Most Promising Features in Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas is scheduled to be released on October 19th for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. While the game is said to play similar to Fallout 3, there are differences. New Vegas is adding new features and bringing back older ones. With the changes, I believe the game will be better then Fallout 3. Here's the features I'm most excited for.

Fallout New Vegas Feature: Reputation
This New Vegas feature is similar to the one in Fallout 2. Reputation goes along with Karma in determining what type of character you become (good, neutral, bad). Where Karma gives you an overall view of your actions, Reputation makes players deal with the consequences. For example, if you double cross a Faction and it's likely they will take a bounty out on you. On the other side, having a high Reputation with the factions and towns may result in discounted goods or gifts from people. This may sound like Fallout 3's Karma, but I believe Reputation will have a much bigger impact on the overall story and experience.

Fallout New Vegas Feature: Hardcore Mode
This is the ultimate difficulty mode. In Fallout 3, you really didn't need to eat, sleep, or drink. You could do these things as a way of regaining health, but you could also just use a stimpak or get healed by a doctor. In Hardcore mode, players need to keep themselves nourished, well rested, and hydrated. If you don't, your character dies. In addition, ammo isn't weightless. Stimpaks don't heal you all at once, but over time and crippled limbs must be fixed by a doctor or the doctor's bag item. Players are not allowed to switch back and forth between hardcore mode and regular mode. If you choice to return to regular mode, you can not go back.

Fallout New Vegas Feature: Weapons Modding
Due to the popularity of weapons mod kits PC gamers used in Fallout 3, New Vegas will have the ability to modify weapons. Each regular weapon can receive three permanent mods like scopes and ammo upgrades. Only unique weapons can not be modded. Modding weapons is a great feature that adds another personal touch to the game. I can't wait to experiment with what works best on each weapon.

Fallout New Vegas Feature: Companion Wheel
In a improvement over Fallout 3, a companion wheel has been added. The companion wheel will make it easier for you to control the non-playable companion characters. There are eight different commands including back up, use stimpack, and open inventory. Each companion has their preferences with weapons. Giving a companion a weapons they don't wait will decrease effectiveness. This feature will make interaction with companions much more streamlined and productive then in the previous game.

Fallout New Vegas Feature: Sex with Robots?
According the the description of the ESRB rating New Vegas received, the Mature label includes sequences that suggest characters are about to have sex with robots. While there has always been sexual content in the Fallout games, being able to have sex with robots is different feature. There is nothing too graphic in the description and the encounters are hinted at and not seen. This may seem like a weird feature, but since the game takes place in Vegas, I'm not that surprised.

Sources:

Gamespot's interview with Chris Avellone from Obsidian

Fallout New Vegas ESRB rating description