New Vegas: Hardcore

[DustyDrB]

Hardcore mode was just tedious for me. I did it my first playthrough and won't haven't done it again and won't do it again.

Not that they should do away with it. Other people enjoyed it.

 

[badgersprite]

Yes. You should definitely try it. It's not as tedious as it sounds, since you get notified when your sleep or hunger levels change and they never became problematic, and I found it added a layer to the game. Even something as simple as having ammunition take up space made me pause to think carefully about what was actually worth carrying with me, and how much I would actually need. Hardcore is a series of subtle changes, but ones I liked.

And, remember, if you hate it, you can always turn it off.

I have no idea if it makes an impact on lower difficulties, though. I only ever played on Very Hard, so, yeah, I can imagine it making no difference at all on lower settings.

 

[Midgetface]

I found it didn't add a lot of challenge, save for companions dying (but I don't like using companions too much.)

If you plan to download a mod to make Hardcore better, then sure.

 

[evilneko]

If you're playing on PC you might want to look at mods that do it better.

 

[MrGalactus]

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.

It's fun but I would avoid it for your first playthrough of Dead Money. It's hard enough as it is on normal, and because of the Cloud, your health constantly depletes on Hardcore mode. Very difficult indeed.

 

[Laser Priest]

All it does is add extra bars that you have to keep a track of, makes your healing less effective and makes you carry less ammo.

If you like realism, then sure, try it out. I can assure you, even you won't find it fun.

 

[z121231211]

I started out with Hardcore mode turned on and never turned it off. If you play with it long enough you'll get used to it.

 

[Inquisitor Slayde]

Admirable as it's intent is, hardcore mode just feels like an irritant to me.

The only time it's ever done more than just force me into the pipboy screen more often or make me drop some things I really didn't need anyway was one fight when stimpaks healing over time instead of instantly made any difference at all.

I don't recommend it. I won't be using it for my next playthrough.

 

[Iwata]

Wow... the matter looks to be quite divisive. I was expecting a more unified response.

 

[Avatar Roku]

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.

On that last point, agreed 110%. Sure, Deathclaws might be fast and hit hard, but at least they are large targets that don't poison you. I hate Cazadors even when not on Hardcore. Deathclaws, on the other hand, never stop just being Anti Materiel Rifle target practice.

As for Hardcore, I barely noticed it. Granted, that was also my melee run, so ammo having weight didn't effect me, but still. Healing was the biggest change. I liked it at first, but by the end, it really just felt the same.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Do it. I find it makes the game much more involved. The fact that ammo has weight in Hardcore means a player can't run around with three truckloads of ammo - something I found very immersion-breaking in Fallout 3. Sleep, Hunger and Dehydration meters also improve immersion and increase the value of a good Survival skill. Healing being gradual rather than instant is also a welcome return, as well as having to seek out seperate supplies for damaged limbs. The fact that companions can die rather than being knocked unconscious can lead to a few irritating reloads and a f*cking intense hatred of Cazadores (NPCs won't use any Antivenom you give them and it cannot be directly applied to them like Stimpacks), but this merely increases the challenge.

Basically, I wouldn't recommend playing New Vegas any other way.

 

[hoboman29]

If you decide to do a hardcore runthrough here is a few tips 1 specialize in melee or unarmed so you won't have to carry lots of ammo and 2 stock lots of water as it is the most quickly depleted of your requirements 3 find lots of gecko kabobs as they reduce food and water requirements quite a bit 4 get the pack rat perk it will make you able to carry more supplies and last but not least don't take a lot of food when I finished I still had tons of it.

 

[Platypusbill101]

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.

I don´t think they are all that bad. I killed a whole bunch of them on level 4. You just need a high DPS weapon like an SMG.

 

[jpoon]

Hardcore should have just been called mediumcore, it's really not that hard. I would definitely play it this way, even beginners will have a better time on hardcore. Give it a shot!

 

[Mike Laserbeam]

Only problem with hardcore mode? You'll get overencumbered SOOOO much more often.
Other than that, it's a fun way to play the game.