honest hearts is fine. it offers up an interesting concept with a two important characters, both of whom are very interesting in their own right, but not much else. joshua and daniel are differing takes on christian missionaries, and the various problems they present when we start thinking we know better than tribal peoples. neither of these perspectives are "bad" but regigious missionary work is a form of colonialism, and it kind of sucks that you don't have an option to back out of helping either of them without actively working against them or just not playing the DLC. still, i like these characters and i think they're interesting. i wish they each got a bit more, and it's kind of evidenced that they never interract with each other, when it would've been call to have a 3 person discussion. shame new vegas never got that!

the gameplay is pretty disappointing here. zion itself is beautiful, if a bit one note, with its caves being quite dull and samey. the quests are SUPER dull, every main story quest being fetch-questy and not related to the central conflict. the white legs are uninspiring targets who feel more annoying than anything else.

the best thing about Honest Hearts is The Father in the Caves, and reading all of his entries. beautiful, incredibly well written stuff, very Oryx and Crake. good loot, good hidden traps, and amazing lore. my girlfriend listened to me read out all of the Survivalist's diary entries, and we both really enjoyed how cowardly, caring, and vengeful his entries are. good good shit.