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

[zapionics<alt>]

I stand by what I said. While I agree with the points you both make, I see the intersecting vector between Half Life and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. as being the atmospheric factor; which both games are drenched in.

As for mentioning the games in the same breath; well I played and loved both games at the time they came out and I'm a bit of a gamer from way back, so I guess I can have as valid an opinion as the next.

The way I see it; at the time HL came out its game engine was pretty advanced and unique and it took a while for the competition to catch up and that made it stand out long after the initial buzz... so its a hard act to follow and always will be, (I think the word is legend), whereas S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was up against a lot of newer tech and competition for the gamers dollar as soon as it came out... and yet in spite of that it managed to rise to the heights.

I think we have seen an extraordinary growth period for shooters accelerated to some extent recently with Far Cry but then evolving quite sharply with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. I think S.T.A.L.K.E.R. marks this particular point in shooter history quite well and although it stands on the shoulders of a number of great games that came before it, it just seems to me that its brought a lot of whats been done well here and there together into one excellent atmospheric game, and managed to deliver an invigorating gaming experience that I for one havent had since HL.

Of course gaming history is a continuum and there have been some fantastic games along the way which I'm not forgetting about, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a stand out IMO.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

I stand by what I said. While I agree with the points you both make, I see the intersecting vector between Half Life and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. as being the atmospheric factor; which both games are drenched in.

Cool.

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

As for mentioning the games in the same breath; well I played and loved both games at the time they came out and I'm a bit of a gamer from way back, so I guess I can have as valid an opinion as the next.

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

Of course gaming history is a continuum and there have been some fantastic games along the way which I'm not forgetting about, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a stand out IMO.

Couldn't agree more.

[Drufuss]

Agreed.

But i feel the need to mention System Shock 1 & 2 here.
This is one of my "milestones" in gaming.

Greetings

Dru

[polonyc2]

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Website now offers the system requirements for GSC Game World's upcoming shooter prequel...

MINIMAL

• Microsoft® Windows® 2000(SP4)/XP/Vista (SP1)
• Intel Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz / AMD XP 2200+
• 512 MB RAM
• 10 GB free hard disc space
• 128 MB DirectX® 8.0 compatible card / nVIDIA® GeForce™ 5700 / ATI Radeon® 9600
• Keyboard, Mouse
• LAN / Internet for Multiplayer
• Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista (SP1)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 / AMD 64 X2 4200+
• 1.5 GB RAM
• 10 GB free hard disc space
• 256 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible card / nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GT / ATI Radeon® HD 2900 XT
• Keyboard, Mouse
• LAN / Internet for Multiplayer

RECOMMENDED

• Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista (SP1)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 / AMD 64 X2 4200+
• 1.5 GB RAM
• 10 GB free hard disc space
• 256 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible card / nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GT / ATI Radeon® HD 2900 XT
• Keyboard, Mouse
• LAN / Internet for Multiplayer

[WhiteEclipse]

Hey all,

I stopped playing stalker for a while and went back to it this weekend. I think I am about 1/2 done based upon the length of walkthroughs on the internet (I don't read them fully, just find where I am).

This must be the hardest fps shooter I have ever played. I do well in most of them at hard level, but I die a lot in this game at any setting. every main mission requires several reloads.

But I also think part of the detection/shooting engine is broken. For example,
***very minor spoiler****



I went to the x16 labs. There are soldiers that move very slowly - you know why if you have played. Well I saw one walking backwards down the steps I was approaching. I quick saved as I have learned to do every time I see an enemy.
Pulled out my shotgun,*point blank* in the back of the head, the little dot squarely on his skull, two shots -- and nothing. He turns around and kills me while I am reloading the shotgun.

Ok, frustrating, but he must be a miniboss or something. So I reload the game, bust out my best machine gun (which I rarely use to keep in good condition for emergencies). Sneak up on him again, I let off two rounds into his skull point blank again, the weapon jams, and he kills me again while I am reloading.

The third time, I go back to shotgun, and decide I will shoot twice then run away to reload, finally realizing that even with my armor, I can't take more than one or two shots from him despite my numerous health upgrades. But this time, *ONE* shot and he is dead.

So I started testing, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what it takes to kill this guy. Sometimes one shot, two or more. Now I understand that the shotgun is not an "accurate" weapon, but point blank is point blank. I don't understand what the big variable is here.

