Overpriced Fallout 3 addition with loads of bugs and outdated graphics
It's really nothing new here, except a new story, so when starting to play New Vegas, I felt like I have already played the game to death, as used to be a fan.
In fact I remembered the original Fallout 3 as a much better game. I suppose a lot of the reason for that is that when Fallout 3 was released, it was all up to date with a great graphics engine and graphics matching the industry standard at the time.
But in the meantime we have been spoiled with much better looking games, and seeing they did not even touch the 3D engine to add some modern effects that these days are pretty standard, like proper realtime shadows (yes, the landscape does not cast shadows), just makes the game looks pretty obsolete. I also got really bored with the brown and dull color palette during Fallout 3.
I know Fallout has this post apocalyptic world it has to fit into, but would it kill them to add some lush vegetation now that the world is supposed to have water again? Brown, brown and brown.. It gets pretty depressing.
I would choose a game with great gameplay over a great looking game any time though, but IMHO the gameplay is also lacking. Mostly in the sense there is really not much substantially new to it, and I found it to be a bit poorly balanced sometimes. Battles ranges from ridiculously easy to completely impossible, without much warning. You will most likely save/die a lot.
Also, the game comes out as very rough around the edges, despite it being powered by such an old engine that should have had its bugs fixed by now. People are walking around with their heads stuck in the ceiling, or under the ground with the head sticking up. I had a lot of save game issues, weird quest issues, pathfinding issues, annoying invisible walls getting me killed and the list goes on.
All in all, if you are a hardcore Fallout 3 fan, you will probably enjoy it anyway. But, personally, I think this game is more of a quick expansion thrown out quickly to capitalize on the brand while its still hot.
Hopefully Bethesda are making a real new modern RPG which is worthy of the hype New Vegas got without deserving it now, in the meantime, New Vegas might help pass the time somewhat.