Can You Beat Fallout: New Vegas Without Confronting Benny?
Yes, you absolutely can beat Fallout: New Vegas without ever directly confronting Benny. This might come as a surprise to many players who assume the smooth-talking, checkered-suit wearing Benny is central to the game’s main quest, however, the narrative allows for several paths that bypass him entirely. While his actions set the game in motion by shooting the Courier and stealing the Platinum Chip, the game offers alternative routes to obtaining that chip and progressing towards a victory. You are not bound to a direct confrontation.
Understanding the Narrative Bypass
The traditional path involves tracking Benny to The Tops Casino on the Strip, confronting him, and ultimately dealing with him, whether that be through persuasion, combat, or even a temporary alliance. However, Fallout: New Vegas provides a more open structure. One major alternative to facing Benny at The Tops revolves around discovering the alternative route. Instead of going directly to the Strip you can instead head straight for Caesar’s Fort. Caesar himself has his own platinum chip which you can obtain to progress the story. This completely sidesteps the need to interact with Benny, allowing for an entirely different narrative progression.
Alternative Routes and Endings
The significance of bypassing Benny is that it opens avenues to different endings and alliances. You can become a staunch ally of the NCR, leading them to victory, or choose to side with Caesar’s Legion, contributing to their growing empire. Alternatively, you can even forge an independent path with the help of Yes Man. All of these possibilities can be reached without the need for any significant interaction with Benny. He becomes a peripheral character rather than a necessary stepping stone. By bypassing Benny, you’re shifting the narrative focus to your own choices and values. It is a great way to add replayability, as the change can really mix up the player experience.
Consequences of Bypassing Benny
Although bypassing Benny can be beneficial for a different playthrough, there are some minor consequences that come with doing this. One major consequence is that you miss out on a unique item: Benny’s signature pistol, Maria. This powerful weapon can be obtained from his corpse after killing him. If you skip his encounter you will not gain this weapon. Secondly, you cannot access the quest to clear out the Great Khan’s, and will not receive their alliance. This means you will have to do without that specific faction’s help. Finally, you won’t have access to Benny as a companion, a unique option that opens up after his escape from The Fort. These losses might be minor, but they’re important to note for those seeking 100% completion.
Benefits of Avoiding Benny
While there are minor consequences of skipping Benny, there are some benefits also. Avoiding Benny lets you explore the world and factions without the linear progression of the usual narrative path. This means you may end up having a completely different set of interactions with different characters. This will give a fresh perspective on the world of New Vegas. It will also open up the possibility for different alliances. Secondly, you can focus on your own roleplaying and character story more, allowing a more authentic and tailored experience.
FAQ: Navigating New Vegas Without Benny
1. How do I get the Platinum Chip if I don’t confront Benny at The Tops?
You can obtain another Platinum Chip directly from Caesar at The Fort after gaining access to his compound. This allows you to bypass the events involving Benny at The Tops Casino altogether.
2. Can I still complete the main quest without dealing with Benny?
Yes, completing the main quest is entirely possible without confronting Benny. The game provides alternative routes and objectives to progress the narrative.
3. Does skipping Benny lock me out of any specific factions?
No, you can still ally with the NCR, Legion, or pursue an independent ending with Yes Man, regardless of whether or not you encounter Benny.
4. What happens if Benny escapes before I can confront him?
If Benny escapes, he will eventually be captured by the Legion and taken to Caesar. The Platinum Chip will then find its way into Caesar’s possession, allowing the main quest to continue through the other avenues.
5. Will not killing Benny lock me out of getting Maria?
Yes, you will not gain Maria, his signature pistol, if you don’t kill him. This is one notable consequence of bypassing Benny.
6. Can I still make use of Benny as a companion if I skip the Tops?
No, the option to make Benny a companion is available only after he escapes from The Fort, which happens if you confront him at The Tops. If you bypass The Tops, you wont be able to take him on as a companion.
7. Can I still trigger the Great Khans quest if I don’t meet Benny?
No, you won’t be able to trigger that questline if you don’t meet him in The Tops. This is because Benny is the one who sets the course of action that leads to interaction with the Khans.
8. Does not killing Benny give me any benefits?
There are no specific tangible benefits to keeping Benny alive. But it can make the game more varied. The only tangible benefit is roleplaying or narrative choice.
9. What are the consequences of freeing Benny from The Fort?
Freeing Benny can lead to a very difficult fight with the Legion, and potentially make you hostile. However, after he escapes the Fort, you can make him a companion.
10. Will skipping Benny impact my ending choices?
No, your ending choices are ultimately determined by your actions with the major factions, not your interactions with Benny.
11. Is it easier to kill Benny in his suite or at the Fort?
It is generally easier to kill Benny in his suite at The Tops Casino, due to the easier environment and less hostility.
12. Does bypassing Benny mean that Caesar doesn’t become hostile?
No. If you choose to kill Benny before going to Caesar, you may still cause Caesar and the Praetorian Guard to become hostile.
13. Can I give Mr. House the chip and then kill him even if I skipped Benny?
Yes, your interactions with Mr. House are largely separate from Benny. You can still give Mr. House the chip and then proceed to betray or kill him, even if you’ve bypassed Benny.
14. Is there an alternative way to get the second Platinum Chip other than The Fort?
No, there is not an alternative way to get a second platinum chip. The only place to get it, if you bypass Benny is from Caesar himself.
15. Does skipping Benny alter the overall difficulty of the game?
No, skipping Benny does not inherently change the difficulty of the game. The challenge remains similar, regardless of whether you confront him or not.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is entirely possible and even beneficial for some playthroughs to beat Fallout: New Vegas without directly confronting Benny. The game’s flexible narrative allows players to explore diverse paths, make varied alliances, and shape their own unique stories. While there are minor drawbacks, the ability to skip Benny offers a rewarding and different gameplay experience. Whether you choose to track him down or forge your own path, Fallout: New Vegas offers a compelling and rich open-world for all to enjoy.