Fallout: New Vegas – Lonesome Road Review

If you were hoping that this fourth piece of extra content for Fallout: New Vegas would fix the static ending, you'll be disappointed. Instead, the only technical offering Lonesome Road provides is another bump in the level cap. There are no restrictions on what you can take with you, but your Mojave companions also sit this one out.

The new quest line dangles the courier who rejected the Platinum Chip job in front you, insinuating that meeting up with him will reveal something about your past. The ornery courier Ulysses demands that you travel through a treacherous canyon known as "The Divide" before he'll answer any of your questions. And let's face it -- if you don't go, then why the hell did you buy the DLC?

Previous downloadable content provided a cinematic story buffer at the beginning and end, so Lonesome Road's single ending cut-scene throws off the balance. Without a solid opening, I never felt fully invested in the mission and often wondered why I wanted to meet this other psychotic courier in the first place. The plot is all over the place: it starts off seeming random and inconsequential and ends on an overly dramatic note. Poor pacing aside, the finale of this mission can significantly impact the world and that helps make the journey feel somewhat worthwhile.

Although Ulysses double-dog daring you to enter the Divide is rather silly, Lonesome Road effectively develops a tender relationship between your courier and a tiny Eyebot named ED-E (just like your companion in the Mojave). I'm a sucker for cute robots and I grew fond of my non-organic partner. Lonesome Road fails to develop Ulysses into an interesting character, but at least ED-E's endearing nature helps make up for it.

The Divide is a dangerous place, so be prepared to encounter Deathclaws and packs of Tunnelers, a new enemy that can seriously ruin your day. The most frequently encountered hostiles, Marksmen, look like red ghouls and thankfully don't cause too much of a headache. The ability to fast travel back and forth seamlessly between the Lonesome Road content and the Mojave means you won't have to worry too much about things like Stimpaks or your armor and weapon's condition. In that sense, the Divide doesn't offer as much of a challenge as other DLC areas.

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