How is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 compared to the METRO series?

[Yard-Dog®]

I've been very interested in this series from afar and for awhile, but I've yet to delve deeply into the previews/reviews due to concerns of spoilers. I'm one of those people that like to enter into a new IP with very few preconceived notions of what I'm to experience, and that sense of 'wonder' is what I love about gaming.

I've played through the Fallout series, and I just got into the Metro series (which I really like). My question is: Does Stalker compare to the Metro series (particularly Metro: Exodus)? To me, at a very casual glance mind you, they look almost like the same game.

Any thoughts or opinions on this? I'm curious on how they compare to people who are equally well-versed in both franchises. Thank you in advance, as this will help me decide if I'm to hop off the fence and purchase this.

[Prussian Wolf]

It's open-world, for one, - you walk around a big map for the most part, but very similar in other regards. There's anomalies, mutants...
Not sure what I could say more specifically, it's a first person shooter, you gain gear, not levels, yeah.
- the OG games didn't really have any stealth... you can try it but it sucks, this one has SLIGHTLY more capability, but you still probably just fight other people straight up.

[Yard-Dog®]

Originally posted by Prussian Wolf:

It's open-world, for one, - you walk around a big map for the most part, but very similar in other regards. There's anomalies, mutants...
Not sure what I could say more specifically, it's a first person shooter, you gain gear, not levels, yeah.
- the OG games didn't really have any stealth... you can try it but it sucks, this one has SLIGHTLY more capability, but you still probably just fight other people straight up.

Sounds like Metro then...but with stealth mechanics that apparently suck in the attempt. Thanks for sharing.

[Golfbag Mansampler]

Metro and the OG STALKERS are both better than STALKER 2. STALKER 2 is just pretty graphics, and kind of soulless.

[Prussian Wolf]

Originally posted by Golfbag Mansampler:

Metro and the OG STALKERS are both better than STALKER 2. STALKER 2 is just pretty graphics, and kind of soulless.

Wasn't really the question.

Originally posted by Yard-Dog®:

Originally posted by Prussian Wolf:

It's open-world, for one, - you walk around a big map for the most part, but very similar in other regards. There's anomalies, mutants...
Not sure what I could say more specifically, it's a first person shooter, you gain gear, not levels, yeah.
- the OG games didn't really have any stealth... you can try it but it sucks, this one has SLIGHTLY more capability, but you still probably just fight other people straight up.

Sounds like Metro then...but with stealth mechanics that apparently suck in the attempt. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, to be clear, the game doesn't try to do stealth, is the thing, you can do it, but it's not the focus. I know Metro is big on it, that's why I brought it up.

[mP3+Z]

I love Metro's accent in English voice,

[Tritol]

Stalker is more like fallout without handholding, in stalker 2 they tried adding some features I would say they saw in metro, like those stealth kills and stuff.

Open world in exodus sucks, its just a slightly wider linear corridor, stalker games have actual open world that to a degree exists on its own without player interaction.

[Raoul Duke]

METRO games are finished

[Prussian Wolf]

Originally posted by Raoul Duke:

METRO games are finished

I remember getting game-breaking softlocks and terrible framerate and physics issues in the first Metro game.

[Myztkl©-Kev]

Fun Fact, 4A Games (studio that makes Metro) was founded by Ex-GSC Game world (STALKER) devs.

[Ewista]

Stalker has a more psych/psionic/anomaly thriller feel to it than metro does.

both are good games, personally i enjoyed stalker games more than metro: open world, the flavor and atmosphere, in anything really. thats not to break down metro because metro is very good, its just different.

just like fallout and metro are very different but both are good for their own reasons

[Yard-Dog®]

Fair enough, all. I appreciate all that insight. It sounds like Stalker 2 will be worth checking out in hopes that future patches improve the product over time. Honestly, it sounds like it is my cup of tea indeed.

[Golfbag Mansampler]

Originally posted by Prussian Wolf:

Originally posted by Golfbag Mansampler:

Metro and the OG STALKERS are both better than STALKER 2. STALKER 2 is just pretty graphics, and kind of soulless.

Wasn't really the question.

Originally posted by Yard-Dog®:

Yes, it was the question.

"How is STALKER 2 compared to the Metro series"

[Prussian Wolf]

Originally posted by Golfbag Mansampler:

Yes, it was the question.

"How is STALKER 2 compared to the Metro series"

First of all, your comment is formatted badly, I fixed it for you^, secondly just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on the game isn't a comparison.

[치 The Spearman 치]

STALKER 1 actually had the metro team working on it, there was a disagreement whether to take the series into the linear, story driven direction and the team that wanted to make the linear narrative experience split off to make the Metro series.

For the record, STALKER 2 feels more like Metro: Exodus 1.5, so if you like the metro series this is it. I can only tolerate Metro on ranger (non-bullet sponge) mode, so prepare for bullet spongy enemies.

[Yard-Dog®]

Originally posted by 치 The Spearman 치:

STALKER 1 actually had the metro team working on it, there was a disagreement whether to take the series into the linear, story driven direction and the team that wanted to make the linear narrative experience split off to make the Metro series.

For the record, STALKER 2 feels more like Metro: Exodus 1.5, so if you like the metro series this is it. I can only tolerate Metro on ranger (non-bullet sponge) mode, so prepare for bullet spongy enemies.

I despise bullet-sponges. It breaks immersion for me majorly actually. I hated it in Cyberpunk 2077 too (for instance). I'd shoot 'em in the head, and it didn't matter, because I'd be low-level trying to best enemies outleveling me by miles. That mechanic doesn't rely on skill but on level disparities. It works for games like Witcher 3, but it's silly when we're using guns sometimes at point-blank range.

I'm very intrigued by Stalker 2 and I'm probably going to buy the game soon (just for the atmosphere of the game alone), but I'm hoping for a satisfying playthrough without janky mechanics where I wonder, "what were the devs thinking?!"