Believe it or not, many Dark Horse employees also play a lot of video games. Shocking, I know. Anyway, what with our recent partnership with Bethesda Softworks, the award winning game studio behind the best-selling Fallout game series, we've been geeking out pretty hard lately. And in case you haven't had the chance to pick up Bethesda's latest masterpiece, Fallout: New Vegas, here's Dark Horse employee and game connoisseur Bill Portus with his take on the latest installment in the Fallout series.
If All Roads, the original graphic novel available in the Fallout: New Vegas collector's edition game, is any indicator, the already rocky road of romance I'm traveling is likely to soon be pitted with blast craters. Written by Fallout 2 veteran and New Vegas senior designer, Chris Avellone, All Roads succeeded in wetting my post-nuclear appetite. Check out the amazing cover art for by Geof Darrow and the charming, retro-futuristic Pip Boy illustrations.
I can't wait to hear the familiar introductory line spoken in the gravelly voice of Ron Perlman in the newest game of the series: "War. War never changes." All Roads captures well the most appealing aspects of New Vegas, which to me are the promise of a mature, character driven game rich with substantial story lines, opportunities for exploration, and wide open role playing possibilities. I'm afraid it's going to be so addictive that it might threaten to end my love life. If only the perk "Swift Learner" were available in the real world.
I think I may love the woman in my life, but this book has drawn me in and cast a spell as well. All Roads sets up the background of the game and reintroduces the essence of Falloutyness - tribals, marauding gangs, warring casino families, illicit drug trade, mutants and ghouls all fighting to survive in the irradiated remnants of the American West. My concern is how can my tenuous romantic relationship compete with the allure of the wasteland? The Fallout universe will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm talking a radioactive half-life that will persist long after the vultures have picked the meat off my desiccated bones. Fallout 3 was fun, but lacked a certain something. I'm looking forward to getting into a deeper story, new character perks, and improved dialogue, but honestly I'm feeling anxious and rather conflicted about it all. I've been lucky enough to learn that sometimes reality is actually far better than fantasy. Can this relationship survive the impending game release?
I'm old enough to have enjoyed playing all the games in the Fallout series, and the promise of some of the original crew members who worked on Fallout 1 & 2 bringing the game back to its superior, quality story telling roots brings out a lust in my heart that is matched only by my covetousness for power army and energy weapons. I'm also old enough to be somewhat leery of diving headlong into such an all-consuming game world. Haven't I sworn off this kind of all-engrossing and addictive game play experience? Wasn't Dragon Age to be the last of the marathon gaming? Since then I've limited myself to the occasional relatively short strategy gaming session. I'm far too mature and responsible at this point to lock myself away for day upon day in a virtual world. Right? I mean, it is an open ended game full of colorful characters, mysterious factional intrigue, an amazing array of weapons, and voice acting by my crush object Felicia Day, creator of The Guild.... Time will tell.
It's comforting to know that In the event my relationship comes tumbling down like a house of New Vegas poker cards, the warm and welcoming embrace of the wastes await. Other barter worthy goodies included with the collector's edition besides the deck of cards are poker chips and a behind the scenes, making of the game DVD. The beautiful All Roads hard cover book seals the deal for me. You can download a free 8-page preview of the book here on Itunes.
--Bill Portus