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[zer0das]

Same, I played on the hardest difficulty and there was nothing the AI could do that you couldn't do as the player. You just have to realize that STALKER is in the Counter Strike school of gun design: inaccurate, but it only takes a couple hits to take anyone down.

Er... that's not really true at all. Maybe leading up to the end of the game, but in midgame it can take a full clip to kill an enemy in a timely manner because the weapons are pretty weak relative to what they have and there's no way you're hitting them in the head enough times. Or you are hitting them in head you're just so far away it isn't going to kill them very quickly due to the distance and poor gun damage. By the time you get guns that can kill enemies in a timely manner they have an obnoxious amounts of hit points and armor so it isn't very timely even then.

I played on the hardest difficulty also... I didn't notice much difference from the easier difficulties, but it might be because once you've got the game down, it isn't that bad. Unless you want the real, real ending. Which I played the game through twice to get. I'm wondering how many people actually get this far and have finished this ending, because the game makes you go through obnoxious hurdle after obnoxious hurdle without letting you buy buy more ammo or medkits and is really, really hard. And I consider the game fairly easy once you understand it...

I may be alone here, but I really hope they speed up if not altogether eliminate the time it takes to get accurate rifles. I realize it adds some artificial realism but it just makes the gameplay less fun.

I don't know... complete some sidequests and you can get a decent rifle relatively quickly. Also: scavenge for artifacts, they may be useless but they sell for a lot of cash. The first smg you get is pretty strong relative to what you have to face as well. I know my big problem was that I wasn't completing side quests so I was always trying to kill a strong soldier or STALKER to steal his gun. That can work, but usually it doesn't.

I started a new game and managed to find a stash on top of the factory in the first zone that I don't think I've ever reached before. Scavenging is so much fun in this game. (Before the weight limit starts killing how much you can scavenge effectively :/).

 

[Vaporak]

Er... that's not really true at all. Maybe leading up to the end of the game, but in midgame it can take a full clip to kill an enemy in a timely manner because the weapons are pretty weak relative to what they have and there's no way you're hitting them in the head enough times. Or you are hitting them in head you're just so far away it isn't going to kill them very quickly due to the distance and poor gun damage. By the time you get guns that can kill enemies in a timely manner they have an obnoxious amounts of hit points and armor so it isn't very timely even then.

Well, we'll just have to disagree then. But I and many others have had no problems quickly killing enemies. Even exoskeleton ones take only a fraction of a clip to kill with the guns you have when you meet them.

edit: I maintain my position, if you're reloading and the enemy still isn't dead you've been hitting mostly air.

 

[BobsRevenge]

If there is one thing wrong with the first STALKER it's the obscene amount of bullets enemies can take if you don't hit their head. It's completely outrageous.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

WOW.

Look at the contents of the European special edition:

Hope it's not a boring, shoddy cardboard box. The Stalker LE looked sweet. Like a survival box that came out of the zone, all corroded and filthy. The actual extra stuff was kind of shit, but it was presented in a cool way. And goddammit I've managed to misplace my Stalker DVD. How did this happen?

 

[Kinan]

Some more shots of teh collector edition:

Also petrovka.ua seems to be the place to preorder it in Ukraine - they say they have got 50% of all collector's editions in Ukraine to sell.

It costs 40€ there, which is pretty expensive for Ukraine, but they estimate that collectors edition will be sold out within a week.

They don't deliver outside of Ukraine though, so most of you out of luck.

 

[Tokubetsu]

Is this going to be better optimized than the first game?

 

[Zyzyxxz]

Is this going to be better optimized than the first game?

the last game used a graphics engine which anybody who could run Half Life 2 should have been able to.

The killer was putting on Full Dynamic Lighting but if you got a 8800gt you should be fine.

As for the 2nd game probably needs a decent graphics card anyway since playing with full lighting looks so good.

 

[dLMN8R]

the last game used a graphics engine which anybody who could run Half Life 2 should have been able to.

The killer was putting on Full Dynamic Lighting but if you got a 8800gt you should be fine.

As for the 2nd game probably needs a decent graphics card anyway since playing with full lighting looks so good.

Yep. The first game was immensely scalable, and looked great even with static lighting on. Dynamic lighting killed performance and needs an 8800 to run at 40-50+ fps at max details and 1680x1050, but with dynamic lighting, the game stands up to most of the competition out there. Especially in the indoor environments.

