"S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has always been an overly ambitious game, which is probably why it has arrived several years later than originally expected. The game's goal is to create a virtual world with an ecology all its own and then place you in the middle of it. That's something that's rarely been attempted, particularly in a first-person game. However, to the credit of THQ and Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an impressive accomplishment. This first-person survival game is at times amazing and engrossing and on par with such classics as Deus Ex and System Shock."

 

Finally, after like 5 years, this game has come out. I actually have never heard of it since last week when it came out and I stumbled on it at gamespot.com.

 

I have played the game for a short bit, and I have to admit, it took a bit to get used to. It's not just a simple FPS game like HL2. It's got RPG aspects to it aswell.

 

For example, you have an inventory, which has a weight limit (50lbs), and there are a heck of a lot of weapons you can acquire. You can also get items off of enemies bodies (food, bandages, weapons, ammo). Also, there is a neat mission system that I like in the game. You can go around and pick up "mini quests" along with the main missions you need to accomplish to get ahead in the game. Also, for some spots on your mini-map, it'll have an icon over say a small area saying something like "A rookie stalker ("friendly" stalker of yours) has died. Find his backpack here" (obviously it won't just say that, but you get the point), or somethin like "an item was spotted under the roof of this building", which is fun to after too.

 

I will be legally buying it this week, and I suggest you do that too, because the makers of this game have spent a hell of a long time on this, and they need their reward. I have yet to see a commercial for it, and my friends have never heard about it before, either.

It kind of sounds like an up-to-date morrowind type of game. Instead of swords, bows, and magic. You get GUNS!!!!

 

If that is the case I definately wouldn't mind trying the game.

It's fun, has a few rather "scary" parts so far, in my opinion XD.

It's fun, has a few rather "scary" parts so far, in my opinion XD.

Yeah. For sure it isn't exactly doom3 or F.E.A.R., but sometimes just the atmosphere can get u freaked out when ur searching a building at night in a thunderstorm.

ya its a fun game

the beggining i didnt like (pistols SUCK!) but once you get smg and ar much better

plus the teamates are very good

and the enemey AI is very smart they will try to flank you and other stuff

Don't forget to try and avoid those freak pockets of "reality-changers", they can be a bit nasty. I can't remember their exact names. Heh.

 

I started following Stalker when it first was announced. After about 2 years, I got bored and moved on to other things.

I've heard about the game. I never really knew what it was about. I'll defiantly be picking it up now though. It sounds like a really good time.

Oh god, the illusion monsters.

 

I was walking along in the sewers and I see some little old zombie guy standing back there and I was like "12-GAUGE TIME." and then my vision goes all fuzzy and the camera is having a seizure and he is shambling towards me and I cant hit him and oh god he is eating my brain arrgghh game over hit esc to reload last save.

LoL! There are things much worse than that in the game. Some of them you won't see until it's too late...

 

the game is alot of fun, very creppy too. I shot a mutant dog and out of no where 14 of them come out after me!!!!! WTF!!!!

 

after I escape them from climbing up a ladder I see these wolf like creatues eating them. and then daylight just turns black and a lound siren comes. wooo this game is definitly "out there"

i also have this game and so do a few other vsf members we like it, check the thread on our site in the other games section on the forums to see our comments.

i have typed out a lot of info on this game three times to post here and each time it wouldnt let me post.

there is already a patch if your well into the game dont bother with it yet, it wipe the game save and even if u back it up it wont let you use it so it means starting over from scratch.

can someone pm me the details for the ventrillo thing as i cant find the reletive post thanks budge

anomolies is what the strange things are called ;-)

anomolies is what the strange things are called ;-)

Yeah, that's it! I haven't followed up in the game in awhile so a good bit of my stuff is a bit fuzzy. The physics of the game really intrigued me when they were talking about the stuff they already had working and the stuff they were putting into the game. Even some of the early vids looked promising.

 

Alas, I'm on a tight budget atm so I can get it. That and I'm spending most of my free time landscaping my yard while the weather is nice.

 

I've been playing this for the last week or so. What a game! Scared the **** out of me at times! So much fun though.....it really created an intense atmosphere. The AI had its brilliant moments, but playing it at night during a thunderstorm in game with invisible creatures trying to eat you (with 5.1 headphones turned all the way up) made it one of the greatest gaming experiences I've ever had.

GREAT GAME!!! been playin it for a few days now... really slick gameplay. its a great change of pace! \0/

I just got it as well and I have to say I'm a fan. It's a big hardware intensive but even on lower settings it still looks amazing. Very smooth, lots to keep you busy. The missions have time limits on them sometimes so it gets you moving. The maps are huge. I have to say I'm a big fan of this game. Well worth the wait and the money. I'll have to tackle the multiplayer sometime soon.

 

Also, a little side note, it doesn't require the cd to be in the drive after you install it. Just that small little detail makes me happy.

Its fun, but i have some performance problems.

It helps if you turn off the dynamic lighting. It helps a LOT. The other two types of lighting actually run in DX8 and the game still looks good. Otherwise, here's a link to someone's tweaked settings file. I've tried it and they have dynamic lighting on but this plus turning it off should help.

 

Also, why can't I use mouse buttons 4 and 5? Grr.

alot of time when I try to full save the game or enter a new level it crashes to desktop. I updated a new patch to the game, so hopefully it fixes that. But I have to delete my current saves!!!!!!

 

oh well.

Since I am always away, would this be a good game for single player action? Is that what I'm understanding?

Since I am always away, would this be a good game for single player action? Is that what I'm understanding?

Single player is all it's good for. So many things to do, its like an RPG with u pickin up jobs and stuff

Very much so. It's a great balance of action and strategy. It keeps you busy when you want it to. The tactics and AI are fairly good although I'm noticing sometimes the AI get a little stupid. They'll stand outside a door and let you come around, flank them, and just mow them down. Most of the time though they'll come from different angles, use cover; they won't make it easy.

 

There's a ton to do. Most of the time single player gets boring because there's no one to talk to but in this you'd much rather get out and do the stuff because it's great to just explore too. Speaking of, I've got 2 hours to finish three missions because I kept screwing around and getting different things. It's a great game. Now if my monitor was working well enough it would look fantastic on top of being fantastic...

Intere stink. j/k, sorry.

has anyone figured out how to kill the dang fire anomalies. I'm stuck in a room with this fire whipping around and cant figure out how to destroy them.

You can't kill fire anomalies. You just have to avoid them. Look where the screen looks wavy, like there's gas coming up from the ground. That's where they are. Just step away.

 

If I remember the part you're on, down in a lab for the first time, there's nothing really in that room anyway. The fire randomly flies around the place, so just avoid it as best you can and get on out.