Summary
Ulysses fromFallout: New Vegasis a figure that the player rarely sees, but he carries an undeniable aura of mystery. For a character that players will likely only properly encounter once, there are a lot of story threads that are tied to him. Ulysses may just appear to be the final boss ofFallout: New Vegas' final DLC when the player meets him, but his history spreads through several corners of the Mojave before the player comes face-to-face with him. At his core, Ulysses is a man with many secrets, while also being an effective foil to the Courier.
Ulysses doesn’t show up untilFallout: New Vegas' Lonesome Road DLC, so players who only have the base game may have no idea that he even exists. However, Ulysses manages to be a rather memorable encounter. A mysterious man who speaks often about history and symbols, he speaks in a way that feels much like a lecture. Having removed himself from the factions of the Mojave, Ulysses is purely focused on his own goals. This has led to him being a solitary person, making the DLC name of Lonesome Road very fitting. Also notable is his perfect S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, marking him as a powerful person in the wasteland.
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Ulysses' Dark Past in Fallout: New Vegas Adds Dimension to His Plotting
Ulysses can be found in the Divide, whereFallout’s infamously deadly Deathclawsare actually among the least threatening encounters around. Although the DLCs can be played in any order, it is highly advised that the player avoid Lonesome Road until they are around endgame levels due to the incredible difficulty of the Divide. If the player manages to survive, then they can encounter the man himself, a rival courier who has visited every other DLC area beforehand, and played a role in setting up their stories. However, his true plan likely surprised many players once they got the chance to talk to him.
Even though Ulysses spent a significant amount of time serving as a scout forFallout: New Vegas' villains, Caesar’s Legion, he has no love for Caesar or his army. In fact, Caesar saw to the destruction of Ulysses' old tribe, the Twisted Hairs. Despite this, he hates the NCR equally, seeing them as unworthy leaders. Ulysses' ambition was to get away from both factions and find refuge in a community he discovered in the Divide, but tragically, the Divide was destroyed before that could happen. An infuriated Ulysses then devised a plan to nuke both the NCR and Legion in retaliation with The Courier’s help, ignoring any potential consequences.
The events of Ulysses' past drive him to do drastic things, especially since he blamesFallout: New Vegas' protagonist, The Courier, for the Divide’s destruction despite not being positive of their guilt. Notably, despite his destructive plans, he is not wholly evil. He can be talked out of his master plot if The Courier is persuasive enough, and before the events of Dead Money, he saved Christine from the machines of the Big MT. This dichotomy makes him a more interesting character. The dark events of his past fuel his actions, but he’s not fully consumed by revenge, as his potential actions show.
Ulysses is far from a hero, but his secrets make him an interesting character to follow. Despite plotting one ofFallout: New Vegas' darkest potential scenes, he avoids being a one-dimensional villain. As he reveals more of his past, players can get a feel for how Ulysses' life turned out the way it did, even though they probably don’t agree with his plans. For a character that only shows up at the end of a difficult sidequest, Ulysses gets fleshed out surprisingly well. Ulysses unveils a lot of darkness inFallout: New Vegas, and adds to the mystique of the Mojave wasteland.
Fallout: New Vegasis available now for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360
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