Many fans would argue to the ends of the earth, stating that Fallout New Vegas is the best Fallout game ever made, and many of them will reference a multitude of reasons. Be that the exciting story, different creators, or the incredible traits, mods, and easter eggs hidden within. Ultimately, there are a few aspects to this game that really makes it stand out, one of the best ones being Wild Wasteland.
Wild Wasteland is an optional trait that allows the game to really come into its own as well as granting the player some special additions and a few laughs at their many many references to pop culture and blasts from the past that only the biggest fans will spot. Since it's a trait, the player has to pick it from the beginning. So it's certainly best to know all about it before committing to anything.
9 What Does Wild Wasteland Do?
As a trait, Wild Wasteland is an option that pretty much makes the game less serious as a whole. It introduces new, and for some an even better, less serious aspect to the gameplay. The trait quite literally puts in wacky content and modifies the content already in the game to create crazy encounters and often pretty funny references to pop culture in the time it was made.
It's fully optional but does improve the gameplay to those who enjoy a little silliness, as well as introducing new encounters, weapons, clothing, and additions to more than just the base gameplay.
8 It Gives New Clothing
While it should be known that using this trait hardly gives the player a ton of new clothing and new buffs, it remains perfect for those completionists looking to try out everything. The best-known item that can only be obtained by the Wild Wasteland trait is the Suave Gambler Hat that is found in a refrigerator in Goodsprings.
It resembles a cowboy hat and will give the wearer a bonus of 1 to Perception. Interestingly, and typical to fallout, this hat is a direct reference to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in which Indy survives a nuclear blast while inside a led fridge.
7 There Are 15 New Encounters
Many think of Fallout as a serious open-world RPG, but more than likely even more fans see it as a rather glitchy and silly game filled with references, hilarious encounters, and just brilliant storylines and quests.
This is exactly the reason that many choose to play with the Wild Wasteland trait, especially since it gives 22 new encounters, filled with graffiti linked to WWII, aliens, and Granny muggers. Each provides the player with an experience they would have otherwise missed and will certainly entertain even the most serious of players.
6 There Was A Battle To Get It Installed
Interestingly, there were a fair few developers who wanted Fallout New Vegas to be a more serious and well-produced game. And with Obsidian at the helm, Wild Wasteland was a saving grace for the original creators.
Ultimately, the trait ended up being a compromise between the members of the creative team who had a difference in opinion regarding the wacky content and the serious gameplay. After its release, many fans welcomed the trait and its craziness, especially since it's optional. This trait played a sizable part in the players' overwhelming love for Fallout New Vegas.
5 It References Older Content
If fans were made to vote on their favorite Fallout game, it would certainly be close, but Fallout New Vegas would hit the top spot. This is because of its exciting gameplay, new content, engaging storyline, and many links to previous games.
This is more prominent than with the Wild Wasteland trait which places references to Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout 3 anywhere they can. The most notable go to finding a boy at the bottom of a well called Jimmy, very similar to the Fallout 2 quest where the player has to find Jonny who has fallen in a well, and the Recon craft Theta from Fallout 3.
4 Although Wacky, Everything Has A Reason
Filled with references to pop culture, past games, and adding in new weapons and clothing, the best thing about this trait is its reasoning. While everything does come across as random, every encounter, every graffiti, and every aspect has its reasoning which only makes it ten times better.
Many fans will understand each reference, but it means there are countless easter eggs to find that mentions films or even graffiti that some will recognize as the same drawing old American soldiers used in WWII to state where they'd been. Nevertheless, everything added into this trait has its reasons and references, some just might be a little harder to get.
3 It Gives Out New Weapons
Similar to the new hat, this trait allows the player to get hold of a powerful weapon, arguably the most powerful in the game, depending on the preferred playstyle. The gun, otherwise known as the Alien Blaster, can be found just north of Horowitz Farmstead and is only available to those with the Wild Wasteland trait, or the player will find a YCS/186 Gauss rifle instead.
This weapon is insanely cool and is guaranteed to get a critical hit every time, often one-shotting enemies to the head. However, as it is with unique weapons, the ammo is limited so it must be used wisely. Nevertheless, this weapon is an awesome addition to any gameplay and will make killing those Deathclaws or villains much easier.
2 Allows The Player To Explore The One
The One is as cool as it sounds and can only be found by having the Wild Wasteland trait. The One is an undetonated C-23 Megaton nuclear bomb that is located just northwest of the Devil's Throat. Be careful, though, since going near it can give the player some pretty hefty radiation if they hang around for too long.
Ultimately, this is just a taste of what this trait can allow the player to explore, as well as scavenge some pretty rare components, depending on the player's science skill level (must be over 60). The One is a cool addition to the game and is also the same make as the bomb in Megaton in Fallout 3, just another reference added to this trait.
1 Doesn't Just Affect The Base Game
One thing the older Fallout's do best is their DLC's and add-ons. While the recent Fallout 76 has come with its fair amount of controversy, fans and players have always enjoyed the DLC's Fallout New Vegas delivered. Especially since it didn't just add new locations, stories, or guns. It also developed the traits and encounters to make them more common and richer.
When it comes to the Wild Wasteland trait, Obsidian added content for add-ons such as Honest Hearts, Dead Money, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road. Each came with more wacky encounters and scenes, meaning if the player owns these then there's plenty more to explore!