S.t.a.l.k.e.r.

[Finger]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadows of Chernobyl (http://www.stalker-game.com/en/) is one of the most under-appreciated games out there. Its a Role-playing shooter where you're running around a VERY detailed re-creation of the area around the Chernobyl accident (known in the game as "The Zone") fighting mutated animals, mutated people, bandits, the military, and other factions that have arisen in that dystopian ruin.

Oh, and did I mention the Vodka? Vodka is everywhere. It cures radiation sickness, you know. I bet you didn't know that... Ah, Russia.

Anyway, the main thing that is unique about this game is the level of freedom you have in the world. Normal "free-roaming" games let you set aside the main story and explore for a while before returning to right where you left off. In STALKER, everything you do (side quest or not) can have an effect on the outcome of the game. There are about fourteen different endings that all depend on how you play. [That's actually not true. I've only played through the game once, so I was repeating something someone had told me a while ago. There are actually 2 main story endings and about 3 "fake" endings. So sorry.]

Well, they've got a sequel (http://cs.stalker-game.com/en/) coming out next week (in english. The Russian version is already out) and it looks like they've done nothing but improve on everything. It promises to be the type of free-roaming, dynamic world that Crysis was suppose to be and from what I've seen, it delivers. There's an old tech demo on steam, but the more recent developer walkthroughs (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36881.html) are better.

[SATAn]

I'm pretty interested in playing this game, I've looked at it before. I just don't think my current computer will handle it but I have never actually compared specs to see. I plan on getting a new computer by the end of the year though, so we'll see.

[Finger]

In an interview, the developer mentioned that while Clear Sky will utilize DirectX 10, they designined the game to run on systems as old as DirectX 7. But that would be with reduced graphics, of course. So it might be better to wait until you upgrade.

The first STALKER is still really good, and its pretty cheap now. Its not as open-ended as the developers wanted it to be (that's why they made clear sky) but its close. Any game that allows you to kill every one and every thing in it and not "loose" is ok in my book.

[SATAn]

well I just barely exceed the minimum requirements so I'm going to get it, this better be a well spent $20!

[flameINSANE]

Oh it will be. ;)

[M4C]

Looks interesting and crazy intense. Found this clip a few days ago.

This is a mod called Oblivion Lost. When the sky turns red it's called a "Blowout" you have to seek shelter of you'll die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gqiF0vBMgI

[flameINSANE]

I have OL sitting on my compy. I should get to installing it sometime >_>

[Finger]

When the sky turns red it's called a "Blowout" you have to seek shelter of you'll die.

In the game its called an "emission." It happens once in SOC, but looks like it might be a common occurrence in Clear Sky.

That mod looks like they took all the various bad guys, elements, and monsters (that are usually seperated from eachother) and threw them all together to be more chaotic.

[Destro]

Ill definately be checking out clear sky... i never gave the game more of a "oh its a scary fps... k bye" But after looking into it, ill be buying clear sky for sure.

[Finger]

Just installed it a few hours ago. Spent most of that time trying to find a graphics configuration that works. Then I got the blue screen of death. It seems that they really tried their best to make it like the original. Pretty but inefficient graphics and buggy as hell. I was able to run Bioshock and Crysis at full DX10 graphics, but now I have to turn everything down.

But I'm sure once I update my drivers, sacrifice a newborn child to the gaming Gods, and get this thing to run reliably, it'll be quite a treat. From what I've seen of the gameplay, they've done nothing but improve.

[Finger]

Ok. so now the game won't start at all. Even after a re-install.

Perhaps I'm just getting these bugs because of steam:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/JMKentington/clearskyupdatenews.jpg

It seems to have been quite a while since this game last updated.

[Finger]

Ok, so I've been playing it for a while (still not beaten it, though.) Anyway, remember when I said it was "inefficient" when it comes to graphics? That was because I had dual monitors. I just found out today that it doesn't do too well when you have an extended desktop. Once I disabled it, I was able to everything at maximum with only a slight drop in framerate. And it is effin' beutiful!

However, everything else is still buggy as hell. Since the game a bit more non-linear than most, it relies on triggers. Triggers that don't always work. There's a pretty big trigger glitch that has stopped story-advancement for many people. A glitch they claimed to have fixed with the first patch, but is apparently still there. I'm having a particularly annoying bug right now. Most of the corpses will disappear (loot and all) the second I take my eyes off them. While there are still bodies that stay, the disappearances seem to be random. Though it appears as though the game is choosing to disappear all the bodies that carry the specific type of ammo I'm using.

But hey, the first game was just as buggy and that didn't stop me from considering it to be one of the most fun and innovative shooters of its time.

[Worry]

I didn't like STALKER. think I only played it for a few hours before giving up on it. did I quit too soon? It's the first time I've ever NOT finished a game I've purchased. that tells you how disappointed I was with it. Hell, I'm even pushing myself to finish assassins creed in the hopes something will change (did not someone during the production of this game, say "...hey guys...this is just the same thing that happened in the first 5 minutes over and over again with a barely different location...")

[Finger]

Well, that depends on why you quit. If you were expecting non-stop Serious Sam-type action, then you won't get any. If you like rpg-type shooters with a free roaming environment, then its great.

[Worry]

no, i just didn't like the look or the movements....the physics...just didn't work for me. *shrug*

[-={ICE}=-Cobra]

I didn't like STALKER. think I only played it for a few hours before giving up on it. did I quit too soon? It's the first time I've ever NOT finished a game I've purchased. that tells you how disappointed I was with it. Hell, I'm even pushing myself to finish assassins creed in the hopes something will change (did not someone during the production of this game, say "...hey guys...this is just the same thing that happened in the first 5 minutes over and over again with a barely different location...")

I was the same way Worry, the feel of the game was disappointing. I maybe put 2 hours into it and it didn't grab me.

I wish they would make another No One Lives Forever, I miss Kate.

[Worry]

They made a second one....don't think I was ever able to find it at the game store and then I forgot about getting it.

that game was a lot of fun...especially if you took the time to sneak up on the bad-guy foot soldiers and just sit and listen to them talking with each other. very funny dialogue.

if you ever find the second one....hook me up.

[-={ICE}=-Cobra]

They made a second one....don't think I was ever able to find it at the game store and then I forgot about getting it.

that game was a lot of fun...especially if you took the time to sneak up on the bad-guy foot soldiers and just sit and listen to them talking with each other. very funny dialogue.

if you ever find the second one....hook me up.

Ya I did play both the first one and "A Spy in Harms Way"

awesome

[Snowball]

I've been reading about a new sight opening up called Good Old Games...www.gog.com. It's run by the company that made The Withcher, and basically it's going to be a sight where you can download older games that have been reworked to run under xp and vista. So far the site isn't live, but I think its a cool idea. The games are supposed to sell for 5.99 and 9.99 and once you buy them you can burn them to cd or whatever you want. Not sure how that part will work, but thats what I have read. Either way, sounds kind of cool to me.

[Worry]

i wish they would re-work quake mega tf and then have someone host a good server running it. i'd play. it may not be pretty but I still have never enjoyed TF as much as I did with the original. it just had a ..... feel to it.