How Many Endings Does Fallout: New Vegas Have?
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Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian Entertainment’s critically acclaimed entry into the Fallout franchise, is renowned for its intricate narrative and player-driven choices. A core part of this is its myriad of endings, which significantly vary based on the player’s actions throughout the game. So, the central question is: How many main endings does Fallout: New Vegas have?
The answer is that there are four main ending paths which represent the major power players vying for control of New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland. These are:
- Supporting Mr. House: The enigmatic, pre-war industrialist who controls the New Vegas Strip, Mr. House offers a future of technological advancement and order.
- Supporting the New California Republic (NCR): The democratic, if somewhat bureaucratic, NCR seeks to bring stability and civilization to the region, though their methods can be problematic.
- Backing Caesar’s Legion: A brutal, slaver society modeled on the Roman Empire, the Legion promises power and control through military might and subjugation.
- Working with Yes Man for an Independent New Vegas: The player, through the Securitron Yes Man, can seize control of the Strip and the Mojave, forging their own path and destiny.
While these are the four primary endings, it’s crucial to understand that each of them has significant variations based on specific choices made during the game. These variations concern the fates of key characters, settlements, and the overall political landscape of the Mojave. For example, siding with the Legion doesn’t guarantee that Caesar will remain in charge; the player could facilitate his death and have Legate Lanius take control instead. Similarly, even within an independent Vegas, the specific groups and locations that are supported and ignored will all contribute to how the ending unfolds. These nuanced variations effectively multiply the number of “endings” that exist within New Vegas. There are a myriad of potential epilogues with different characters and locations impacted due to the players choices.
It is important to emphasize that unlike other games in the series, there isn’t a canonical ending confirmed by Obsidian. The beauty of Fallout: New Vegas lies in its ability to let the player craft their own unique story and determine the fate of the Mojave. Whether you choose to stand with the NCR’s army of troopers, the Legion’s disciplined soldiers, the robots of Mr. House, or work alongside the robotic Yes Man, your story and legacy in the Wasteland is entirely in your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fallout: New Vegas Endings
To further clarify the complexities of Fallout: New Vegas’s endings and to address commonly asked questions, here is a comprehensive list of FAQs:
1. What is the “best” ending for Fallout: New Vegas in terms of morality and benefit for all Mojave people?
The notion of a “best” ending is subjective and highly debated. However, many players argue that the Independent New Vegas ending, achieved by working with Yes Man, has the greatest potential for overall benefit and moral goodness. While it leaves the player in a position of power, it can also be used to forge a path of relative freedom, peace, and prosperity if the player chooses to do so. It allows the player to make choices that could be beneficial to the region in the long run and is the only option that does not involve the player having to assassinate some innocents as part of the faction leader quest lines. However, it requires significant planning and diplomacy to do so, rather than simply conquering and dominating. The Mr. House ending, while offering some advancement, is often viewed as less ideal due to his autocratic control, however some will see his plan of space colonization as a better long term option for humanity.
2. Is Mr. House a “bad” guy?
Mr. House isn’t strictly evil, but he’s certainly not a benevolent dictator. He is ruthless, calculating, and sees people as assets to be managed for his own vision. While his goal is to rebuild humanity with advanced technology and space colonization, his methods involve oppression and control. Some people may consider him as the person who has the best hope of a better future for humanity but he is certainly not a morally good choice, particularly to those who do not benefit from his plans. Ultimately, whether he is viewed as good or bad is up to the player’s interpretation.
3. What happens if Yes Man takes over New Vegas?
When you choose Yes Man, the player essentially becomes the de facto ruler of the New Vegas Strip and its securitron army. You have the power to control the region, and your choices will dictate the fate of the Mojave. The ending is unique because it lets you take over without necessarily adhering to any pre-existing ideology, enabling a very personalised ending for the player character.
4. Is it better to keep Mr. House alive?
Whether you should keep Mr. House alive depends on your goals. If you value advanced technology and his vision for the future, then keeping him alive is the most direct path. However, killing him opens up other opportunities for quests and potentially an independent ending. You get roughly the same number of quests no matter which faction you choose. However, killing Mr. House early can potentially lock you out of quests linked to the NCR and Legion, whereas Yes Man remains an open option throughout.
5. Does killing Mr. House give bad karma?
Yes, killing Mr. House results in a -50 karma penalty. This indicates that the game views this action negatively from a moral point of view, although it doesn’t have a major impact on gameplay.
6. Can you play Fallout: New Vegas after you beat it?
No, you cannot continue playing after completing the main quest. Once the end credits roll, you will be given the option to start a new game, but are not able to load back into the game world itself with your existing character. The game will warn you at the point of no return (usually the second trip to the Hoover Dam) that the game will end. This is why it’s important to have saves prior to triggering the Battle of Hoover Dam in order to play the DLC and go on with the game after completing the main quest.
7. How many years after New Vegas does Fallout 4 take place?
Fallout 4 is set six years after Fallout: New Vegas. New Vegas occurs in 2281, while Fallout 4 is set in 2287.
8. Why can’t you play New Vegas after ending?
The game ends after the Battle of Hoover Dam and will only allow you to load into save points before that battle if you want to continue playing and exploring, or play DLC. This is due to the game’s design, where the climax and ending are meant to feel conclusive. If the ending was designed to be like Skyrim where you could return to the game world, the aftermath of the battle would have to be reflected in the game world somehow which would involve a lot of extra work on the developers part.
9. What is the most evil faction in Fallout: New Vegas?
Caesar’s Legion is generally considered the most evil faction in the game. Their ideology of slavery, brutal methods, and lack of respect for individual rights make them a villainous choice. Although some will argue that all factions have morally grey areas, many find Caesar’s Legion to be the most extreme of the bunch.
10. Which Fallout game has the most endings?
Fallout 2 holds the record for the most endings in the series, boasting a staggering 47 different outcomes based on player choices. Fallout 2 has an emphasis on story and player choice that makes this possible.
11. What does Fallout 4 do better than New Vegas?
Fallout 4 excels in areas such as visuals, combat, and settlement building. It has better graphics, more refined gunplay, and a more robust crafting system. Character customization is enhanced with options for scars, makeup, and freckles. Fallout 4 is generally more of an action game whereas New Vegas is generally considered more of an RPG with stronger storytelling.
12. Which endings are canon in the Fallout series?
Fallout 1 and 2 have canonical endings, but Fallout: New Vegas does not have a confirmed canon ending. Fallout 3’s canon ending is siding with the Brotherhood and blowing up the Enclave at the end of the Broken Steel DLC. Fallout 4 has no confirmed canon ending either as of 2024.
13. Why is New Vegas considered better than Fallout 3 by some?
Many players consider Fallout: New Vegas to be superior to Fallout 3 due to its more engaging narrative, complex characters, and significantly more player choice. New Vegas features more well written and compelling quests with many different branching paths and outcomes whereas Fallout 3 has a more simple story and world in comparison. The gameplay mechanics in New Vegas are also considered more in depth.
14. Who is the final boss in Fallout: New Vegas?
The final “boss” of Fallout: New Vegas depends entirely on the faction you sided with. Legate Lanius is the main antagonist if you side against the Legion, otherwise he can simply be a supporting character in the story. In any instance you will either be fighting him or helping him to achieve his goals.
15. Can you betray Mr. House in Fallout: New Vegas?
Yes, you can betray Mr. House at any time before reaching the second trip to the Hoover Dam. Yes Man is always an option, regardless of the main faction that you have been siding with. This allows the player a lot more flexibility and choice than other games which can lock you into a faction in the late game.