The new effects in Clear Sky look killer though...hopefully they don't also kill performance.

 

[AgentOtaku]

The new effects in Clear Sky look killer though...hopefully they don't also kill performance.

Yeah, first STALKER runs flawlessly on my 8800gt at 1280x800....hoping the DX10 effects to change that =/

but yeah, DAY FUCKING ONE

 

[Wollan]

That cloth piece.. what is it?
Looks like part of a army patch tent but the fabric seems very light.

 

[Truant]

The original was my GOTY of 2007. The atmosphere and setting is unrivaled.

 

[Kinan]

That cloth piece.. what is it?
Looks like part of a army patch tent but the fabric seems very light.

Its a bandana (sp?). Head wear.

 

[Nikorasu]

I imported the European tin case limited edition of the original and you bet your ass that I will do the same here.

Did they give an actual reason why they delayed the game the same day it went gold?

 

[BobsRevenge]

I imported the European tin case limited edition of the original and you bet your ass that I will do the same here.

Did they give an actual reason why they delayed the game the same day it went gold?

Something to do with distribution problems caused by the whole Georgia-Russia mess.

 

[Tokubetsu]

the last game used a graphics engine which anybody who could run Half Life 2 should have been able to.

The killer was putting on Full Dynamic Lighting but if you got a 8800gt you should be fine.

As for the 2nd game probably needs a decent graphics card anyway since playing with full lighting looks so good.

I can run HL2 fine and all source engine games but I distinctly remember Stalker running like complete ass.

 

[Jaagen]

Oh shit, I want this. Any chance it'll go up on Amazon.co.uk or Play?

 

[Truant]

I can run HL2 fine and all source engine games but I distinctly remember Stalker running like complete ass.

Are you sure that you didn't try running it in Dynamic Lighting mode?

Because my old-ass PC that couldn't even run NWN2 ran STALKER like a dream with max settings in 720P at a constant 60fps. Granted, it was Static Lighting mode. Looks great, still, though.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

I can run HL2 fine and all source engine games but I distinctly remember Stalker running like complete ass.

float32 FTMFW

 

[Leonsito]

I think that the CE is only for Russia (22nd this month) and Poland

 

[RJT]

Standalone. $39.99.

25€ delivered in EU. I love it how we're not fucked in PC games

 

[RJT]

Are you sure that you didn't try running it in Dynamic Lighting mode?

Because my old-ass PC that couldn't even run NWN2 ran STALKER like a dream with max settings in 720P at a constant 60fps. Granted, it was Static Lighting mode. Looks great, still, though.

But Dynamic Lighting was great in underground levels... Added a lot to the experience.

 

[Truant]

Yes. My new rig plays the game with FDL without a hitch.

Well, there's a hitch now and then, but that's a problem with the game. Did they ever fix that?

 

[Zenith]

the last game used a graphics engine which anybody who could run Half Life 2 should have been able to.

The killer was putting on Full Dynamic Lighting but if you got a 8800gt you should be fine.

As for the 2nd game probably needs a decent graphics card anyway since playing with full lighting looks so good.

I could run HL2 with max settings easily but STALKER still ran like ass even with lighting turned off.

 

[Prime crotch]

GAME has a special edition exclusive for the rest of Europe, it's not as good as the Ukrainian one but still....

 

[Truant]

I heard it comes with a radioactive rock.

 

[Kritz]

I don't know how I would have gotten through STALKER without binding bandages to my MOUSE4 button.

I just hope the shotguns are a little better. I remember killing

Spoiler

an NPC named "Master" after I found Wolf's body dead next to him

(not really a spoiler) and running off with his shotgun for a bit, but even at close range it took way more shots than it was worth to kill someone.

I hope they keep in the glitch where if someone dies by an explosive barrel you caused to go off, you don't get in trouble for it. That was a nice alternate solution to getting the grenade launcher from Freedom without them being angry at you (Or running out to the Bloodsucker area).

I get the feeling that STALKER: Clear Sky is going to be a better Fallout 3 than Fallout 3.

 

[Mr. Durden]

WOW.

Look at the contents of the European special edition:

A STALKER Zippo. I'm popping game wood.

