Is Stalker worth a buy?

[Lethagized]

I think it's one of the hardest shooters i've ever played, and i've played just about all of them. I've never played a game where you die so often as you do in stalker.

If i went to prison for life, and the judge let me take my pc but only 1 series of game, i would take the stalker series with all it's mods

 

[Greebo]

I just installed it...the graphics look rubbish but Im keen to play it anyway as Ive heard you have to give it time before you get used to it. And Im willing to do that after the brainless hours Ive wasted on Modern Warfare 2...oh man dont even get me started on that...what a pile of....

You installed the complete mod? The graphics certainly aren't rubbish. Last night I was wondering around in the dark and it was peeing down with thunder and lightning.

Nothing like a flash of lightning illuminating a mutant right in front of you!

I think it's great and yes, it does take a bit of getting into but once you've done a few hours, you're hooked.

 

[regulus]

I just installed it...the graphics look rubbish but Im keen to play it anyway as Ive heard you have to give it time before you get used to it. And Im willing to do that after the brainless hours Ive wasted on Modern Warfare 2...oh man dont even get me started on that...what a pile of....

The first 2-3 hours in the first 2-3 areas the game is rubbish. This is where I quit the game at least 5 times. Everything irritated me, from graphics to voice, to text dialogue (still does). Iirc, the first few areas was made right at the start of development and never really looked at again. Towards the middle it improves drastically and towards the end of the game, the eye candy is incredible. Hauntingly beautiful really.

Don't try running and gunning as you will meet your end very quickly. Take your time, get a feel for The Zone. Live in it a little, get used to the mechanics. I find myself getting into a routine. Quest during in-game day time, hang by fires early evening listening to other Stalkers play guitar and singing whilst watching the setting sun colouring the sky into incredible beauty. Night time I'd usually sleep as trying to quest playing Master level is just foolhardy. I die in an instant. My day would start around 5am just as they sun comes up and the last mutants disappear back into their holes for the day. Sometimes I'd be forced to spend a day on a roof somewhere if a pack of dogs get wind of me. Again, Master level is almost an instant death for anything, but so worth it.

 

[KatanaDV20]

One of the most atmospheric games I've played in a long time......Lots of people can't get past the dated graphics (get the 2009 mod - its amazing) and the shooting can be a bit hit and miss (literally). But that didn't put me off, I loved it.

DUDE.

*Thank you* for mentioning that 2009 mod! I didnt know about it! When I first got SSOC I didnt like it at all but last week I installed it again and was reading this thread and saw you mention the "2009 mod"

OMG

Utter transformation....I am so gonna email the authors...wow I mean wow...I dunno HOW they did it but the jaggies have vanished (on a game that has no native AA) and the graphics have been blinged to epic levels. It looks like it was released in 2010. If you have a hi-power rig you can max it. I play it on 3-screen Eyefinity and its amazing. Im on a SSOC mission now. I play at night with the hedfones and bass turned up....wicked game and you guys who havent got the 2009 mod.....go go go go go