Gold: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

I'm really enjoying this game a lot

Hunting for rare artifacts is fun (now that I can resist a lot of radiation) and I've built up a good inventory.

The interaction and combination of artifacts, armour, loadout and jobs makes this game very absorbing and fun. And once you get used to the clunky interface then its not such a pain.

I'm heading off to Strelocks hiding place to meet with the Dr now...

I found my way into the Dark Valley and am doing some SERIOUS floor to floor fighting trying to get to Borlov....

VERY difficult and VERY entertaining.....

And I think I have figured out the artifacts somewhat as I now have a mix hanging from my belt....

Am starting to get into the "flow" of the game better and have got my commands set up now on my trusty Gravis pad and G5 Laser Mouse (I don't use a keyboard----never have----the Gravis does direction and movement with my left hand and the mouse does the pointing, healing, inventory and map with my right....)

Gotta get me a better suit and Radiation protection-----and a more powerful scoped weapon.....wish I had a good pump gun for close in....

I got a few quick lags in the game last night for the first time----in the Dark Valley level when moving through terrain-----but never during a firefight----still very smooth and quick....

And the AI continues to surprise me-----one bandit crawled around a corner an got me with a shotgun at point blank range......

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...one bandit crawled around a corner an got me with a shotgun at point blank range......

heh heh, had a similar moment and nearly jumped out of my skin, fired my weapon without even thinking and we both went down

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

heh heh, had a similar moment and nearly jumped out of my skin, fired my weapon without even thinking and we both went down

Never had an AI smart enough to do that---actually crawl around a corner low....

Nobody uses grenades against me except that one time by the Military at Agropom...

Thank the good lord....

Grenades must be too expensive for bandits.....

Got an AK with a grenade launcher off one of the bandits----will try that soon...

I LOVE grenade launchers....

Back in the day----was pretty handy with an M-79 myself-----got so I could put-em right down a 55 gallon drum at about 150-200 meters....

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

Never had an AI smart enough to do that---actually crawl around a corner low...

First time I saw that it felt like they were really alive and they were hunting me down. Made my skin crawl. Its one thing when I'm advancing on them cos I'm in control of my destiny then, but you know its getting serious when they start coming after you!

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...Nobody uses grenades against me except that one time by the Military at Agropom...

Thank the good lord....

Grenades must be too expensive for bandits.....

exactly, too expensive and they like to save them for the right occasion, and you know, you're just one more guy right? Why waste a nade on that?
(They dont realise you're the "marked one" heh)

[traveler]

Originally Posted by Kimbo

for the same reason amazon US won't ship software internationally....
bastards!!!!

ps: what site did you order from ?

I picked it up on ebay. When I receive it, I'll endorse my seller.

I also ordered the hint book.



__________________

Visit and chat with the Buds at the #ABxZone channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com

[johnrr6]

Zap----do you feel it's better to go in and clear out a roadblock like the Railroad embankment just north of Cordon------or do you feel it's better to bypass it with stealth.....

I'm clearing out those military guys----but it's burning a lot of ammo and bandages/med packs...

And I'm wondering if the loot will be worth it??

I REALLY need a good snipe weapon with scope....

and a good pump style military shot gun with 5 -7 round capability....

[TQ]

You boys sure seem to be enjoying this game.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...and a good pump style military shot gun with 5 -7 round capability....

I have a Mossberg 590 with a nine shot capability, a heat shield on the barrel and a ghost ring sight that I can loan you...some triple-ought buck tactical loads, too.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by TQ

I have a Mossberg 590 with a nine shot capability, a heat shield on the barrel and a ghost ring sight that I can loan you...some triple-ought buck tactical loads, too.

EXACTLY what I need!!!

The game grows on you immensely!!!!

You start out thinking it's a bit clunky and the interface is slow and the graphics kind of "last year's"...

But as you progress----and get used to mix of weapons and supplies needed...and learn how to read the map and PDA.....

And the LARGE maps....and the overall complexity of the game....

And the way the firefights seem to get tougher and tougher....

Well----I have to say I'm REALLY enjoying the game....