Buying this game just for the Special Edtion. Awesome

Anyway, I do hope the game still has CG cutscenes (fuck the current fashion of doing as much as possible with ingame engine, the graphics simply aren't at that level yet, only Crysis was forgiven, even though I still would've preferred CG), those looked so amazingly good.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

WOW.

Look at the contents of the European special edition:

http://for-m.gsc-game.com/stk/img/news/xr_cs_box.jpg

A STALKER Zippo. I'm popping game wood.

that's nice!

 

[Steeven]

I finally ordered STALKER, sounds great to me. But this game sounds even better.

 

[TheHeretic]

Holy shit at that collectors edition. I didn't care for the original all that much but i'll be checking this out for sure.

 

[BobsRevenge]

I don't know how I would have gotten through STALKER without binding bandages to my MOUSE4 button.

I just hope the shotguns are a little better. I remember killing

Spoiler

an NPC named "Master" after I found Wolf's body dead next to him

(not really a spoiler) and running off with his shotgun for a bit, but even at close range it took way more shots than it was worth to kill someone.

I hope they keep in the glitch where if someone dies by an explosive barrel you caused to go off, you don't get in trouble for it. That was a nice alternate solution to getting the grenade launcher from Freedom without them being angry at you (Or running out to the Bloodsucker area).

I get the feeling that STALKER: Clear Sky is going to be a better Fallout 3 than Fallout 3.

Same here man.

 

[eXistor]

I'm in fucking Europe and the collector's edition is nowhere to be found. Looks like only a few people are gonna be able to get it. There's another CE available in Germnay, but as expected: it's all in German:

http://www.amazon.de/dp/B001BTPRJ8/

 

[Davidion]

To the collector's edition I say: Get In My Belly


I don't think I've ever cared for collector's edition releases, but this one is quite nice.

I also have no qualms with admitting that it's probably the zippo that's making me feel this way.

 

[Mamesj]

float32 FTMFW

what's this? Me wantee!


Here are my specs:

--8800gts 512mb
--Core 2 Duo 2.66ghz
--2 gb DDR-2
--running at 1280x720

I had everything set to maximum, all effects on, and it ran at 60fps until I got into firefights with more than one guy--at which point it went sloooooowwww on me. Also, the bushes freak out occasionally.

 

[Danne-Danger]

I may be alone here, but I really hope they speed up if not altogether eliminate the time it takes to get accurate rifles. I realize it adds some artificial realism but it just makes the gameplay less fun.

I liked the way that the gunplay worked in S.T.A.L.K.E.R., you had to think more about which encounters you'd get involved in, use the landscape to your advantage and such. Really added to the overall hostile atmosphere IMO. The only thing I didn't like was the weapon degradation, though it was exciting having your weapon fail on you from time to time and it got me to use all the different weapons throughout... I dunno, maybe it's a necessary evil, but I do feel that it could use some tweaking.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

what's this? Me wantee!


Here are my specs:

--8800gts 512mb
--Core 2 Duo 2.66ghz
--2 gb DDR-2
--running at 1280x720

I had everything set to maximum, all effects on, and it ran at 60fps until I got into firefights with more than one guy--at which point it went sloooooowwww on me. Also, the bushes freak out occasionally.

http://stalker.filefront.com/file/Float_32_Mod;78869

its this really small mod, 74kb which somehow can improve performance by as much as 20%. Don't ask how it works because I dunno.

The only thing I didn't like was the weapon degradation, though it was exciting having your weapon fail on you from time to time and it got me to use all the different weapons throughout... I dunno, maybe it's a necessary evil, but I do feel that it could use some tweaking.

Thats where Clear Sky will now allow you to repair your weapons. Which is great because on my two playthroughs of the game I always found some weapon earlier than I was suppose to and it became my fav weapon until it went to the crapper. :/


Anyway September can't come soon enough! I want this game so bad!

 

[Blizzard]

That special edition looks awesome. *shakes fist at Europe*

 

[slash213]

These are pictures of russian collector's edition of the game. The nicest thing about it is cost - 1200RUR (48USD).

So, well, if you can provide me with a way to take money from you and send you a copy (and prevent both sides from fucking up each other, of course), I can help you get this box with all the stuff.

 

[Prime crotch]

These are pictures of russian collector's edition of the game. The nicest thing about it is cost - 1200RUR (48USD).

So, well, if you can provide me with a way to take money from you and send you a copy (and prevent both sides from fucking up each other, of course), I can help you get this box with all the stuff.

