Top 6 Reasons Why Stalker 2 Will Disappoint You

[Harris]

Disclaimer: This overview of bullet points of the article highlighting potential issues with the game is envisioned as a healthy alternative to the troll posts regularly posted at this forums as of late. Its intent is to promote a constructive discussion and help manage expectations ahead of the release.

Original story (in Ukrainian): https://itc.ua/ua/blogs/2784395/

Delays after delays

The game was delayed 6 times over the 4 years of development; most delays, author claims, are due to mismanagement, poor planning and production. Based on analyzing Linkedin the author suggests most GSC employees only worked at the company for a relatively short time, and based on the date of most hires he asserts the game's initial 2022 release date was unrealistic from the start.

"Eurojank" and obsoletion

As a "eurojank" game, the author argues Stalker 2 might be ridden with bugs or have other problems as far as its quality is concerned.

The author outlines the competition to Stalker 2 from both other games (Far Cry, Fallout, Metro, Chernobylite) with a lot of new ideas and mechanics; and Stalker's own modding scene (GAMMA).

He believes Stalker 2's goal to be a faithful iterative sequel to the original trilogy is no longer sufficient some 17 years later.

The author doubts that Stalker 2 is going to appeal to the modern audience that cannot really relate to its theme and setting, especially players from North America and Western Europe.

Unreal Engine 5

The author is concerned with the recent change of system requirements and argues it hints at poor optimization.

He questions the need for a map of 60 square kilometers, and suggests it might mean a huge but empty world.

He also criticizes the animations of hitting enemies and argues these feel janky and not very responsive.

Show your ID, Stalker

The author worries the game might have become too generic in an attempt to cater to a wider audience, for example by featuring the "yellow paint of handholding".

He also doubts if Stalker 2 will truly be a "Ukrainian game", questioning its ability to explore provocative or potentially offensive themes that are reflective of Ukraine's modern reality. He criticizes the availability of Russian subtitles as "bending the knee".

Overall

The author sees Stalker 2 as a game that tries to appeal to everyone yet risks pleasing noone in particular. He argues it comes across as a "yet another big mod", while also believes the game will not have as vibrant modding scene to potentially save it from any shortcomings - which he attributes to Unreal Engine 5 being hardware-intensive and new mods not having nearly the same kind of impact as the mods for a 15 years old game had.

[Easy Target]

STalker 2 gamma - when it happens - pure gaming dream !!

[Shynchroshnizzle]

Stalker isnt fallout/far cry/metro. It doesnt need to take place directly as the last games ended 17 years ago. Doesnt bother me at all.

[GlowWorm]

Reason 7: The content of the Steam forums.

[HAOSov]

Now Stalker 2 is Top 3 in global selling. Top 2 if we dont count free Counter-Strike 2. Even 9 place on China (very surprising), bc those guys love MMO and Wykong

[Qau'lthir]

Top reason why Stalker 2 will make you feel great:
AAAAAAA NU CHEEKI BREEKI IV DAMKE!!!!!!!

[Cheyenesku]

"The game was delayed 6 times over the 4 years of development; most delays, author claims, are due to mismanagement, poor planning and production. Based on analyzing Linkedin the author suggests most GSC employees only worked at the company for a relatively short time, and based on the date of most hires he asserts the game's initial 2022 release date was unrealistic from the start."
Are you an idiot? There is a war in Ukraine, and GSC is Kiyew based studio.
Also GAMMA is not Stalker, its Tarkov in Stalker maps and has nothing to do with what a Stalker game is.

"He also doubts if Stalker 2 will truly be a "Ukrainian game", questioning its ability to explore provocative or potentially offensive themes that are reflective of Ukraine's modern reality. He criticizes the availability of Russian subtitles as "bending the knee"."
- bending a knee? GSC decided not to sell the game in Russia and russian government itself banned it in the country, if you own it etc. there its a possibility of 5+ years in jail at the moment.

[StormhawkV]

And as usual nothing substantial. So much for 'constructive'.

[cha0tic]

"Eurojank" and obsoletion

As a "eurojank" game, the author argues Stalker 2 might be ridden with bugs or have other problems as far as its quality is concerned.

I'm a DayZ game of over 10 years (Since the mod) I'm used to Jank and bugs. I can still see the fun in a game even if it's executed really badly.

[Xafron Chi]

Originally posted by Harris:

He also doubts if Stalker 2 will truly be a "Ukrainian game", questioning its ability to explore provocative or potentially offensive themes that are reflective of Ukraine's modern reality. He criticizes the availability of Russian subtitles as "bending the knee".

I guess Ukraine has their own "game journos." That last bit says a lot about his bias against the game.

[Foxrun]

Hahaha, the amount of effort people put into trolling is silly.

[TBKTS]

Some people just see a car. Others see what is a base for creativity.

[Zervox]

"doubts Stalker 2 is going to appeal to the modern audience that cannot really relate to its theme and setting"

"The author sees Stalker 2 as a game that tries to appeal to everyone yet risks pleasing noone in particular."

"competition" he then mentions Fallout,Metro etc.

See, I have quite alot of hours in both these series..and I do not consider them competitors, why? well..I can play them both at any given time I want to. they are not ESports titles nor MMOs(we do not mention 76 here). it is almost like I can play...baldur's gate 3 and skyrim whenever it suits me without any need for FOMO.

1) the use of the term Modern Audience..we all know what that means..it means no audience, so thank god they didn't target the 'modern audience'
2) cannot relate to the theme, didn't stop people all over the world to enjoy Stalker,Tarkov,Metro and Fallout.
3) "tries to appeal to everyone" it clearly ISN'T trying to appeal to 'everyone'
4) talking about optimization, storage space is no indicator of poor optimization, most of a game's storage used is due to texture resolutions, please read up on how mipmap levels work in engines, and how the graphics texture settings affects this. we do not know what any of the actual graphic settings are in 'full' what can be disabled/enabled.

imagine a person saying that the game is not 'Ukranian' "its ability to explore provocative or potentially offensive themes that are reflective of Ukraine's modern reality" and then proceeds to say that Russian subtitles is 'bending the knee'? sounds very provocative and offensive to me considering 'modern reality' besides, Stalker is not modern reality.

[Stalker2010]

Interesting Ukrainian perspective.

[BlueSpark]

The "eurojank" arguments in regards to bugs is nonsensical. At least to my knowledge, "eurojank" is a term applied to specific, buggy/rough-around-the-edges Eastern European video games. How the heck would the buggy state of the old STALKER games from 15 years ago make STALKER 2 a "eurojank" game?

Also, criticizing the "eurojank" in regards to setting/themes and criticizing the game for catering too much to a modern western audience (hand-holding design choices) are direct opposites of each other, and thus contradictory.

Doesn't seem like a very well thought-out analysis to me.

[bruh]

wasn't it confirmed that you can turn off the yellow paint?