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

[Mara]

Release date:
March 23rd.

Have fun everyone!

:):

:read:

[Torsion]

People in Russia are playing the game already and it sounds awesome so far. Word on the cyberstreet is that this game really lives up to the concept that was planned. Lets hope it is a surprise hit!

I think it is a good thing for the industry to know that it does not take a team of 60 americans to make an innovative and quality game. I am all for the small eastern European developers.

[Rafal Dudek]

I think it is a good thing for the industry to know that it does not take a team of 60 americans to make an innovative and quality game. I am all for the small eastern European developers.

Got that right!

/Goes back to playing Europa Universalis III

[Kalbrecht]

Everyone knows that it doesn't take 60 Americans. You need at least 100 Japanese salarymen to make an innovative and quality game! :-P

I'm holding off my anticipation until I see STALKER reviews, and maybe first patch...after so many years, I'm not ready to have my heart broken yet.

[Jagndeke]

Release date:
March 23rd.

Have fun everyone!

:):

:read:

I thought it was being released on the 20th. This is one time I hope you are wrong Mara!!! :p: :wink:

[Shoboy]

Target has it listed for $35 and it's to be released on the 22nd.

I'm getting the game to review, but sadly, my editor has not heard from the publisher yet........so I'll buy it..........

I'll be on it till it's done and I'm putting more time aside to write this review than I have so far(with wifey's permission of course). I'm sort of getting better at it, but this game needs the attention. It's kind of a AAA title that's been getting made for how long now?!?!?!?!?! :)

[Nyghtfall]

...after so many years, I'm not ready to have my heart broken yet.

And that's why I'm waiting for reviews. I tend not to trust games that've spent more than a couple or three years in development. I hadn't even heard of this game until I saw it mentioned in PCGamer a few months back. The concept sounds interesting, but I'd really like to play a demo, first.

[Kalbrecht]

It's also one of those games that has gone through many changes of heart, promise, concept and ambition.

Kinda reminds me of a Peter Molyneux development cycle.

[Nyghtfall]

Kinda reminds me of a Peter Molyneux development cycle.

And why Black & White sucked, IMHO.

[Jagndeke]

So far the reviews are looking pretty good. Four reviews in with two 8.0's and two 8.5's. Source. (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/stalker/review.html?mode=web)

[Sno]

I remain hopeful

[SupaTroopa]

Me too.

Story/characters are apparently weak and "objective" oriented, with some mundane side quests supposably - but the game itself is supposed to be pretty decent.

It's $40, what the hay, haven't bought a game in months.

[Nyghtfall]

I just read both of the reviews linked from Gamespot. Looks like the high scores are all about the game's atmosphere. Visually, the game is a tour de force. Story-wise... well, read this:

From GameRankings.com...

However, and this is one of those chasm-opening howevers that can doom a game completely, the way in which missions are delivered, and therefore the way the story is told, is often entirely random, and occasionally completely useless. The story, such as it is, is largely told to you by NPCs, but that doesn't stop vital information, important clues and plot-turning events from cropping up, unseen in the map/PDA information screen that you occasionally access to figure out what mission you're on. Furthermore you'll probably notice some MISSION FAILED messages appearing from time to time as your wander about killing things. These are missions that, unless you were paying close attention to your PDA, you probably didn't realise you were undertaking. Context-based missions, set off simply by your being present in an area, regularly crop up and you might have no idea they were there, or not care even if you did know. In this way Stalker fails utterly as a story-driven FPS. It's simply not good enough. Your only motivation is to see what incredible scenery or brain-pickling challenge you'll face next - there's almost nothing to care about. The very fact that one of the crucial story missions asks you to walk ten minutes south, when the overall sweep of the game is heading inexorably north, smacks of bad planning. Several times I carefully followed the instructions of context-based missions, only for nothing to happen. PROTECT THE STALKERS, I was told. The stalkers stood silently looking at me for several minutes. Nothing happened. I moved on.

Looks like I'll be keeping my $$.

[chip5541]

During the 2004 E3 they had a MP setup and at that time it was fun.

[SupaTroopa]

Unfortunately I hardly play anything online anymore, and well, based on the feedback for STALKER, gonna wait for more reviews, in particular Gamespot's, before running out and buying it. *sigh*

[Joe Cool]

I'll be getting it! :):

Shameless plug; Do my Stalker poll!

[SwaroG]

So, so far the reviews are:

IGN - 8.2
GS- 8.5
PC GAMER - 87%

[SupaTroopa]

Geez, pretty good reviews, GS being the most in-depth I've seen as usual - got too much System Shock/Deus Ex appeal (albeit on the very light side in comparison) not to pick up for 40 clams, despite it's drawbacks.

The multiplayer sounds predictably lame, but no matter. Sounds like a worthwhile game and I'm dying for something like this - so will hopefully get it tomorrow.

[Torsion]

The imminent patch will likely fix the vista issues and quest bugs. The concept of the game is just too awesome to ignore IMO. I might pick this up tomarrow.

The different factions and open ended game means that the single player has some replay value and will definately be a unique expirience each time. I think it is cool that the npcs speak ukranian. The radiation and anomally system seems really innovative. You can even drink vodka to help detoxify your body and your character actually gets drunk in the game so dont expect to fight after. If you are wounded you actually drip blood and need to bandage yourself. If you dont eat you will eventually die. Lots of neat details in this game.

Sounds like they actually got the accuracy of the guns right in this game and the ballistic model seems impressive.

The multiplayer doesnt sound bad from what I have heard. You get three modes and open ended maps with plenty of places to hide. Not innovative but sounds like fun if you like BF2 or CS gameplay which I do.

[Kalbrecht]

Geez, pretty good reviews, GS being the most in-depth I've seen as usual - got too much System Shock/Deus Ex appeal (albeit on the very light side in comparison) not to pick up for 40 clams, despite it's drawbacks.

Atmosphere wise, that's the vibe I get from the reviews...but SS and DE had a story, and every review has panned STALKER based on that.

Bugger. Tough choice.

[OldsterHolster]

I'm sure I'll have to try it, sooner or later. I'm not in any hurry, however. I wonder if it'll be worth trying to play on this puny, ageing, computer; or whether I should just wait until I upgrade, later in the year? Edward.

[merlin3791]

Well Ed I know you tend to play your games a couple times right? Maybe you should play it on your current computer and then replay it maxed out on your future machine.

[Joe Cool]

So, so far the reviews are:

IGN - 8.2
GS- 8.5
PC GAMER - 87%


PC ZONE-85%

[Shoboy]

People, people..........why all this $40 talk? I already said that TARGET will have it for $34.88.....$35 is what I really said, but still :p:

I'll get it on day one and do my review asap......... If you cant trust ME, then you cant trust ANYONE :thumbup: