Surrounding the release of Fallout: New Vegas, there’s been a very strange mix of opinion. I can understand why, because there’s a lot to praise, and a fair bit to criticise.

This is a follow-up to Fallout 3, which (along with Bioshock) is one of my favourite games on any console to date.

With epic radiation-ravaged wastelands to roam, hundreds of challenges and a great deal of interesting characters to meet, it was easy to love. Every friend I spoke to had a different story to tell about their experience of the game.

Even at the time of Fallout 3’s release though, the graphics weren’t exactly groundbreaking, and there were enough bugs to keep an insect enthusiast happy for days (some of them preventing completion of the game).

New Vegas has the same graphics engine and the same problem with bugs.

Facial animation looks wooden and spoils immersion during key moments, and patches for the game had to be released within 24 hours of release.

However, the game isn’t ugly. The Vegas strip sparkles at night, and the patches are doing their job well. When you look beyond the surface, even if the game mechanics feel very similar to how they were before, the writing, the dialogue and the overall experience is as good as you can hope for from a game.

Compared to Fallout 3, New Vegas may be more of a twin than an older brother – but it’s still an immensely enjoyable title. With excellent writing and characters whose stories pull you in, it’s worth overlooking the imperfections.

From the humour to the depth of your decisions, there’s no other series quite like it. 8/10 Out now on PC - PS3 - Xbox 360