Why are these considered so immersive?

[Ash vs. Himself]

I have (all?) three STALKER games, but I've never gotten far into the first one. I always read they are super immersive, but I didn't see that aspect in my, admittedly short, attempts to play the first one. I know people walk around, maybe go on routes, sit around the fire. What else makes these immersive for you? I'm going to jump into this one and see if it hooks me. I'd rather not get my focus on "I hope it will be like this" and then find out my imagination made it into something it just isn't supposed to be.

Do you get a home? Can you sit on a stool in a bar and just listen, watch? If you can, is it interesting or do the seams of the game begin to show through?

[D'Harhan]

For it's time, it was Immersive. And the only rival the original had was Fallout 3.

There is a Fourth game coming out.

[Ash vs. Himself]

I heard! That's why I'm coming back--I want to give the originals a real go since they're classics.

[marie pavie]

So here is one thing...
http://tap-repeatedly.com/2011/01/alone-for-all-seasons/
but really just play the game. Play SHoC first, it's the one with the magic.

[Redrick]

Originally posted by D'Harhan:

For it's time

Still is even in 2021. It either hooks you or it doesn't. It's not going to click with everyone.

[PsyWarVeteran]

Because word spreads quickly and while STALKER games are pretty immersive, they are not what the internet and some "fans" made them out to be. Those same people made me hate the word "immersion".

Fantastic thread by the way, no joke. I don't know how pretentious someone has to be to sit around a virtual campfire for hours (!) because "immersion".

[Ash vs. Himself]

Originally posted by PsyWarVeteran:

Because word spreads quickly and while STALKER games are pretty immersive, they are not what the internet and some "fans" made them out to be. Those same people made me hate the word "immersion".

Fantastic thread by the way, no joke. I don't know how pretentious someone has to be to sit around a virtual campfire for hours (!) because "immersion".

Well, I get what you mean, and the amount of times where I'm playing a game and I'm like "oh, I can sit here" is super low. It's just fun once in awhile if you're in a roleplaying mood, you know?

I do love immersive games--and for me, immersion typically comes through details that devs took the time to include.

I was just more curious why it was immersive for fans of the game.

[PsyWarVeteran]

Originally posted by Ash vs. Himself:

I was just more curious why it was immersive for fans of the game.

Because many popular mods introduce themselves using the word and many people are introduced to the series through these mods. This creates a warped image of the games.

[Ash vs. Himself]

Originally posted by PsyWarVeteran:

Originally posted by Ash vs. Himself:

I was just more curious why it was immersive for fans of the game.

Because many popular mods introduce themselves using the word and many people are introduced to the series through these mods. This creates a warped image of the games.

I'll look into the mods too. I want to love this series, and I know I can get past it's age. I'll try vanilla playthroughs first.

[PsyWarVeteran]

Originally posted by Ash vs. Himself:

I'll look into the mods too. I want to love this series, and I know I can get past it's age. I'll try vanilla playthroughs first.

Yep, definitely do once you get an idea about what the game is. There are some great mods out there.

[Wstalker]

(The text is completely out of place, I was just writting what came on my mind)
I'll say right away that the game is not perfect, but I adore this game, the felling to be there, in the zone.
First, listen to some of this songs that play during the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfv7trmmEEE&list=PL5799D2CD7F1F15F0&index=11
Only by the soundtrack you can tell what awaits you.

Ok, so, Im gonna talk about my experience.
I played CoC twice, played CS and rightnow Im play CoP. All my playthrough was standard, no mods, maxed quality and 2k resolution.
I like to play the way de creators made the game, so no mods. But this is my thing. To me, this games are on point, even in 2021
For this to actually work(the imersion), you need to ''belive'' in this world. Pretending you are actually a stalker, living in this lonely and dangerous place.
In CoC there are a lot of underground missions, very eerie and dark, loved those missons.
All the games are fulled with places to explore, you dont need to, but they are there for you.
Imagine that, you are by yourself in this place, cloudy sky.. you are exploring this long past abandoned building, looking for something that could be valuable.. you start to hear a heavy breathing, getting closer and closer, you know its a bloodsucker, you've fought it before and know its a dangerous mutant.. the bloodsucker stays completly invisible while arrond you, he only appears when he attack, but first you only see his glowing eyes hunting you before it hits you and take half of health..
I like exploring all the places, and see what stories it tells
I love the sound track
The game is hard at first, so you need to have loads of medkits and bandeges for bleeding. also bind this on closer keys because you use a lot in fights. few shots kill you. also you'll use quicksave a lot, if dont want stress yourself.
the first guns you use are hard to control, you get better guns later, you need to check their stats
they have lots of recoil, the bullet path is not accurate, you need to learn how to use the guns. the game is not cod, run and shoot, you need to fight carefully
Also, I love games that one bullet in the head kills. seriosly, games the you need to unload a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ clip in the head to kill a dude its let down for me.
you will fight better armed enemies, but they are wearing helmets and exoskeleton so there is a motive why it needs more bullets.
Man, the game is slow, you need to walk a lot, read and talk to a few npcs.
And see this reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTq4ibgVof8&t=86s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4FIEZ2aKFw&t=2253s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Ul8-FRW60&t=3074s

If nothing of this was apealing to you, just drop it and wait for stalker 2

[OutoftheLoop]

immersive in gun play, weather, the blind dogs will drag bodies. Stalkers will pull out food, drink, guitar. that's pretty immersive. You could find more, but those are the most note worthy ones.

[OutoftheLoop]

you can even watch a pack of wild mutants attack other mutants, even other stalkers.

[SuperFly]

Get out of here, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.!

[Spooky799kil]

Just because the games are immersive for some it may not be for others. I think these games have one of the best Atmospheres ever conceived and a fav. Nothing else is close to it besides metro which is quite similar and I would recommend as well. My friends all think these some of the worst games they ever played. It just comes down to taste.

[PEYERO]

I also gave up on the first one back in the day but over the weekend I watched Shiey on youtube trekking to Pripiyat undercover. It was very exciting and hoping to give it another go.