A thinking man's shooter if you will.....

Better than Deus Ex in it's complexity and variable weapons packages......

And----the firefights----the best and toughest I have experienced----not because the hordes are attacking----but because people use cover and concealment and the actually crawl----they don't just come at ya....

If they could just polish up some bugs----and put out a much better manual to help you get started and understand this game's complexity.....

But it is still going to probably rank as one my top three of all time....

My favorites:
Far Cry
COD2
Deus Ex 1
Doom 3
Soldier of Fortune 1
Unreal 1
Fear
Original MOH (the Omaha Beach level is still my all time favorite graphics, sound, confusion, special effects level----just superb)
Marathon series (on a Mac)

I probably have left some really good ones off the list----but these stand out----at least to me....

[TQ]

Dang...I am getting too tempted and I have far too many games I haven't finished/played yet.

[Moncho]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

Checkout this site, you can take a tour through the dead zone.
Creepy pictures from the place that the game is about.

Something we dont get from the game is the sensation of silence and stillness, the game is so much more alive than the real thing.

Man...just went through the URL you provided of the dead zone. For me it was very unsettling. The young female author captured the depth of the results of this catastrophe quite well. Very brave individual, some may say very stupid for entering such a place. She certainly knew what she was doing and measured radiation at all times using a geiger counter (her dad is a nuclear physicist).

Thanks for sharing this insight.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by TQ

Dang...I am getting too tempted and I have far too many games I haven't finished/played yet.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is next for me as soon as it gets here.



__________________

Visit and chat with the Buds at the #ABxZone channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by Moncho

... Very brave individual, some may say very stupid for entering such a place. She certainly knew what she was doing and measured radiation at all times using a geiger counter (her dad is a nuclear physicist).

Thanks for sharing this insight.

Yeah, wouldnt catch ME going there! Apparently standing outside Chernobyl you will absorb the equivalent of a whole months background radiation in only 14 minutes.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

Zap----do you feel it's better to go in and clear out a roadblock like the Railroad embankment just north of Cordon------or do you feel it's better to bypass it with stealth.....

I'm clearing out those military guys----but it's burning a lot of ammo and bandages/med packs...

And I'm wondering if the loot will be worth it??

When you say bypass it with stealth you mean through that tunnel full of electro's?
Forget that, I just sprint straight up the hill and over the tracks. I've got artifacts giving me enhanced endurance and can run for ages, right across entire levels. Even the mutant dogs cant keep up. Couldnt do it any other way, it would take ages. I can go from the Bar to the trader in Cordon in just a couple of minutes (excluding loading times).

Originally Posted by johnrr6

I REALLY need a good snipe weapon with scope....

and a good pump style military shot gun with 5 -7 round capability....

Patience, all good things come to he who waits There are 3 types of assault rifles, older Russian like the AKM 74/2's, NATO and PAB/SP's. You will find NATO weapons in Yantar.
There is a PSO-1 scope for the AKM 74/2 and also a Kosteyer launcher.
I also found a modified AKM 74/2 with higher rate of fire and accuracy and it is awesome, dont want to put it down. Sorta attached to it now, I find it to be even more versatile than the TSR-301's. I dont want to give away where to find this stuff, but how early you get it depends on how you play the game and what order you do things in and how carefully you look. Its all good.

Yeah that double barrelled Russian shotgun is scary, but dont worry, pump action is there to be found.

Well I'm finding the enemies to be pretty challenging in Pripyat, so much for being "unstoppable".

[zapionics<alt>]

Wow, just a heads up to everybody, there are spoilers being posted all over the web like a hot rash, be careful what you read. I just did a google on something and couldnt believe how much babble there is already.

If you are tempted, just let me tell you that this game is much more fun played without spoilers and in your own way with alternative endings depending on what you do. You can end up with a very different inventory/armour and artifact configuration than the next guy depending on where you go, when you go there and what you find/dont find. Chasing spoilers would be choosing to play the game someone elses way and not much fun IMO!

If you have any questions or issues post them here at the 'zone (abXZone) and ppl can help you with non-spoiler approach or if necessary use the spoiler tags.