One of the additions in Fallout: New Vegas that Fallout 3 never had is the ability to play in hardcore mode. Playing in Hardcore mode will provide challenges to play.
Before a player can start their journey towards the Mojave Wasteland, a message in the game will ask the player if they wish to play in Hardcore mode. Playing the game in Hardcore mode will give players some benefit upon completing the game. When playing in hardcore mode, the character in the game will have to rely on some of its basic surviving skills such as eating. Since New Vegas takes place in a Wasteland where water and food are limited, how can a player survive?
Below are some tips a player can use if they wish to survive the wasteland on a hardcore difficulty:
1. WATER – Water is scarce in the game. Whenever a player fast travels or just walk, the dehydration level will likely to increase. Purified Water is very limited in the game and the only way to quench the thirst is by drinking the toilet water that can be found in some of the houses in the game. At a times like this, the only clean water a person can get is the water on the toilet bowl.
2. FOOD – Another thing that is needed for basic survival in addition to water is food. In Mojave Wasteland, there are food crops that a player can collect. Since stealing food is not a good idea from houses in the game, it’s best for player to hunt down for crops. Some vendors offers foods that a player can buy. Use them wisely. One of the most well known food in the game is Maize. It doesnt matter if the food are irridiated. The important thing to remember in the game is that, the player will eat.
3. SLEEP – Without sleep, the brain will shut down. In addition to food and water, another aspect in surviving in the game is having enough sleep. Whenever the SLP function appears in the HUD, find an empty bed that you can rest.
NOTE: If one of these three things aren’t satisfied in the game, the character will die. Make sure the player is paying attention to the vital signs of the character.