Post your favorite video games.

[Mars]

My friend quit his job to play this game all day. He had over 400 hours on it and it literally consumed his life. He claims he had no regrets though. I've wanted to play it because I hear it's the best fallout by far and it surpasses every other game in the series. I suppose I just want to know why it's so good though.

Jeeez, while I love the game, I could never imagine sinking that much time into to justify falling behind responsibilities! 
But as far as why I believe New Vegas is praised as much as it is, is because the amount of flexibility it offers in decisions and the different ways to tackle such paths. Do you prefer to smooth talk out of something? Do you prefer to go a more proactive approach? Is there a faction you wish to side with? Do you wish to act more as a double agent for a faction? Hell, do you wish to take no one side's but your own? All these options exist so the freedom allowed in such an expansive game is truly something. The companions you cross paths with feel like a random occurrence rather than a "the story decides you must take them on as a companion so here she/he is!"; each have their own motivations, and each will ditch you if they think you're on a path that conflicts with theirs. 

I think the core aspect of how flexible the game feels in terms of your character is due to the fact you start out as essentially a nobody, a blank slate, but you're able to slowly climb the social ranks until you start making waves within the Wasteland. This factor sets it apart from Fallout 3 or 4. In 3, you're already a somebody and expected to find a somebody that is important. In 4, it's a very similar story and both installments don't really let your character start with a blank slate to role play around with.

That's my take on why I loved it!