The first DLC to come to Fallout: New Vegas is entitled Sierra Madre. This content tasks the player to explore the Sierra Madre casino and its various outward buildings, which have been untouched by the horrors of the Great War. The following review and tips are generated specifically by myself, and are taken assuming the player is enjoying the game in hardcore.
Upon purchasing the content and booting up the game, a radio signal will open up on your pip boy. Tune in and listen and a marker will be added to the new area. At this point, the player will need to know a few things:
The game prompts you to be at least level 20 before entering the region. You can still enter prior to that, but it is not recommended. I started at level 21 and had a tough time initially. I would suggest going in around 25 perhaps, if you are able to wait that long.
Additionally, upon entering the area, you are left with virtually nothing. All weapons, ammo, aid, food, skill magazines, etc will be removed from the player. Also, any companions will be sent packing back to their respective areas.
Sierra Madre also will not give up its secrets willingly, and a player can expect to be there quite awhile. Once you enter the area, you cannot leave until you complete it. Also, upon completion, at this writing, you cannot return once you have left. Bear this in mind as you weigh your options.
If you have decided to stay, you will be treated to a very difficult and expansive area, in my opinion. The game breaks up into a few quests in each area, and then continues on to new areas. For instance, in the starting villa, you will need to find the three companions strewn about Sierra Madre before new avenues are opened for your advancement.
The odds are stacked against you. The area is littered with traps, so keep a sharp eye out for tripwires and especially bear traps. The mobs are humanoid, but require headshots to kill. If you put a mob down it will be labeled as “unconscious” until you finish it off with a headshot. This is a particular problem if you are facing multiple mobs, as after you dispatch one, you will need to take the time to manually kill it as it cannot be targeted in VATS if unconscious.
This may seem difficult enough, but it actually gets worse. You and your companions are affixed with radio collars, with explosive devices attached. The reason is explained, and I do not wish to spoil anything, but long story short you must keep an eye out for radios within Sierra Madre, as they have a tendency to blow you up. If your collar is beeping, you must find the radio then take it out.
Also, hardcore mode throws an additional curve at you. Being outside in the villas at any time causes your health to deteriorate. This is also explained, so details will not be provided here. There are also clouds of poison gas that are very harmful if walked through, keep on the lookout.
This all may seem daunting, but it is a high risk, high reward venture. The XP rewards in Sierra Madre are fantastic, as is the multitude of new gear available. Due to losing everything at the start, the player will be tasked to look and rummage through almost everything within the zone, which makes play more enjoyable.
Sierra Madre achieves what the original game lacks after leveling up to 10 or so… the feeling of doing whatever you need to do to survive the dangers. Save often and under multiple slots while moving through the area, as I guarantee you will die more than once… perhaps even several times over and over trying to get past one specific location. Those of you who make it through to the end will hopefully feel like I did a sense of accomplishment and taming the beast of Sierra Madre.
