DLC Review - Fallout: New Vegas - "Old World Blues"

Yes, you've lost your brain. Don't think about the medical inconsistencies; you lack the equipment for it, anyway.

Let's face it: the Courier's had a rough time of things. Getting shot in the head wasn't enough, neither was getting caught in the middle of a war between three very powerful factions, nor was getting gassed and taken prisoner and forced to crack open a vault in a mythical casino whilst wearing a bomb collar. As the saying goes: things are gonna get worse before they get better.

And in the case of our respective Couriers, things are looking to get much worse.

"Old World Blues" marks a significant jump in quality for Obsidian. Whereas "Dead Money" had a brilliant story and "Honest Hearts" had a place worth exploring, this new add-on tries to do both - and do them both better. Influenced by science fiction of the 50s and the classic Fallout titles, the opening for "Old World Blues" involves a crashed satellite, a ruined drive-in, and a science fiction picture show. Very fitting.

Eventually, you'll end up at the Big Mountain Research Facility, commonly referred to as "The Big Empty" amongst Mojave residents. You have no idea how you got there, why you're there, and, oh yeah, your brain's been removed. This is all explained to you buy a group of five disembodied scientists collectively known as the Think Tank. It seems in their blind rush to progress Science, your brain was removed and you, unlike many others, did not die a horrible death during the removal. This makes you special... for some reason. The Think Tank don't come by many answers easily, if at all.

Because you're special and because you did not die, the Think Tank decides to send you on a mission to recover various technologies around the Big MT facility. They've since lost your brain, apparently, and the only way to get it back into charge headlong into the facility of the mad scientist, Doctor Mobius. These technologies will both allow you to fight his army of atomic robo-scorpions and give you an entrance into his facility so that you might be reunited with your brain.

If it all sounds a little convoluted, that's because it is. The Think Tank aren't all that they appear to be; in fact, they're much, much less than that. They're all manner of crazy and confused about everything, but they do have a flair for dramatics, which you will get a taste of during your initial introduction. To be blunt, these are some of the most entertaining and hilarious video game characters I've come across in quite some time. They had me in stitches pretty much every time they spoke, and it never got tiring. These are characters who fully embody the corny (and awesome) science fiction of the 50s. Everything must be atomic, everything is forbidden, and Science will save us all from the darkest of futures.

Communism, of course.

In any case: thus begins your journey to recover your brain, which will have your crisscrossing Big MT and all of its fantastic locations. The Big Empty isn't as claustrophobic as the Sierra Madre, nor is it as barren as Zion National Park. The place is simply a joy to explore aimlessly, and there's a lot of it. Every facility houses information about Big MT's questionable past and further insight into the minds and "work ethic" of the Think Tank. The place is thick with history and expands the lore of the Fallout universe greatly. I was genuinely compelled to check every nook of every facility I came across. You never know what you're going to find.

One room that I almost passed over housed a robot/human splicing machine. It's as crazy as it sounds.

Over the course of your journey, you might come into possession of various holotapes that contain, get this, personalities for your household appliances. One of the perks of doing missions for the Think Tank is having your own base of operations called "the Sink", which contains a bed, plenty of storage, soda machines, your own personal auto-doc and market. But plugging these personalities into the appliances around the Sink will net you some hilarious results. A gardening machine that sounds like Issac Hayes and constantly demands your "seed," a toaster bent on destroying the world, and an obsessive-compulsive securitron named Muggy who's programmed to clean coffee mugs - to name a few.

So, "Old World Blues" has character in spades, a great sense of humor, and a great zone to support it all. The story? It's pretty good, too! Like "Dead Money," a lot of the story is in the details, and it rewards those who take in the sights. But overall, your goal is to stop a mad scientist and steal your brain back. That should be enough for most people. (It was for me.) But the story does try to make you care about what's really going on. As I said, nothing is as it seems, which results in a few decisions that you'll have to make in the end that, in my case, had me sitting there thinking for a while.

And as for the "War of the Couriers" story arc, it's definitely continued here. You'll get a better understanding of just who this Ulysses is, what he wants, and why he carries the flag of the Old World on his back. You'll have to do a little digging though. But if you do, you'll uncover answers to some of the many mysteries surrounding the Sierra Madre, hear the voice of an old friend (who has since lost her voice), and get an idea of how things might come to an end in the next/last add-on.

"Dead Money" was brilliant, but had problems in the combat department. "Honest Hearts" was enjoyable, but its brevity and lack of a compelling storyline made it touch and go for a while. But "Old World Blues"? That's a no-brainer. If you have Fallout: New Vegas, this is a must-buy. No question about it. There's good humor, plenty of role-playing opportunities, a fascinating world to explore, rich lore, and the entire thing is one big celebration of early science fiction. The thing's not short either. I did a little exploring, but I still haven't finished all of the sidequests, and it took me a little over ten hours to finish.

Obsidian really pulled out all of the stops for this expansion, fully displaying that they are in possession of some of the most creative individuals working the RPG scene these days. With "Old World Blues," they've raised the bar very high, both in terms of what a DLC add-on should be and for the last add-on due to be released a some point in the next few months. If "Lonesome Road" doesn't disappoint, Fallout: New Vegas in addition to these add-ons may end up being one of the best video game experiences I've ever had. (Yes! Potential hyperbole! Deal with it, World!)

I still have some exploring to do, and I'm very grateful this ride isn't over yet. For the Courier, there is still one more road left to travel.