that sense of life that the former Washington DC is devoid of. Following a swift weapons tutorial with a local named Sunny Smiles, we were soon embarking on basic quests and gunning down giant geckos. Our revenge mission was under way.

There's more of an emphasis on basic first-person shooter mechanics this time around, and although the VATS system from the previous game makes a comeback, we felt less inclined to use it at every turn. Anyone familiar with Fallout 3 will need no introduction to the fundamentals, but Sawyer assured us that some tweaks have been applied here and there. The director explained that melee and unarmed combat will have "some new functionality" and will be more tactics-based. VATs itself will be extra challenging to wield, as additional special attacks have been incorporated and accuracy will be dependent on more variables than before.

If the extra strategic dimension to combat isn't enough for you, there's always the option of Hardcore Mode - an extra difficultly setting for the experts among us. As well as bringing more realism to the table by forcing you to seek food and rest to avoid starvation and sleep deprivation respectively, ammo and currency now have weight and the healing of wounds is a gradual process that may even require medical expertise.

"Basically what we found is that there are a lot of people who thought that the difficulty of Fallout 3 was perfectly fine, and there was a subset of people who really wanted more challenge," Sawyer said. "To accomplish that we put in Hardcore Mode, because it's mechanically a big shift away from the standard gameplay style. I think it's worked so far, people who are used to playing standard Fallout 3 have found it much more challenging. Hopefully we'll keep the fanbase happy while catering for those looking for more of a challenge."

There's no doubt that Obsidian has attempted to pull a real fan-pleaser out of the bag. Not only is the game modelled on Fallout 3, its plot and setting tie in with the late-90s originals. According to Sawyer, the game picks up where Fallout 2 left off, showing developments in the West Coast region since the events of the second game. In many ways, it's an attempt to acknowledge the series' roots, perhaps to encourage contemporary gamers to go back and play the classic originals. "Fallout 2 showed the growth of the society in the wasteland after Fallout 1, we thought this a natural progression," said the director. "If people played those games, they'll really enjoy it. If they haven't played those games, it will be all new content for them."

Those who have played Fallout 3 will know what to expect from New Vegas, and will probably have a fair idea of whether they are going to purchase a copy no matter what is written in the media. The new game will certainly please the diehards, with its loyalty to the series' traditions and harder difficulty setting, and would appear to be a good jumping-on point for anyone who missed the previous game, as over-familiarity will not be a problem for this demographic. Developing a title that resembles its forebear in so many ways does seems like something of a risk, but taking the size of the Fallout fanbase into account, New Vegas might just be one of those gambles that pays off.

Fallout: New Vegas will be released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 22.

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