Too hard?

[a silly goose]

I'm finding SoC too hard to enjoy (i'm on Normal). I can't even get by the first bandit encounter at the car park and i'm 89 mins in! I have the 3 guys to help me but it doesnt help me at all. A bandit can kill me in about 2 hits but i unload 8 shots from a pistol into him and he just staggers.

[Collins]

aim for the head ar try to knife them

[a silly goose]

Half of the time my knife misses at point-blank range and when i aim for the head nothing seems to happen until i fire a few shots.

[Tücka der Techniker]

I am completly with Ultra Magnus, I played it on Novice and i need a few tries to kill them. And I think headshots are very difficult, because the weapons are not accurate enough. And maybe u can knife 1, but after that you are out of life.

[IronYoumu]

Play on Master. The difficulty works both ways, guns deal more damage both to you and enemies. Aim for the head and upper body. Always aim down sights. Crouch to improve accuracy. Fire in short bursts or single-shot, automatic fire is hard to use from long range. Most importantly, use cover, no cover and you're good as dead.

The knife is not a super weapon, never use it unless you have to. It's better used for breaking objects and what not.

[a silly goose]

I tried on Master and it was the same thing, 2 shots from them and I die but if i'm up close im lucky if i kill them :c

[IronYoumu]

You just have to learn. Imagine that you're playing Dark Souls. You're going die a ton first time playing but eventually you should get better.

The car park is hardly a problem. I always take it on alone with a pistol. (Doing it alone will also give you a better reward from Wolf.)

Be aware where the enemies are, don't let them sneak up on you. Take cover behind something solid, never leave yourself exposed, lean out and aim for their heads. If someone has a shotgun, keep your distance, because you're toast if they shoot you at close-range.

[Vox]

Make sure you get the Merc suit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxMBuEse6A

If one of the guys helping you is dead and has a shotgun take it

[Judson Gaiden]

Don't forget to aim down the sights with all weapons. In the case of the sawed-off TOZ-66 (aka "hogleg"), it would be "aim down the rib" since it has no bead.

[Judson Gaiden]

Btw, the game gets more enjoyjoyable as you progress. It maintains its challenge all the way through, but the early portions tend to be some of the toughest.

[Smog....🐸]

I tend to jump in one of the busses (it has a stash in it too) and defend from there as best I can.......or jump in the back of the truck right by where they enter and shoot em in the back..

Keep in mind they always come from the rear of the scrapyard so its easy enough to defend even if they make it through the side gate.

There are a couple of stashes at the scrapyard and of course the chest by the fire, can't remember whats in any of them but its worth raiding them before you go off to defend anything.

[doinkson]

aim for the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ head, also - loot your teamates bodies for the viper gun you get at the beginning

[Cro-Magnum]

Ah yeah, I've only just started playing Stalker, lots of fun. Anyway, maybe try playing on easy instead? Try not to get too close to bandits armed with a shotgun, they cause a lot of damage. Also, there's one guy in that camp who has a shotgun with a poisonous effect damage. I think he's the leader of that camp, tougher than the regulars, so be sure you pound that guy with lead when you have the chance.

[WarmCupOfTea]

Remember to quick save with F6

[WarmCupOfTea]

F9 is quick load btw

[Rebekah]

Originally posted by Cannibal:

Ah yeah, I've only just started playing Stalker, lots of fun. Anyway, maybe try playing on easy instead? Try not to get too close to bandits armed with a shotgun, they cause a lot of damage. Also, there's one guy in that camp who has a shotgun with a poisonous effect damage. I think he's the leader of that camp, tougher than the regulars, so be sure you pound that guy with lead when you have the chance.

Er, no? There aren't any elemental effect weapons in STALKER. Guns just shoot bullets :l.
Just checking, Cannibal. You are aware that guns can make you bleed and that bandages are used to stop bleeding, right?