Fallout: New Vegas - Dead Money Review (dirt)
Dead Money is a complete mess. It's buggy, claustrophobic, buggy and to many, a frustrating experience. A piss easy one at that due to the strong starting weapon, potential resource generation and gimmicky but simple enemies. So why is this a positive review?
Because in what it lacks in finer gameplay, Dead Money makes up for in its story, characters and atmosphere. Dead Money has a haunting vibe to it, you're stripped of all the gear you have and stuck in this dark, dreary place full of traps, unsettling humanoids clad in gas masks and a thick red cloud. The few characters you get to talk to are among the most memorable ones in Fallout, some for better reason than others, and you get to witness the sad story of Vera and Sinclair told almost entirely through terminal entries and the environment itself.
But just having good writing and a decent atmosphere isn't enough to make me love this DLC. Dead Money's main theme of letting go is not just one present in the story told, but across the entire game.
Elijah can't let go of the Sierra Madre, and what he could do with its technology.
Christine can't let go of Elijah, the man who took everything from her.
Dean can't let go of his grudge against Sinclair, even long after he's dead.
Dog can't let go of the Master, accepting whatever substitute he can get.
God can't let go of Dog, who he cares about deeply but can't let free.
The NCR can't let go of the Mojave, even though it's killing them.
The Legion can't let go of the ideals of Rome, doomed to repeat their mistakes.
House can't let go of Vegas, the Vegas that died the moment the bombs dropped.
Joshua Graham can't let go of Zion, refusing the option of the Sorrows fleeing.
The Think Tank can't let go of their idea of "science", always splicing and lobotomizing.
Ulysses can't let go of the Divide, and his hatred for who ruined it.
And we, Fallout fans, gamers, modders, speedrunners, reviewers, whatever. We can't let go of Fallout: New Vegas. After all these years we still play, discuss and enjoy this broken as fuck game that had every reason to fail. In the same way we still enjoy this broken as fuck DLC that had every reason to fail.
So why did I write this excessively long review for a halfbaked, buggy mess of a DLC for a halfbaked, buggy mess of a game? Because finding it isn't the hard part.
It's letting go.