STALKER: Call of Pripyat
February 2, 2010 by johnrr6
Supposedly, better graphics, new maps, weapons and an even more immersive experience—with exceptional replay ability.
A few reviewers have felt they added "nothing new" to overall gameplay—-while others have called it "continually the best FPS series out there…."
Hopefully, it will improve upon an already great series:
From IGN: The events of Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Having discovered about the open path to the Zone center, the government decides to hold a large-scale military "Fairway" operation aimed to take the CNPP under control.
According to the operation’s plan, the first military group is to conduct an air scouting of the territory to map out the detailed layouts of anomalous fields location. Thereafter, making use of the maps, the main military forces are to be dispatched. Despite thorough preparations, the operation fails. Most of the avant-garde helicopters crash. In order to collect information on reasons behind the operation failure, Ukraine’s Security Service send their agent into the Zone center. From now on everything depends on you…
I’m in—–trying to locate a copy now!!!
Comments
Apparently, they have used several small distributors here in the US and the distribution channel to stores is somewhat confused-----but Amazon says they will have it for shipment on the 7th of Feb.
I ordered my copy from Amazon today and they expect I will have it on the 10th.
Ran across another possibily interesting Shooter/RPG called Metro 2033
Developed by a split off part of the same original Russian crew that did Stalker. The trailers looked interesting and supposedly it uses a beefed up variant of the same graphics engine that STALKER does.
THQ will be the releaser.
So many games.....
So little time....
Loaded last night----runs pretty smooth---no glitches....
Initial impressions.....
Graphics in the first level seem terribly dated-----they get better as the game progresses---but the initial level----PHEW----almost cartoonish.
Interface has been tweaked a bit to help with quick things like bandages and first aid kits.
Some missions are much more time oriented----but they have added an ability to "sleep" in certain places so that if you are to link up with a team at midnight----and it's only noon----you could go into a "sleep area" and set it to midnight to move the game along.
Weapons and equipment have even more mods---have added gas masks and helmets.
TONS of initial side jobs and missions to get you oriented and build up your arsenal. I'd recommend doing a lot of them just to get back into the "feel' of the game.
Artefacts seem a bit easier to find and are more plentiful than Clear Sky.
Puzzels and side missions are fairly challenging.
I am playing on Veteran level and I die pretty quick sometimes.....
I finally got a weapon with a scope....got it repaired.....got some ammo..
Am rolling now...but taking my time trying to understand the situation better...TONS of side plots.....
I'm surprised u found the graphics dated, I remember the opening of CS was awesome... U said cartoonish?
Think I'll play all three episodes in order to get the "feel" once again.
After going all the way through Far Cry 2, this will be refreshing!
John, tell me the atmosphere of SoC is back and its as creepy and eerie as before! (but no spoilers please)
I confirmed the release date here is the 25th
Clear Sky's swamp just seemed so much more vibrant and------better....
Get into buildings and underground and settlements ----and basically anywhere out of that first level----and the graphics are much better....
Immersive---creepy.....Yes---all of that.....
Heck it seems the entire first level I'm playing in rain and and drearyness.
I'm going to check the graphics settings and see if I have some less than optimal settings.
It said everything "maximum" when I set the game up---but I need to just check it to put my mind at ease.
Missions are getting more sophisticated and I'm starting to "gun up" got a 301 with a scope and a decent supply of ammo----and my trading skills are getting better.
They have a bunch of new potions to drink besides the cossack vodka that are pretty cool. One gives you the ability to carry an extra +10 KG for 5 minutes so literally you can haul 20 kg of loot back to base for trade in....
One downer-----most of the weapons have to be "repaired" before you can trade them in so the profit margin is smaller.
There is a nice box to store extra loot you don't want to carry back at the Zaton ship/base----a good place to "sleep" as well.....and has a mechanic and trader and even a mysterious guy you can give equipment "orders" too----says he can get you anything----it just costs! a lot!
__________________
Asus X48 Rampage Formula / Intel Q9450 2.66 @ 3.2 / 2 x 2GB OCZ Reaper HPC PC2 8500 /
Asus Radeon HD4870X2 Tri-Fan 2GB graphics card / 24" DeLL Ultrasharp 2408WFP monitor /
Western Digital Raptor X Hard Drive / Two Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5001ABYS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives /
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Elite Pro 7.1 / Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1 Speaker System /
Lian Li 343B cube case / PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Crossfire Edition /
IOGEAR GCS1782 GCS1782 Dual-Link DVI KVMP switch with 7.1 audio
This is a GREAT game!
The Maps are HUGE! You can take two days just exploring a particular map.
And it is ALL entirely new terrain----I have not seen anything that even resmbles the first two games.
The graphics and whole mood of the game improve tremendously as you move along---so does the complexity and your decision making....
Do you stay "free" or side with Freedom Or Duty
Who do you do missions for....
The mercs seem to hate you.....Why???
What armor do you take
What artefacts do you save and what do you sell
All the new potions and drugs
What weapons----and what upgrades???
The mysterious Nimble guy who "can get you anything"
Heck---I might even get the Monolith boys to join me for a foray into Pripyat----what a concept!!
Do I have enough cash....
The permutations are ENDLESS!
The side missions are challenging.
And I frankly am in no hurry to get through this game----I kind of mosey around a bit----take some missions----try to do good....put down bad guys and evil things.......build my stockpile of weapons armor and other equipment.
I'm slowly moving through the general story line and boy am I having FUN!!
I have not had ONE crash---sometimes I get the little jerky video moving across large portions of terrain that I got with CoS but I'm sure if I tweaked it I'd get rid of that as well. It has not bothered me to the point that I will spend the time tracking it down There was something I did in CoS that almost totally eliminated that issue---but I can't remember what it was---something with shadows I think.
You guys will LOVE this game!! Do NOT let the initial graphics and sense of "been there, done that", put you off...
It gets better----TONS better.
I'm hooked to the point my wife is getting on me for speding too much time playing a PC video game.
Always a good sign!!
Am I still the only one who has seen the movie S.T.A.L.K.E.R. ???
__________________
Asus X48 Rampage Formula / Intel Q9450 2.66 @ 3.2 / 2 x 2GB OCZ Reaper HPC PC2 8500 /
Asus Radeon HD4870X2 Tri-Fan 2GB graphics card / 24" DeLL Ultrasharp 2408WFP monitor /
Western Digital Raptor X Hard Drive / Two Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5001ABYS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives /
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Elite Pro 7.1 / Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1 Speaker System /
Lian Li 343B cube case / PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Crossfire Edition /
IOGEAR GCS1782 GCS1782 Dual-Link DVI KVMP switch with 7.1 audio
Thankyou for posting this great update, i was so worried they might not recapture the great STALKER experience again, but sounds like they've nailed it.
Did u update to latest directX ? I've installed that and updated my catalyst drivers, and made room on my games disk. Also replaced my 5.1 speaker setup as they were pretty old and getting tired