STALKER 2, the empty world running simulator

[Arctic™]

I see a lot of takes in here, stuff like:
Game bad! vs game good!
Less or more broken than CP2077
Performence issues exist vs. Don't exist
Etc., etc., etc.

Main gripe: I can get over a lot, ♥♥♥♥♥♥ performance, broken AI and 1995 spawn system, very basic game mechanics and repetitive useless loot(1000th vodka, yaaay!) .... But Jesus Christ almighty! I can't take any extra minute of being forced to run through this empty map devoid of anything really interresting, incl. any resemblence of life, and I have explored almost all of it sprinting juiced on energy drinks ;)

Extra take: CP2077 had issues, I should know, had it pre-ordered and played day 1, but the world was alive and immersive, even if it was just some basic repetitive fake AI. Here, it's "enemy spawn behind you for 1000th time, just ignore and run away!"

To finalize this: For ppl out there saying "StAlKeR iS pOstApo Gaiiiiim! hAs to biiii EmPty!" ... No it's not ... there is normal world behind the wall and trading between mainland and zone works, devs were just lazy is all. Best visible when comparing game world of base Stalker 1:SoC vs. Stalker 2:HoC

EDIT: Thanks to Spiritfarer for the video link,this makes it even more hilarious to prove the point!!!

https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/1h8yc10/i_wouldve_saved_the_zone_days_ago_if_skif_had_a/

[Squid]

just got back on SoC RadioPhobia mod and damn it's so much better than this, i see NPCs walking to and throw objectives and felt apart of something, even the story of SoC has the player as an unimportant rookie at the start, this does later change but Stalker 2 the player becomes the hero as soon as they step foot on the zone, and also things like bloodsuckers are like the Brotherhood of Steel from Fallout 4, essentially signalling that its a game based on that particular franchise constantly using them lazily.

honestly i'd recommend returning to the older franchise, anomalies are a real danger, meds are a prised possession as well as most gear, the grind just feels hands down better.

[Sholomar]

Part of me likes enemies don't spawn everywhere as I'm running from point to point. The spawn system could be better but it's not terrible.

[DyD&Marina]

Originally posted by Arctic™:

I see a lot of takes in here, stuff like:
Game bad! vs game good!
Less or more broken than CP2077
Performence issues exist vs. Don't exist
Etc., etc., etc.

Main gripe: I can get over a lot, ♥♥♥♥♥♥ performance, broken AI and 1995 spawn system, very basic game mechanics and repetitive useless loot(1000th vodka, yaaay!) .... But Jesus Christ almighty! I can't take any extra minute of being forced to run through this empty map devoid of anything really interresting, incl. any resemblence of life, and I have explored almost all of it sprinting juiced on energy drinks ;)

Extra take: CP2077 had issues, I should know, had it pre-ordered and played day 1, but the world was alive and immersive, even if it was just some basic repetitive fake AI. Here, it's "enemy spawn behind you for 1000th time, just ignore and run away!"

To finalize this: For ppl out there saying "StAlKeR iS pOstApo Gaiiiiim! hAs to biiii EmPty!" ... No it's not ... there is normal world behind the wall and trading between mainland and zone works, devs were just lazy is all. Best visible when comparing game world of base Stalker 1:SoC vs. Stalker 2:HoC

Until the actual developers of GSC not learn how make a working A-life, is normal the game to be so broken, they don't have the knownledge of people made original A-life and Stalker.

Now Stalker 2 is more a empty theme park game like an ubisoft/bethesda games with even worse spawn system of this games, with some mods can be a bit better, but far from a real Stalker game.

[DyD&Marina]

Originally posted by Sholomar:

Part of me likes enemies don't spawn everywhere as I'm running from point to point. The spawn system could be better but it's not terrible.

The problem is a real Stalker game isn't about random spawn enemies near or far, is about simulating persistent NPC on the game, this is how a real working A-life make the map less empty and not "oppressive".

