This would have been a pretty good game if Obsidian took the time to finish it. I'm not talking about the Bugs because everyone knows about that by now; New Vegas has several Places where you can see things that aren't properly done.
Overlapping Quests? Fine, although it's a bit hard to find out why this and that Character wont talk to you sometimes.
I guess it's realistic that you can't finish a Quest involving some Character you killed earlier. What isn't realistic is the message "Quest failed: Some Questname you never saw before" that pops up. The Quest overlapping could have been completely omitted and the Game would've been better. Also i wouldn't have felt like i'm being punished for exploring, which is already a bit annoying because of the invisible Walls.
Another thing is the crafting. Wanna have a crafting System to enhance the "Survivor in the Wilderness" Mood? Then why can't i make a campsite anywhere? A tent that i can take with me and a despawning Fire would have been nice. Camp somewhere, get a random chance of being surprised by Enemies or maybe Friends, fix up your Gear 10% (because you clean your Guns and patch your Armor), get healed by sleeping and wake up with a little Critbuff because you drank a Coffee.
A Window to craft in doesn't enhance the Atmosphere. Why do i have to have oddly specific Components to craft Stuff? I need Powder for Pistols. Assault Rifle Powder wont do much good, unless i find Primer and Case for Assault Rifle Bullets.
I need a "empty Soda Bottle", my "empty Nuka Cola Bottle" or any other Bottle i have with me can't be used to put my newly created Lemonade in. And why can't i fill up empty Bottles with Water? Fallout 3 had that Problem, but that didn't have a Crafting System so i'll let the "empty Bottles for Scenery" slide.
If they didn't have the Time to make a proper Crafting System they shouldn't have tried.
Ambushes would be realistic. You walk around and then a Raider jumps out from behind a Rock.
Te little red Peg that would normally be on the Compass isn't there because you can't see the Raider yet because he's hiding. Realistic but with that Obsidian has nerfed the "Perception" stat. As if that wasn't useless enough.
Also, energy Weapons got nerfed. Really badly. This throws me off a bit, why would anyone use or develop energy Weapons if they are so useless? Apparently Obsidian wanted to have some wild West Flair. Bethesda did a better Job with that with Megaton.
And there are other Elements in the Story where Bethesda did a better Job.
"All my Circuits" is a Show within the "Futurama" Universe. They used to Joke about Amnesia there; comically flat Characters who all have Amnesia at some Point.
The Joke about Amnesia being used far too often was old when New Vegas came along.
One may think New Vegas has a better Story and more fleshed out Characters. But they do throw Amnesia in your Face right at the Start.
Whatever Story i read/play/see/whatever starts with Amnesia is off to a bad Start. 1000 Points from Obsidian.
Also, while New Vegas is superior in Storytelling despite the Amnesia Beginning, Fallout 3 did have some good Moments. Good Characters, like Fawkes or Dr. Braun.
Nice Places, like the Oasis, Tenpenny Tower, Megaton and Vault 101. No tired old Amnesia here.
The Connection between Storytelling and Gameplay was better at some Places. Liberty Prime was over the Top and stupid, but still better then a 300 year old B-17. Which gets disassembled, transported and reassembled by Robots but Whatever.
I'd rather play Fallout 3. The World was created for me to play with. I make Mods and run around and Bethesda is fine with that. Obsidian restricts me and it seems as if they made do with the Engine they got.
I'd rather have Bethesda develop a new Fallout Title. Obsidian Games have been very bug ridden.
Bethesda is learning how to make a nice Story. The Progress can be seen when you compare Oblivion and Fallout 3. Let's see how Skyrim turns out.
