New Vegas: Hardcore

[Iwata]

Heyo.

I've recently bought all three New Vegas DLC packs, and am eager to try them out. However, before I loaded my last save game, I decided instead to start a new playthrough. My question is, should I do it on Hardcore mode?

I am asking for people who've tried Hardcore mode to share their experiences with it here. Did you enjoy it? Would you recommend it?

Thanks to all.

 

[decaying dead]

My hardcore playthrough came after my normal runthrough glitched after 100% of locations found/explored and every quest (AFAIK) completed just before the end of the game and glitched as so i couldn't enter the strip, with my save being inside a casino, making the save completely useless, so my opinion of the game may be slightly biased...

If you've already played through the game you know what to expect of it, its not that hard depending on your style of play, just be sure not to try to take on more than you can handle. clearly you cant kill a deathclaw horde with a pistol or hunting rifle, especially at the beginning, so just play smart. But I would recommend giving it a go.

 

[Kahunaburger]

It's more fun, IMO. You've got to think strategically, and it feels more rewarding. You can still be a juggernaut given the right build, of course, but things stay a credible threat up until that point.

 

[Windcaler]

Hardcore mode is a mixed bag. Some people rightfully hate it, others (myself included) adore it for the extra challenge it brings, still others dont care for it, and others dont feel its good or bad.

I would say try hardcore mode out if you want to but dont get yourself obsessed with the character. If you end up not liking hardcore mode then the entire game will be less fun for you.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

It's a challenge, to be sure. But it feels much more "realistic" than the regular playthrough.
*Warning! Contents may be AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!*

 

[Parshooter]

Hardcore just ended up making me stockpile water like crazy.
In the end I barely noticed it.

 

[BRex21]

I havent played New vegas in a while. I found the Hardcore mode was just annoying, but mostly because i started playing on launch day and dealt with frequent crashes and errors. Honestly though, i would say start in hardcore mode and if it bothers you you can turn it off, you really have nothing to lose.

 

[AlternatePFG]

I think the best thing hardcore does was making it so that sleeping off damage or waiting are not effective.

It's an alright mode, adds a bit of immersion but can get annoying at some points.

 

[Amondren]

I've only played on hardcore more and its good. Its a challenge but its still beatable you just gotta know what your getting into like stimpacks heal over time and not in a instant and that Cazador's are the scourge of all things good and pure.

 

[oplinger]

I love hardcore mode. It didn't bring any extra challenge really, I just had to stock up on water...and doctor bags.

It made it feel more immersive, which was great for the game. I would not have called it "hardcore" though. It just makes it a bit more interesting to play.

 

[Drakmorg]

I never particularly cared for it.
I was expecting it to make the game a lot more challenging and immersive, instead it just made me not able to carry around quite as many guns since I had to make more space for food, water, doctor bags and bullets.
Even that didn't slow me down, I was still a damn unstoppable walking armory by the end anyway.

 

[Mr. Google]

Hardcore just ended up making me stockpile water like crazy.
In the end I barely noticed it.

Yeah i pretty much agree with this. Only difference was i carried less stupid shit and some actual food. Sleep wasnt really a problem either. Id just oversleep and be good for a long time.

 

[twistedheat15]

Was more tedious then an added challenge. On my normal playthroughs I end up with enough food and water in my storage to feed a small country, all hardcore mode did was make me occ eat the crap I was carrying around. I thought the game itself would get harder along with it but all that changed was the need to eat, drink, and sleep. I ended up just saving the game, and doing the finish mission so that I can unlock the trophy I get for it, then reloading my old save and turning it off while putting the difficulty up.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I play it hardcore with very hard on and I a still find the game quite easy as a stealth/sniper character so yeah give it a try its more like just a fun addition than anything.

It would have been more stressful in fallout 3 I think.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

It's alright, I just didn't care for it. I'm just not into that kind of micromanagement

It's wonderful for roleplaying though. Oh and apparently Dead Money is overly difficult on hardcore. (so I've heard)

so watch out for that

 

[mireko]

Biggest change is that you can't fix limbs with stims. Adds a little more challenge, makes Dead Money fun.

Give it a try.

 

[Custard_Angel]

I didn't like hardcore mode. All it did for me was force me to level up my survival skill and carry water and junk... It doesn't strike me as a mode to have any sort of fun with. It's just a thing to do if you feel like it.

For me anyway.

I had the most fun with the game when I was sneaking around clearing out entire buildings/areas using silenced weapons and headshot criticals. Making me stop every now and then to drink water or eat something was just a task.

In a game with 12 foot tall creatures called Deathclaws, I'm not entirely hung up on the notion of "realism".