Stalker 2 instead not have anything working like this actually, with random spawn many times too near and too far between them, which isn't how a game with Stalker in the name should work.

Actually is accepted because is a bit better of modern dumbed down open world, but stalker 2 is a dumbed down version of Stalker games, considered how A-life is "working".

[WooKie]

Yeah AI is scuffed. But it is based on the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Even with the AI, it's still gotta feel desolate and hostile to life. And not require one of NASA's server's to run the AI. In short I agree it can be pretty sparse but it's gonna be, short of a few more mutants there's more of a reason to make encounters more natural than to add more.

If they did, people would then start complaining about not being able to carry enough stuff to fight and have space to loot. Thus begins a cycle
More enemies, more carry weight, less HP, enemies are too easy, I can get money too easy, more enemies... hey why has there been no optimisation? Can you imagine trying to please that.

[Oddslane]

Originally posted by Arctic™:

I see a lot of takes in here, stuff like:
Game bad! vs game good!
Less or more broken than CP2077
Performence issues exist vs. Don't exist
Etc., etc., etc.

Main gripe: I can get over a lot, ♥♥♥♥♥♥ performance, broken AI and 1995 spawn system, very basic game mechanics and repetitive useless loot(1000th vodka, yaaay!) .... But Jesus Christ almighty! I can't take any extra minute of being forced to run through this empty map devoid of anything really interresting, incl. any resemblence of life, and I have explored almost all of it sprinting juiced on energy drinks ;)

Extra take: CP2077 had issues, I should know, had it pre-ordered and played day 1, but the world was alive and immersive, even if it was just some basic repetitive fake AI. Here, it's "enemy spawn behind you for 1000th time, just ignore and run away!"

To finalize this: For ppl out there saying "StAlKeR iS pOstApo Gaiiiiim! hAs to biiii EmPty!" ... No it's not ... there is normal world behind the wall and trading between mainland and zone works, devs were just lazy is all. Best visible when comparing game world of base Stalker 1:SoC vs. Stalker 2:HoC

Game industry full of idiots now. Empty world running simulator like Starflop. Starflop and Stalflop are the same crap. It already dead. They are using bots for online and reviews. Don't worry. They just usual USSR cheaters, they always the same and never change.

[Sad Yak]

My main gripe is that unlike first games, most locations here have no scripted events for first entry, making them and in proxy, world, feel dead, unless you have quest there.

[Kleerex]

They were saying this about CP2077 too.

[Arctic™]

Originally posted by Squid:

just got back on SoC RadioPhobia mod and damn it's so much better than this, i see NPCs walking to and throw objectives and felt apart of something, even the story of SoC has the player as an unimportant rookie at the start, this does later change but Stalker 2 the player becomes the hero as soon as they step foot on the zone, and also things like bloodsuckers are like the Brotherhood of Steel from Fallout 4, essentially signalling that its a game based on that particular franchise constantly using them lazily.

honestly i'd recommend returning to the older franchise, anomalies are a real danger, meds are a prised possession as well as most gear, the grind just feels hands down better.

Eactly man, I got back to GAMMA, especially since new update change so much for the better.

I don't need Stalker 2 to be so complex but FFS! Game is jsut empty. In GAMMA, I accept task to eliminate mutant nest from a random stalker passing by and then it completes on its own because other NPC was passing by the nest and slaughtered them. Or going to places finding loot, S2 = vodka/bread/sausage/beer/etc. over and over and over again ... in GAMMA I am finding tools, gear, weapon mods, etc. ... simply I enjoy the exploration because it is rewarding :D

[Arctic™]

Originally posted by Sholomar:

Part of me likes enemies don't spawn everywhere as I'm running from point to point. The spawn system could be better but it's not terrible.

That's the problem, they are NOT supposed to spawn in. They are supposed to be in "offline" mode and "pop-in" to online mode when you get close enough, e.g. 150 meters or so

[CadaveR]

Originally posted by Arctic™:

Originally posted by Sholomar:

Part of me likes enemies don't spawn everywhere as I'm running from point to point. The spawn system could be better but it's not terrible.

