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

[johnrr6]

Best advice I can give for this game is just be patient.....

At first you will think that the interface is hard and clunky and very confusing....

And the graphics-----well----"last year's"

Then----it just keeps getting better and better....

You start to learn how to trade equipment----how to use the interface and the map better-----learn how to gather info and money----get better weapons etc.....

and it becomes VERY enjoyable----and VERY challenging----at least for me (I have it set to the next to the top level difficulty)

The firefights----oh the firefights.....even the lowest Zombie can kill you in an instant----you HAVE to use cover, concealment and movement----there are times that ONLY a grenade will do!

The AI will come at you in all different ways.

If you think you have the armor to just sit and take damage----guess again----you'll be dead in two seconds.

Head shots----work on head shots as most of the people are armored and will take a TON of damage to their bodies.

One soldier kept nailing me even after FOUR---yes FOUR point blank hits with a Shotgun----I was aiming center of mass (just like I was taught for 25 years) but he was equipped with body armor----switched to a head shot and he went down after one point blank blast.

But don't get the impression that head shots are easy----these guys are moving and can kill you with one blast....

The game just keeps getting better and better...

I finally got to Ghost in the x16 lab and was down to my last 20 pistol rounds and 10 shotgun rounds (was completely out of automatic weapons ammo) I did have a couple of grenades left....

Just plain FUN!!!

Can't remember when I've had this much fun and been challenged this much and had to THINK about what to do next.....

This beats FarCry----and it was my favorite!

[TQ]

Thanks, John. Great breakdown on how to approach the game.

[SpeedDMN]

I am finding I pretty much suck at the game. Right now it is more amusing to me with the trainer on. Unlimited health, ammo, and stamina gotta love it lol. Anyone that wants to cheat can PM me and I will send you the trainer. I know I know very lame, but I was getting sick of dying and the vast amount of hits you need to take down an enemy with hardly any ammo.

[TQ]

What level are you playing it on, Speedster? I noticed that when I installed the game it defaulted to a high difficulty level. I notched it down a couple of steps. Dying repeatedly isn't my idea of fun. I play to play, not to work. Until I know a game well I start it on a medium (or "normal") difficulty level.

[SpeedDMN]

I found the difference between the lowest and meduim doesn't seem to be all that different. I will probably cheat on medium for a while until I know what's going on. I am not the best at figuring out these games.

[TQ]

Say...I forgot to ask a really important question: can you save anytime with this game?
As in Doom/Quake/F.E.A.R., etc...?

[johnrr6]

quick save = F6

you can also hit escape and then do a normal game save....

I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have quick save.....

I die WAY too often....

[zapionics<alt>]

Yes! use F6 and F7 for quick save/load.

btw, I'm playing on "Stalker" level and I find the AI is very challenging and fun but realistic. I will up it a level and see how it plays just for comparison.

[TQ]

Good news, thanks.

[johnrr6]

For some reason-----Sacharov will not let me inside the Bunker in Yantar so I can talk to him....

I got the documents from x16----nailed every doggone zombie I can find....

I hear the message that Sacharov says I can "visit him in the bunker any time"

and my PDA says I need to accomplish this......

But when I go to the door of the bunker----it will NOT open----I don't even see any popup message that says the door is even active....

How the heck am I supposed to get into the bunker to see this guy???

I finally got tired of roaming around an empty map and fought my way through the Mercs-----back to Barkeep who now wants me to fight my way North...

Did any of you guys run into this??? What did I do wrong??

[SpeedDMN]

I had a problem where I could not talk to the trader on the first mission to give him the flash drive. It kept saying "search body" instead of "talk" After trying about a million times, I finally just saved the game and exited and reloaded and I was able to talk to the goon. I don't know if it will work for you, but might be worth a shot.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...But when I go to the door of the bunker----it will NOT open----I don't even see any popup message that says the door is even active...

Didnt happen to me at the bunker, but I DID have the same experience as you describe in Cordon with the trader. Somehow I "broke" the door and now it wont close or open but it does swing freely.

I wonder if this is a general door bug in the game

See if you can bounce the door open, try dropping a grenade next to it which might blow it open.

[johnrr6]

Zap----where did you get those new weapons???

I got a 301 fighting my way through the Mercs to get to Yantar

And a bunch of ammo for snipe and other heavy stuff----but no actual weapons.... also in Yantar....

Did I miss them somewhere back there in Yantar??????

Also----when I display the PDA in "Tasks" the right side of the PDA no longer shows a smaller version of the map----just a black screen that says: "the device is no longer functional----just try to live through this part and survive"

How about that!!!! Crazy!!!

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...Also----when I display the PDA in "Tasks" the right side of the PDA no longer shows a smaller version of the map----just a black screen that says: "the device is no longer functional----just try to live through this part and survive"

How about that!!!! Crazy!!!

you broke your PDA map? thats amazing, I didnt know that was possible even! It doesnt make a lot of sense either... hmm this game is full of surprises. You're on your own with that one kiddo.

As for finding weapons, you need to explore everywhere. I just picked up this fantastic sniper rifle, the Vintar BC, "noiseless and flameless sniper fire. It can pierce any bullet proof vest at a range of 400 meters". I can finally let go of my modified AKM 74/2 now I think.

I been a bit slack and havent played for a few days, but I'm back on it today, still at the army warehouses north of the bar.

[zapionics<alt>]

Well its possible to break the bartender at the bar. He would not talk to me and I had to reload a previous save, lucky i noticed.

This game is just great fun. I think the graphics are nice. Some parts are dated sure, but overall it makes up for it with all the great detail, lighting and atmosphere. Sound is fantastic.

I went back to stalker level, thats challenging enough. I just pumped about 10 shotgun rounds into a bloodsucker before it would stop so I dont need to go up a level IMO.

I'm heading further north now.