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

[polonyc2]

looks like the release date for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is August 31, 2008

[TQ]

Yay!

[WhiteEclipse]

Guys, I'm a few hours into this game and I am just not liking it.

1) Either I am getting old fast, or this game is very hard. I understand it is suppose to be a little more realistic, but I NEVER remember having to reload so much in a fps. I can usually play fps on hard without too much problem, but this game is killing me. Realistic maybe, fun no (to reload).

2) Related to this is respawning enemies. I loathe this. Kill a bunch of bandits, walk away and there is a new batch in the same spot very quickly. Even worse, I saved Bes and was talking to him -- and a new bandit appeared right before my very eyes. No, he did not sneak up around a bus, he just magically appeared and killed me.

I almost always finish every game I install, but I don't think I am going to make it to the end of this one. The atmosphere is great, but it is just too frustrating.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

...Either I am getting old fast, or this game is very hard. ...

Well, we're not getting any younger! but yeah, the game IS hard... seriously hard.

I'd say stick with it for a while if you like a good fps, which STALKER is.
You could lower the difficulty if you find you're not improving with experience.

As for the respawning; it only happens in certain spots. I remember it happens a lot in the first level with bandits. Once you've completed a job you dont normally need to go back and do it again unless you want to.

Actually, there were a few jobs that were so much fun that I redid them over and over a few times. Sometimes during the day, sometimes at night (which was very scary).

[johnrr6]

This is still my all time favorite game.....

The only one I have replayed several times....

Hang in there-----once you get a "feel" for the interface and the game......

It's just downright FUN and entertaining.....

The fights and the weapons are just.......special......

[WhiteEclipse]

Ok, I'll stick with it a little longer. I will bite the bullet and turn down the difficulty (I guess it is a male pride thing).

The funny thing about the difficulty level, is that I read online that the main thing it does is increase the drop rate -- well that sounds great but I can't carry all the stuff they drop already!

EDIT: I just want to add that I see a lot of things that everyone likes about this game. It is just that my frustration yesterday was greater than my appreciation.

[TQ]

It gets easier - mostly - when you start to get better weapons. The first time through I found the last part of the game pretty tough but the second time through not so.
It's a great game. Like johnrr6 one of my all-time favorites.

"Clear Sky" should be incredible.

[polonyc2]

I hated S.T.A.L.K.E.R in the beginning...I installed the game twice played for a little bit, got bored, never finished it...but then I started a new game for the 3rd time and this time played all the way through...great game but definitely takes a few levels before you feel comfortable with the interface, artifacts etc...the game is not really hard, just seems slow in the beginning...and once you get to the Garbage level you will get better weapons which makes the game a lot better

I don't love it as much as other people do as there are way too many quirks with it but it definitely is a very good game---great story...clumsy side missions, story quirks etc degrade the quality though

[JimTram]

Some of the AI and other glitches, as well as optimization has somewhat improved with the 1005 patch. After "Clear Sky" I'll play it again. Too engrossed with FFOW for anything else right now.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

Ok, I'll stick with it a little longer. I will bite the bullet and turn down the difficulty (I guess it is a male pride thing).

The funny thing about the difficulty level, is that I read online that the main thing it does is increase the drop rate -- well that sounds great but I can't carry all the stuff they drop already!

EDIT: I just want to add that I see a lot of things that everyone likes about this game. It is just that my frustration yesterday was greater than my appreciation.

Welcome to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. !!! You've never played anything like it before!

Realism -----> Yes! You get shot -----> You really get shot and go down fast.

Lesson: Don't get shot!

But as the Buds have said, you've got to advance out of the first area and get past the railroad tracks so you can get some better stuff. Such as Armor and more powerful weapons.

I will be playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. again.

[johnrr6]

Soooo many different ways it can be played----and you can basically make up your own missions.....

I tried to take the General back his BullPup launcher.....

But I had taken out one of his guys to get it....making me an enemy to his entire group.

On reentering the town trying to get to the General....I was attacked from all sides by his troops.

Basically I wound up clearing the entire town of the General's men-----who kept respawning until I had fought my way to his bunker----taken him out----and fought my way back out of town....

Phew----I was exhausted after that one....I was down to the last round as I limped out of town....and I had picked up EVERYTHING I could find and use from fallen enemies....

FUN!!!

[TQ]

You know, there's a mod out there that gives you much better weapons when you start the game. It also overhauls a lot of the weapon choices you come across throughout. It was designed to work with the 1.0004 patch but I've got it installed on my fully up-to-date game.
I just haven't played the game since installing it, though.

You can find it here...

[WhiteEclipse]

Originally Posted by traveler

Realism -----> Yes! You get shot -----> You really get shot and go down fast.

Lesson: Don't get shot!

lol, I learned that lesson pretty young. that is why I only get into gun fights in videogames.

Yesterday I found a high speed machine gun at the military base. It makes the game so much easier. After that, I got a little arrogant and tried to take out the military guys under the train tracks with it, got killed. But that is ok, because I didn't think I can do it, just wanted the challenge.

TQ mentioned a gun mod. I really think this game could have used better initial balancing. I wonder how many bad reviews/board positings (and lost sales as a result) there were because people just got too frustrated in the beginning?

I get that they were trying to convey to feeling of waking up and trying survive in a harsh, unknown world -- but if you don't survive and have to reload 10 times it ruins the feel anyway!

[TQ]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

TQ mentioned a gun mod. I really think this game could have used better initial balancing. I wonder how many bad reviews/board positings (and lost sales as a result) there were because people just got too frustrated in the beginning?

Some, likely. The game has gotten generally rave reviews, though.

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

I get that they were trying to convey to feeling of waking up and trying survive in a harsh, unknown world -- but if you don't survive and have to reload 10 times it ruins the feel anyway!

I'd agree with that. It's akin to crawling out of your crashed pod in Quake 2 with that near useless blaster pistol, though I'd agree Stalker's quite a bit more difficult.

I think of the early part of Stalker as putting you on notice that this is a very dangerous environment and that running and gunning will only get you killed fast.
The good news is that same environment can work to your advantage with a little planning.

I also found this Stalker guide/walkthrough to be very helpful...

[traveler]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

lol, I learned that lesson pretty young. that is why I only get into gun fights in videogames.

Yesterday I found a high speed machine gun at the military base. It makes the game so much easier. After that, I got a little arrogant and tried to take out the military guys under the train tracks with it, got killed. But that is ok, because I didn't think I can do it, just wanted the challenge.

TQ mentioned a gun mod. I really think this game could have used better initial balancing. I wonder how many bad reviews/board positings (and lost sales as a result) there were because people just got too frustrated in the beginning?

I get that they were trying to convey to feeling of waking up and trying survive in a harsh, unknown world -- but if you don't survive and have to reload 10 times it ruins the feel anyway!

It's going to be just as difficult as you go through the game and advance. As you get better guns and armor so does the enemy. As you get closer and closer to the Nuclear Power Plant, the defenders get tougher and tougher. You better learn how to sneak and hide and remain undetected.

BTW I used the "secret" tunnel to the left to go under the train tracks.