Poll: S.T.A.L.K.E.R?

[Lineoutt]

Tis the season for holiday sales and therefore it also is the season for buying games. I've always heard good things about the STALKER series and I want to try one out. What's the best one? Which would you recommend for beginners who play shooters at medium level of goodness?

Thanks

 

[mirror's edgy]

Been playing the first for a few hours... get used to the death screen because apparently your character's ass is so painfully irradiated, he can take about half a clip of 9mms. But I still think it's a good game.

 

[Jumplion]

It's an interesting game. From what I've played, I prefer Shadow of Chernobyl rather than Call of Pripyat. Chernobyl is a bit simpler and doesn't have the insane weapon recoil like in Pripyat (yeah yeah, realism n' all, but still). They both take a bit to get used to it and get into the world, but once you're in it it's a great place to be in.

 

[onewheeled]

I've only played a large portion of the first game, Shadow of Chernobyl, and let me just tell you: It's damn hard.

You can only take a handful of bullets until you die, the guns are inaccurate (especially the pistol you start with), enemies are merciless, and dammit, there are a LOT of enemies. Be ready to die, a lot. And get used to autosaving CONSTANTLY. That's very important.

But the game is very fun, and once you get used to its unique qualities, you'll greatly enjoy it.

 

[Zhukov]

They're... ok, I guess.

Good setting, well realised. Quite atmospheric at times, even creepy when it wants to be. Basic gameplay is alright, if a little clunky. And while it certainly isn't realistic it does have a certain feel of... authenticity to it.

On the other hand, it's repetitive as all hell and constantly makes you trudge from one side of the map to the other. Gameplay becomes pretty monotonous after awhile due to the utter lack of variety. Also, the story is a bit iffy and poorly told.

Lastly, it's really not as difficult as everyone seems to think. So long as you don't act utterly retarded (taking on whole packs of wild animals, charging across open ground etc) then you won't have much trouble.

 

[SJXarg]

Shadow of Chernobyl has a few nice mods for it that alter the gameplay (I play Oblivion Lost myself, though I've heard good things about the 2009 complete pack for it). The trudging across the map bit is a valid complaint, though I found Clear Sky the worst of the three games (due to excessive bugs), but either SoC or CoP would be a good game to play.

 

[Murlo]

Fully patch it and if the graphics are what's stopping you, they have full graphic overhaul mods that make it absolutely beautiful and don't even change the game mechanics, storyline, etc. Although there are mods that CAN change the game mechanics. (Especially ballistics)All in all, I only own the first one, but I've asked other people and they say that it's the best.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

It reminded me of an FPS version of Demon's Souls.

Immersive, difficult, and full of dying.

Except that I didn't enjoy it, because of the open world. It made me AFRAID to explore, because I was worried about dying.

 

[Hashime]

I am about half-way through shadow of Chernobyl, but it will not load any more, so I am probably going to play call of pirypat.
They are fun though.

 

[silverbullet1989]

I like call of pripyat to be honest... although i love the first one just to explore the power plant. Ive played all 3 but now there modded to hell you wouldnt belive they were the same games.... if your not interested in the story then just get call of pripyat and wait for a mod called s.m.a.r.t.e.r pripyat, it will be adding nearly all the game levels from the 2 previous games + loads of new ones. Basically your getting all 3 games in one minus the story line.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

Play SoC first. It's great in itself. Just make sure it's patched. And get the 2009 Complete mod if your PC is up to it.

Then you can skip Clear Sky if you want to and go right on to CoP. It's probably the best STALKER game and certainly the most stable. And it's great in vanilla so no need to mod it on first play through.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Shadow of Chernobyl is dirt cheap right now. Just buy it, try it and if you don't like it, you'll have lost very little.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is not your average shooter. There is a big emphasis on survival and it provides a pretty immersive world to explore. It's tough to get into, but once you do it's hard to get out of. You will find yourself preparing every time you plan to head out into the world outside of your cushy haven. But it's a very rewarding game from what I played and it has some of the best multiple endings in video game history.

 

[Bludge]

Shadow of Chernobyl is amazing once you get a few hours in.
The others are no where near as good in my opinion, neither captures the same errie atmosphere as SoC.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

I've heard great things and keep meaning to properly 'try' my copy of SoC, but something else always gets in the way. Plus I hate things jumping out at me and know this happens in Stalker games. And the game makes me feel ill after a while, although this may be the depth of field being crap.

I'd guess they'll be reduced a fucktonne at some point in the Steam sale so that's probably the time to get SoC or CoP (Clear Sky seems to be for series fans only).

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

It's an good game, it's just difficult and kind of hard to get used to.

Yes, buy it, and get the mods for it too.