Mods cant fix bad gameplay design.

[Dr.Corpse]

Just came across Duga bossfight and it is horrible game design. Not only does it go against the entire ethos all the gameplay "tips" give you in the loading screen (unlimited enemies in a locked-in arena after a lengthy mission meaning you are either low on ammo or your guns are shot up, or both.) but the the entire boss fight just.. IGNORES the previous 2 quests that had you chase and craft an item to negate the bossfight element.... that then still happens.

And before anyone says "well it isnt difficult" - its not about "difficulty" its about developers wanting a setpiece that is just an example of forced slog that has zero enjoyment, highlighting the dumbest portions of the combat mechanics (NPCs having unlimited schroedinger's grenades, mutant hitscan stunlock attacks that take player controls away, and omniscient ability of the AI to know where you are during combat)

Why does this boss fight exist? what function does it serve? I have yet to find a single opinion from a player that they were glad to experience it.

These design choices are what is the worst aspect of STALKER 2 - a mod can make mutants non-bulletsponges, a mod can fix the economy, a mod can fix weapon degradation and NPC grenades/accuracy/thermal vision and million other design oversights, but no mod can fix Duga.

[Palicai]

Its the Dying Light 2 syndrome, same as the final boss there. It just doesnt fit in the game its in.

This is a Ubified game, same as DL2, same as FC4-6. Huge map, rinse repeat loot and enemies, chase markers on a compass, cinematic cutscenes inbetween.

[Ruiner]

In 2024 the cheap tricks like enemies that one shot you to prevent you from going near the boundaries, unlimited enemy spawns during missions to prompt you to continue moving forward, instant kill triggers during missions, and even kill triggers due to radiation when your radiation meter isn't even full to prevent you from going further are unacceptable.

It's simply a waste of potential. It could have been a great game, I'm going to force myself to finish it, but it could have been so much better than it is.

[The Victor]

As I see it, the only hope for this game is it being fixed to the point of being at least playable (at least story mission) and waiting for the modders to do the heavy lifting, so far, aside from the graphics, it is a huge letdown

Mods can fix Duga, it just takes Anomaly/Gamma like modpacks to do it, which take years

[Palicai]

Originally posted by The Victor:

As I see it, the only hope for this game is it being fixed to the point of being at least playable (at least story mission) and waiting for the modders to do the heavy lifting, so far, aside from the graphics, it is a huge letdown

Mods can fix Duga, it just takes Anomaly/Gamma like modpacks to do it, which take years

And i cant wait. Stalker 2 in a total conversion WITH A-Life, factions nd maybe even Coop...oh lord, amazing.

[Bill]

Originally posted by Dr.Corpse:

Just came across Duga bossfight and it is horrible game design. Not only does it go against the entire ethos all the gameplay "tips" give you in the loading screen (unlimited enemies in a locked-in arena after a lengthy mission meaning you are either low on ammo or your guns are shot up, or both.) but the the entire boss fight just.. IGNORES the previous 2 quests that had you chase and craft an item to negate the bossfight element.... that then still happens.

And before anyone says "well it isnt difficult" - its not about "difficulty" its about developers wanting a setpiece that is just an example of forced slog that has zero enjoyment, highlighting the dumbest portions of the combat mechanics (NPCs having unlimited schroedinger's grenades, mutant hitscan stunlock attacks that take player controls away, and omniscient ability of the AI to know where you are during combat)

Why does this boss fight exist? what function does it serve? I have yet to find a single opinion from a player that they were glad to experience it.

These design choices are what is the worst aspect of STALKER 2 - a mod can make mutants non-bulletsponges, a mod can fix the economy, a mod can fix weapon degradation and NPC grenades/accuracy/thermal vision and million other design oversights, but no mod can fix Duga.

I just got to this boss fight as well and had to cheese the monolith alot to even get to him. Not even sure i feel like reloading a save 50 times to beat this guy...Might give this game a break for awhile... I killed like 10 of his phantoms not sure what i need to do. Not appreciating the monolith taking 2 headshots with vintar and armor piecing ammo...also the ak fully upgraded with ap ammo is essentially useless in the later stages of the game...feel like this fight could be alot of fun if they gave you an opportunity to gear up right before the fight...

[basedbb69]

Learn to aim you only have to shoot his lanterns a couple of times and they break.

[BTGbullseye]

Destroy the lanterns, that's all you need to do.

[Pendah]

Destroy the blue lanterns, it should take you 30sec, then grenade spam the evil guy which should take you 10sec and it's done.
I struggled too at first, killing like 50 clones before realizing I did it wrong.. and struggled too with the second fights until I found out a few nades will blow his lantern

[Bill]

Originally posted by Pendah:

Destroy the blue lanterns, it should take you 30sec, then grenade spam the evil guy which should take you 10sec and it's done.
I struggled too at first, killing like 50 clones before realizing I did it wrong.. and struggled too with the second fights until I found out a few nades will blow his lantern

That is what i did but aiming to hit the lamps with input lag while getting shot and stumbled by his clones from all directions and the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ control mechanics of this game isn't fun. This fight sucks rhino butts. The fact the enemy doesn't stumble with every hit like the player does is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I ended up killing him and myself with a bunch of nades but once he dies you get teleported instantly to the cutscene and progress.