I wasn't going to write a review on this just yet but, the blog looks a little lonely since May.
Having finally picked up the last of the DLC packs from the Ultimate Edition awhile back for Fallout: New Vegas I started to play Honest Hearts (2nd of 4 in the DLC) to pass the time. I was going to wait until I finished them all to write reviews, as I said, the blog is lonely.
It was good to be back in the old Fallout world, exploring every building, cave and every crate from the top shelf pulling it down to inspect the contents. I will say, though, this world is graphically dated; playing this two years ago and feeling this was the best there was to offer. Took a minute or, hour to adjust. It still hits all the same buttons it did two years ago. Questing, exploring and V.A.T.S.-ing creatures heads off.
Those who may not have played FNV, the story goes...Vegas has power and fresh water, it is run by a shadowy figure named Mr. House. The New California Republic is moving forward with their eastward expansion, while the opposing force of Caesar's Legion (army of slaves, conquered foes set up like Roman armies of history) is trying to destroy everything in its path. The Legion has already tried once to take over the Hoover Dam and has failed; pushed back by the NCR. Caesar blames his second in command of this failure; Joshua Graham. Covers him in pitch, sets him ablaze and dumps him in the Grand Canyon. Rumors abound that the burned man lives.
The Happy Trails caravan is looking to open up trade with the residents of New Canaan, a Mormon missionary town in Utah. To get there they must go through the Zion Canyon National Park. You join this mission and then the caravan is slaughtered, except for you. HUH, typical. You meet the natives; asked and tasked to help their plight.
Three "tribes" (the survivors of the bombs from years ago) live within the park, the White Legs, murdering a-holes who want to join the Legion, the Sorrows, peaceful, want no war, and the Dead Horses, the band of hunters and warriors, but on good terms with Sorrows. The Canaanites has sent a missionary to try civilize the tribes and to protect them, Daniel. The Burned Man has also taken resident among the tribes as he was at one time a Mormon missionary and has joined Daniel in his mission. Joshua somehow crawled he ass back home and was taken back into the fold. I figured the story would be about his redemption. Nope. White-Legs want kill the others, you decide their fates.
Zion Canyon is beautiful, the high cliffs cut by the river running through it. The remnants of camp grounds, lookout points, and park ranger stations. It is very sparse, but very peaceful. Yao Gaui rule the creatures that frolic the area and the White Legs natives attack you on site. Lots o' sniping from high cliffs. The exploration fun is minimal, which is sad. Let me find junk! Enemies are few, but powerful. The story lacks that pop like the previous DLC, Dead Money. I was nah impressed with the main story.
Though, the best narrative I have read, is from a man lost to Zion when the bombs dropped. He was traveling to Zion for his getaway trips, leaving his son and wife for the weekend. He saw them drop in his rear view mirror. You read his story through computers left in his cave safe houses throughout Zion. Entries from his whole life are recorded, leading to some of the best heartfelt and underlying stories that I have read in Fallout. I didn't realize the impact of the entries and his life in the Canyon until reading through most of them. It was a real Ah-ha moment. I could only assume that the DLC was named for his story. Great, just great.
I play Fallout to explore, I have been hooked into sneaking down hallways and rummaging through junk in the Fallout world. This DLC is a departure from the typical formula, I'm used to. True you wander the beauty of Zion but it doesn't fulfill the magical feeling of entering a derelict building and finding treasures. The main story and ending(s) left me flat, but the best origin story I've experienced. This was still a solid entry in Fallout. Good INU. I did get some pimp armor for many foray into the wilds. Yay!
Currently I'm playing the next installment of DLC, Old World Blues, fun so far!
In other Fallout news, Obsidian has mentioned the fact that they would like to do another Fallout title. They say they are still are on good terms with Bethesda and are leaving that up to them to contact them. They said they want to do a Fallout: LA, keep it west coast. Most of the developers worked on the original Interplay series, so this is their wheelhouse. Bethesda has been very hush-hush on their new Fallout project. Rumblings from E3 this year is that they have started a new "Single Player RPG."
http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-15260-E3-2013--Bethesda-s-Next-Single-Player-RPG-is-in-Development--But-We-Won-t-See-it-for-a-While.html
Makes me nut hairs tingle. Hopefully this is Fallout 4 and the rumor of Boston(the Commonwealth from Fallout 3) as the setting comes true. Fingers crosses for Holiday 2014 and I can afford that shiny new gamin' box.
SWS out.
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