The random respawning is still driving me crazy also. At this point, if there was a god mode, I would just use it to check out the story. It frustrates me so much, I can't play more than a little while.

[traveler]

I don't remember a "I-can't-kill-him" happening. So it must be an anomalous bug occurance happening at that spot.

Yep. That's one of the things that makes S.T.A.L.K.E.R. such a great game. One shot and it's likely you're dead. Just like reality.

Just bang it out and get through the "bugs". No frusatrations. You are in the Zone after all.

BTW Have you seen Gordan yet?

[WhiteEclipse]

I missed Gordon (just looked up what you were referring to online). Darn it. I think I was running away at that point. Is the weapon worth it, or was it just a cute easter egg?

Now I have a choice. Go back and fight through all the re-spawned enemies, or skip it.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

I missed Gordon (just looked up what you were referring to online). Darn it. I think I was running away at that point. Is the weapon worth it, or was it just a cute easter egg?

Now I have a choice. Go back and fight through all the re-spawned enemies, or skip it.

When I play a game I like to see everything.

I played on hard. It's not that hard (as long as you don't run out of ammo). Just very challenging.

I did the "run back" many times during my first time through. Necessary to complete many side missions. I would hide behind a tree and watch for shadows and sounds and then pop out for a quick head shot on someone. The odds would go slowly in my favor that way. The first two in the band of four are the hardest; the last two much easier. Spawning is good. Fresh weapons and ammo.



__________________
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[TQ]

Originally Posted by WhiteEclipse

I missed Gordon (just looked up what you were referring to online). Darn it. I think I was running away at that point. Is the weapon worth it, or was it just a cute Easter egg?

It's a .50cal Desert Eagle-style semi-automatic pistol. Personally, I never used handguns in Stalker once I began to get decent semi-auto rifles. They just took up weight.
As far as the Gordon Freeman Easter egg goes, it's fun and is virtually in the same vicinity as the location of the shotgun in the "Family Rifle" side-quest, so it's (literally) a hop, skip and a jump away.

[polonyc2]

I wonder if GSC Game World needed Valve's permission to use that likeness of Gordon...since they didn't explicitly say that it was Gordon Freeman-- it just looks like him plus there is a crowbar lying to him...plus if I remember correctly his PDA just listed his name as 'Freeman'

[traveler]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

I wonder if GSC Game World needed Valve's permission to use that likeness of Gordon...since they didn't explicitly say that it was Gordon Freeman-- it just looks like him plus there is a crowbar lying to him...plus if I remember correctly his PDA just listed his name as 'Freeman'

I don't want to spoil the ending of HalfLife 4 for you. So I will say nothing.

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by traveler

I don't want to spoil the ending of HalfLife 4 for you. So I will say nothing.

are you saying that Gordon somehow ends up in Chernobyl and gets killed by Strelok in Half Life 4?...that would be quite the plot twist

[WhiteEclipse]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

I wonder if GSC Game World needed Valve's permission to use that likeness of Gordon...since they didn't explicitly say that it was Gordon Freeman-- it just looks like him plus there is a crowbar lying to him...plus if I remember correctly his PDA just listed his name as 'Freeman'

Probably not, it is sufficient parody that it is not infringing -- should be considered fair use.

OT: Hey, remember when everyone enjoyed fair use before the RIAA et al.

Back on topic: Well I did a speed run yesterday - didn't go anywhere except for main plot lines. Stayed up really late and finished the game. Then I went on youtube to view the other endings.

I really wanted to like this game more. I saw all the strong qualities you guys talk about, but somehow it just did not come together for me. I guess it is like when you look at a talented sports team that just doesn't win enough. All the assets are there, but they just don't click right.

I'll probably wait for some reviews of CLEAR SKY here and elsewhere before I take the plunge on that. Having a new son, my gaming time has been severely curtailed.

[zapionics<alt>]

Well, not every game is for everyone. There were some games that people raved about that just bored me <cough>WoW<cough>

I need to wash Crysis out of my mind and I'm thinking of starting a new game up of STALKER... probably tomorrow.

[WhiteEclipse]

Yeah, I really did a lot of self reflection after this game. lol

I don't want to be one of those people who dislikes a game simply because it is difficult.

But I realized that is not it, because there are games where I can't wait to hit the reload if I die - but this was not one of them.