Stalker hands on single player preview

CptStern

suckmonkey
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ooh this does sound exciting:

One [wild dog] was able to really sink his teeth in me, and I began to bleed. To treat bleeding in S.T.A.L.K.E.R., you have to apply a bandage, and alas, I didn't have one yet.

Fortunately, I found a wounded soldier as I hobbled onward to meet with Wolf's men. Here's where S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s reputation system comes into play. The fallen soldier asked me to search the area for a med kit he'd thrown by accident when he was attacked (he was too hurt to find it himself). Once retrieved, he asked that I bring it to him and heal him. I, of course, had two choices: do as he asked, or use the med kit for myself, since I had already lost almost half my life and was still bleeding profusely.

Despite his compelling moral arguments, my shoulder angel lost the battle that day. Not only did I opt to use the health pack on myself, but I killed the wounded soldier and looted his body, finding bandages and more bullets.....

...My companions, apparently, decided that sneaking missions are overrated; they ran toward the decrepit village, shouting and firing at the first sign of the bandits. As bullets hailed the earth around me, I shot toward a nearby vehicle, holding down the sprint key for an extra burst of speed. Lowering my belly to the ground, accomplished by holding two unique crouch keys, I flanked the structure and entered a building through a gaping hole in a crumbling wall. Therein, I found a bandit preoccupied with one of my groupies. My friend died a horrible death, and I could have helped him, but I was busy creeping up behind my prey. Sheathing my gun and withdrawing a knife, I swung down hard with the right mouse button, a more powerful blow when that particular weapon is equipped, and stabbed him hard in the face. He slumped to the ground, I looted his body (med kit and bandages) and crawled onward to my fallen ally. Relieving him of his burdens, I moved onward......


After several more intense minutes of stalking, looting, and stabbing with a good bit of shooting thrown in, the battle was over. The AI presented a worthy fight, leaving only one of my comrades alive.

A comrade holding a shotgun.

I really needed that shotgun.

Seconds later, I had a more capable weapon ....


......While there were no human foes near this tunnel, there were quite a few packs of dogs and boars, which in their own way, proved far more dangerous than humans. I knew from past experience that the roaming animals in this game could easily hand me my head, so I decided to stay where I was for a while longer and study their patterns. Too bad I couldn't find any; their AI behavior seemed far too realistic to allow for such typical video game routines of moving to one area, then another, then back again.

Suddenly, the dogs began barking and running over a hill to my left. A boar had been spotted, and it too was running in the same direction, though away from the dogs!...

I made my way back to the camp and went to meet up with Nibbles. He wanted the jacket, obviously, so I... decided to quick save. First, I gave him the jacket and was pleased when he presented me with more quests to undertake. More quests means more rewards, after all. But then I quick loaded. I decided to kill him by shooting him in the head, thereby keeping the jacket for my own greedy self. This was not the wisest course of action, as a patrolman outside the building heard the gun shot and brought the wrath of the Zone on me. I quick loaded again and stabbed Nibbles in the face before proceeding to drag his body down to the building's basement where it could rot.

I like this reviewer ..his face stabbing technique is right up my alley


http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2007/030207_stalkersp_preview_1.x

btw did I mention that all the above is from the very first quest in the game?

/drool

release date cant come soon enough
 
You can't usually glean much from previews, I've seen games with awesome previews but get absolutely ripped to shreads with the review.

I really do hope that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is good though. Jesus, I remember first reading about it months before Half-Life 2 came out.
 
You can't usually glean much from previews, I've seen games with awesome previews but get absolutely ripped to shreads with the review.

I really do hope that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is good though. Jesus, I remember first reading about it months before Half-Life 2 came out.

read the comments on page 2 ..the author answers some questions ..he stops short of calling it Fallout fps
 
I'm sold.

This is the one game I actually really want right now.
 
Sounds kick ass, cant wait. I really hope its a little like Deus Ex, from the sound of it, it should have some elements that are similar.
 
I'll ask again - does it come with a DX8 renderer, as the beta did? Cause that, coupled with static lightning, tripled my framerate.
 
Probably. DX8 is on its way out though, very quickly.
 
I'll hijack this thread for a bit considering it is about STALKER and (p)reviews!
PCZone UKs up and coming issue has a review of STALKER, it has recieved 85% apparently, not shabby!
 
damn this made me excited again. The last time I was even mildly interested in STALKER was three years ago
 
That guy is obviously Neutral Evil, the bastard.
 
Interesting... Can't wait for more reviews on this game.

I'll be so pleasantly surprised if Stalker actually delivers.
 
For those who dont know it went gold last night so we will have it march 20th woot!. I'll read the review now.
 
From what I've heard the March 20th date many stores have is incorrect, and it will infact not be in stores until March 23rd.:)
Anyway, I don't doubt this will be good, there are already several reviews out, a few germans and as I said earlier, an UK one in the new PCZone(85%), the germans have given ze game an average 90%!
 
I hop it scores over 9 at gamespot rating system.

excellent read.
 
Everything indicates that I should love this game, as long as it doesn't have gamebreaking bugs a la Gothic 3.

The preview certainly sounded very positive, and the fact that he can run it ok @1024x768 with an x1600go (as noted in the comments) should be good news to most of us.

.bog.
 
Everything indicates that I should love this game, as long as it doesn't have gamebreaking bugs a la Gothic 3.

The preview certainly sounded very positive, and the fact that he can run it ok @1024x768 with an x1600go (as noted in the comments) should be good news to most of us.

.bog.

How is gothic 3 as far as bugs go. its 39.99 in stores correct ? not a bad price.
 
boglito, well, if it's released very buggy, after 6 years in development, 'some' people are probably gonna be pretty damned pissed..
 
How is gothic 3 as far as bugs go. its 39.99 in stores correct ? not a bad price.

I don't know how it is now. I gave up on the game shortly after release since I'm not much of an rpg-fan anyway. You might want to check out a gothic3-forum for info on the current state of the game.

.bog.
 
anyone know the minimun specs?

my videocard is like from the 2003,dont remenber the name
 
About time. My PC has been neglected when it comes to gaming. The last game I bought was Prey I believe. The PC market has been very dry lately, we need more exclusives.
 
yea it will. It looks great on my 9600XT

It may look great, but how does it run? My PIV2,8Ghz, 6800GS 128/128 and 1,5GB RAM PC was running the beta at about 20fps and a lot of stuttering at any setting except for DX8 renderer and static lightning, where I was getting 60-100 fps.
 
The beta (or so I hear >_>) was severely unoptimized, so the final version should run MUCH more fluidly.
 
That's great, because I already run the beta maxed without any real issue!:D
 
What does it feel like to play? is the combat system nice and crunchy like HL2?

Can you adjust the amount of weapon bob and such?
 
It feels great actually, I really like the headbobbing, it's the best I have seen in a game, the recoil feels great on most weapons, some feel a bit odd though. I think you can turn off weapon(or head) bob, not sure though.
 
I declare the game officially bad if it doesn't run perfectly on my radeon 9600pro with all effects max and hihghest resolution.

I'm trying to keep my expectations low
 
Seppo, then you are a moron no offense, this game maxed looks beautiful, easily matches any shooter that is currently OUT, to run it on max settings perfectly on a Radeon 9600Pro is just naive, so I certainly hope you were kidding....
 
Will i be able to run on max settings??? MUHAHAHHAHAHA cant wait :)
 
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