This version has no english version though does it? So I would have to buy STALKER twice.....hmmmm that is a nice zippo though

 

[eXistor]

I'm trying to find it online, but I can't find it anywhere. If anyone could link to a place that has it, I'd be much obliged. I saw a site linked in this thread, but I can't find the CE on there at all.

 

[slash213]

I really dunno. But probably yes, no english interface/sound. Usually only russian version is present on the media to prevent any reexport - you there have games cost way more, right?

Anyway, I wasn't going to buy game at all. First one gave me too many negative feelings.
But serfing through GAF and bumping into that big picture made myself a big fan of THAT CIGARETTE LIGHTER. I WANT IT BAD.


eXistor: this probably won't help at all, but CE version can be seen here http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/4003591/

Exactly the one pictured before in thread.

 

[bhlaab]

artificial realism

What?

 

[zer0das]

I started a new playthrough of STALKER, and it does take fewer shots to kill most enemies than my memory seemed to recall. However, it is a matter of style it seems... I'd say my average amount of shots when conserving ammo is about 8 or so (sometimes it takes as little as 3, sometimes it takes 13-15).

I think the general problem I was having earlier is that in that the game more or less forces you into a lot of ammo burning situations if you don't know what to do. Agropom is the worst offender so far... on the way to Strelok's hideout you don't even have a rifle to begin with, nor the means to acquire any additional ammo, and you have to wade through a bunch of military guys. Then you reach the surface at the top of Agropom you get shot at by deadly accurate enemies hiding everywhere, most notably in a watchtower behind a tree when you first pop out, and it's impossible to see him and he shouldn't be able to see you either.

Having played through it two times already, I know what happens so I can get out of these situations having consumed the least resources, but if I were plaything through this the first time I would be getting butchered. The real problem with the master difficulty is that the ammo drops and the health drops in particular are quite low. Being low on ammo against the military guys who have good armor is really annoying, especially since you have to fight through a decent number of them to complete quests.

All that being said, I made it to the Duty base having completed the first few major story quests in 5 hours. My loadout so far is the fast shooting rifle, a stalker suit, about 7 medkits (two of the blue ones, two of the scientific ones), like 30 bandages, 500 rounds of ammo for my primary rifle, and 300 rounds of ammo for rifles I know will be dropped by enemies relatively soon. I'm equipped with 4 artifacts, for about +10% endurance and -60% radiation, and negatives in a bunch of things that don't matter. And I have 20,000 cash to spare.

Also, knowing that meat chunks give you increased health regen and not increased overall health is very useful.

Probably the best start I've had, but I suppose that's to be expected given that I had so many problems in my first run and the second one I was just starting to get the hang of it. The game just gets progressively more fun for me the more I play it (until I hit the end anyways :lol ).

Can't wait for Clear Sky.

 

[dLMN8R]

PC Gamer UK review - 68%

ouch

Disappointment of the year so far
It's more beautiful, more violent, more annoying
It's not a worthy follow-up, clevery designed, oh happy day.




:-( Hopefully this isn't a trend. Makes me think though - Shawn Elliot on GFW Radio that the copy he just played recently isn't final code.

So it's possible that the version PCG UK was playing has issues that won't exist in the final...

 

[Flunkie]

PC Gamer UK review - 68%

ouch

Disappointment of the year so far
It's more beautiful, more violent, more annoying
It's not a worthy follow-up, clevery designed, oh happy day.




:-( Hopefully this isn't a trend

I doubt it'll be a trend. More like a rarity.

 

[rollingstart]

I want that STALKER lighter.

 

[Revolutionary]

So basically... it's on par with the first game (which I wasn't much of a fan of).

As long as it's not as bug-ridden, I'll check it out.

 

[Vaporak]

PC Gamer UK review - 68%

ouch

Disappointment of the year so far
It's more beautiful, more violent, more annoying
It's not a worthy follow-up, clevery designed, oh happy day.




:-( Hopefully this isn't a trend. Makes me think though - Shawn Elliot on GFW Radio that the copy he just played recently isn't final code.

So it's possible that the version PCG UK was playing has issues that won't exist in the final...

Hmm, I wonder what their issues with it were.

 

[Lovely Salsa]

Any russian site that lets you buy it digital download way? (so you can play it now eh eh eh??)

 

[Laurentius]

5bU4w