Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Genre: FPS / RPG
ERSB rating: Mature
Release date: Available now

Folks, we’re coming to end of Fallout: New Vegas. With the release of Lonesome Road, many of the loose ends of the latest Fallout chapter are being answered and resolved. Bethesda has in fact announced two other pieces of downloadable content (Gun Runner’s Arsenal and Courier’s Stash), however neither of those add-ons will advance the universe or story of Fallout: New Vegas. So, for the time being, if this isn’t the last piece of DLC in this series, it’s probably pretty close.

Mysterious radio transmissions go out, and we are the moths drawn to them. So begins Lonesome Road, and when we heed the call, we’re brought back all the way to the beginning of Fallout: New Vegas. Remember how we learned that we (as the Courier), only took up the job of delivering the infamous platinum chip after another person (perhaps wisely) refused to do so? The curious identity and motivation of said person lies at the heart of this DLC, and it is our mission to get those answers.

Lonesome Road does offer quite a different feel than the previous DLCs for New Vegas. As opposed to an open-world exploration, this is mostly a linear quest. There is really only one major objective, aside from a few very minor and short sidetracks, so going from A to B is at the heart of the game. With that in mind, this does not mean there isn’t a lot to explore and discover (if you’re a nook and cranny type of person), and the decisions-have-consequences paradigm is still very much in play, as players can expect one of four different endings depending on their choices.

I found Lonesome Road refreshing, as occasionally I get a bit overwhelmed with the scope of a game. I tend to want to see and do everything, and that can make completion and resolution feel constantly out-of-reach. This DLC gets high marks from me in that it delivers exactly what it’s offering – a set path to be explored and conquered.

If your love of New Vegas comes from variety, dialogue, and multiple interrelated quests, Lonesome Road might not be right title for you. It’s completion doesn’t offer all that much by way of loot and add-ons, aside from one or two neat new weapons and items. Of course, your maximum level cap is raised, and that’s always a good little bonus. I will also say that the final resolution didn’t seem as epic as it should have been, given the focused build-up to the eventual showdown and confrontation.

Lonesome Road, despite a few flaws and let-downs, falls on the positive side of the fence. It’s almost an answer to those who raised issues with the styles of the previous DLC installments. For offering something different, once again I give it a thumbs up and recommend it, as so long as you understand the type of game you’re getting when you buy it.

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