That's the problem, they are NOT supposed to spawn in. They are supposed to be in "offline" mode and "pop-in" to online mode when you get close enough, e.g. 150 meters or so

Old games maps were a lot, lot smaller. enemies and creatures spawned too with that system, but given the tiny distance from the edges you wouldn't notice that. Try to apply the same system with the open world of s2 and wait for your cpu to crumble.

[Arctic™]

Originally posted by WooKie:

Yeah AI is scuffed. But it is based on the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Even with the AI, it's still gotta feel desolate and hostile to life. And not require one of NASA's server's to run the AI. In short I agree it can be pretty sparse but it's gonna be, short of a few more mutants there's more of a reason to make encounters more natural than to add more.

If they did, people would then start complaining about not being able to carry enough stuff to fight and have space to loot. Thus begins a cycle
More enemies, more carry weight, less HP, enemies are too easy, I can get money too easy, more enemies... hey why has there been no optimisation? Can you imagine trying to please that.

Well, I can imagine that actually since ... you know .... previous Stalkers had no issue addressing that.

Do yourself a favour and go play original SoC or better yet, some labour of love mod pack. Then you will see that after nearly 2 decades, what GSC gave us with Stalker 2 HoC is something akin to early access modern-day asset flip than a AAA-priced game :)

[Arctic™]

Originally posted by CadaveR:

Originally posted by Arctic™:

That's the problem, they are NOT supposed to spawn in. They are supposed to be in "offline" mode and "pop-in" to online mode when you get close enough, e.g. 150 meters or so

Old games maps were a lot, lot smaller. enemies and creatures spawned too with that system, but given the tiny distance from the edges you wouldn't notice that. Try to apply the same system with the open world of s2 and wait for your cpu to crumble.

But other games can do it on UE5, it's not engine problem, it'S a developer problem. No idea why everyone is stuck with idea of "UE bad! MUCH CPU needed!" .... not true, UE5 is graphical/physics wonder and works liek any other engine, you run in a bubble, rest is placeholders or offline.

And no, you don't need NASA PC to run good game. If implemented correctly, you are running an EXCEL spreadsheet in the background, hardly impacts CPU.

[Arctic™]

Originally posted by Deranger:

Originally posted by Arctic™:

Eactly man, I got back to GAMMA, especially since new update change so much for the better.

I don't need Stalker 2 to be so complex but FFS! Game is jsut empty. In GAMMA, I accept task to eliminate mutant nest from a random stalker passing by and then it completes on its own because other NPC was passing by the nest and slaughtered them. Or going to places finding loot, S2 = vodka/bread/sausage/beer/etc. over and over and over again ... in GAMMA I am finding tools, gear, weapon mods, etc. ... simply I enjoy the exploration because it is rewarding :D

GAMMA is a overhaul mod and not Stalker Soc/CS/CoP. If people want GAMMA S2 then someone will make a mod overhaul for it, not the base game experience.

Empty for some means actual Atmosphere for others.

Yup, true. And I don't mind empty. Played other mods as well as replyed originals every now and then. Thing is, I don't like empty world with nothing going for it. If I wanted to jump into developer build to explore "alpha build" of the world, I would have downloaded the 0.3.0

[JDumbz]

Honestly, I had to lower my expectations to enjoy this, still, I have more of an itch to play the older games modded still - quite disappointing truly by how watered down of a console shooter this franchise became. Another good PC game has fallen and submitted to inept modern gamers, especially consoles.

I ended up playing the Xbox X version as it's been more stable. You can really tell who they made this game for, but it is certainly not for the PC crowd. But as expected, modders will fix this game to its full potential in a few years. It's really the main reason I kept my Ultimate Edition license in the long run on PC.

I can agree this has been a (better) game to release this year BUT that's not really a high bar to reach and this game definitely barely scratches the surface by how good it can be compared to the OGs.