Stalker 2

[Calin Banc]

Each too their own I guess, at max settings 4K, I'm not majorly impressed, definitely not for UE5. It looks nothing like the quality of graphics in the trailer. Most of your shots are focusing on up close stuff looking ok, which it will.

I had a hilarious bug, when I started it from fresh the other night to humour it, when I got to the first fallout shelter during the first red storm, the guy in the chair was just looping his dialogue and vibrating/pulsing really fast on his chair - it's hard to explain but he was supposed to be sat down but was like buzzing/vibrating in a motion sense? If that makes sense just really quickly moving ever so slightly, glitching like mad.

The story was thin, at best, and all the endings are a yawnfest. The only mildly good bit, is

Spoiler

when you're sat with Foust high up, and he's talking loads.

I don't feel it was a finished, nor proper attempt at a game, not on release and even now it's only passable, in terms of stability, but plot wise, missions, gameplay, it's just very copy and paste, empty filler content. the last quarter of the game was laughably stretched and padded out with OTT amounts of running back and forth to NPC's to say now go back, and repeat.

As I've said before, if it was say 12-15 hours long, and the map was a quarter of the size and densely packed with things to do/NPC's etc, then it would have been a great game.

Oh and I haven't even started picking at the lack of a real A-Life system... We were definitely lied to!

The vegetation shoots are to show that it does have dense... vegetation, so it's a matter of render to get it properly working, the art / asset build is there.
I was on a top of a garage, is a medium viewing distance, it looks good. Yes, going up in towers and such it gets worse, partially due to blocky crappy shadows, which again, it SHOULD (maybe it won't) be fixed with a new engine iteration. The tech is there.

What hinders the gamplay is the GI as you either don't see inside since is basically black (but the NPCs see you) or you don't see outside from your position (all white), but the NPCs see you. )

And yeah, it doesn't look at it was shown originally. Sadly, it wasn't compiled with hardware RT, so you can't add it after the fact via mods. The vegetation also doesn't have Nanite foliage (giving how bad it looks at a distance or maybe it has but is badly implemented), although is on 5.1 which has it... or subsurface scattering for the foliage and proper interaction with light which make it look weird at times...

I'd say if it would handle things like Alan Wake 2 does... oh boy!

 

[deviation]

The vegetation shoots are to show that it does have dense... vegetation, so it's a matter of render to get it properly working, the art / asset build is there.
I was on a top of a garage, is a medium viewing distance, it looks good. Yes, going up in towers and such it gets worse, partially due to blocky crappy shadows, which again, it SHOULD (maybe it won't) be fixed with a new engine iteration. The tech is there.

What hinders the gamplay is the GI as you either don't see inside since is basically black (but the NPCs see you) or you don't see outside from your position (all white), but the NPCs see you. )

And yeah, it doesn't look at it was shown originally. Sadly, it wasn't compiled with hardware RT, so you can't add it after the fact via mods. The vegetation also doesn't have Nanite foliage (giving how bad it looks at a distance or maybe it has but is badly implemented), although is on 5.1 which has it... or subsurface scattering for the foliage and proper interaction with light which make it look weird at times...

I'd say if it would handle things like Alan Wake 2 does... oh boy!

I was actually going to make a comparison to AW2, but it's not an UE5 game, but yes, that looks years ahead of this.
IMHO, the trailer looked like it was a pre-rendered cutscene made to falsely look like gameplay.
I can't see this ever becoming what it was meant to be. It feels so empty even 9 nearly 10 months on. I wasn't surprised when I played it again this week.
I've yet to encounter any A-Life in the 3 hours I played it - and baring in mind this was the 2nd playthrough, so I was able to get through it quicker than on a first playthrough.

 

[mrk]

I would say the update to UE 5.5.4 will visually represent Stalker how the original trailer made it look. There is no way that UE 5.1 was ever going to come close to the trailer, with or without mods really.

 

[Calin Banc]

I would say the update to UE 5.5.4 will visually represent Stalker how the original trailer made it look. There is no way that UE 5.1 was ever going to come close to the trailer, with or without mods really.

I'd say it would have.

Vegetation could have been handled better, GI better, reflections, shadows, not the least... hardware RT. Moreover, the color grading is different, more de saturated vs in game.
Of course, the original was, most likely, the classic "in engine", but still... The engine could do great things, but just as so needs to be the developer's work.

https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/unreal-engine-5.1-release-notes?application_version=5.1

 

[mrk]

From previous versions, meanwhile 5.4+ does it a whole lot better than 5.1, and is way more CPU efficient in the process.

 

[deviation]

Had another play around with this last night, some crazy bugs still - when you're at the S-lag Heap, and high up on the metal frame admiring the view, whilst having that conversation where you walk along the frame looking down at drop etc; whilst the guy is talking to you, a segment of the view in the distance flickers on/off to detail - it did this when it came out when I first played it

@Calin Banc Regarding graphics, the thing that I should have said, that looks the worst, is when you are running, the detail of anything infront of you tends to degrade, and the edges of the objects tend to be rougher and look lower res.
I do agree when you're stood still the graphics look better, but the minute you run, it definitely falls apart, even the view infront of you.
I stand by my point that they've just given you reasonable graphics on the gun/arm/hands, and some objects close to you, such as a wrecked car or container etc.

 

[Calin Banc]

From previous versions, meanwhile 5.4+ does it a whole lot better than 5.1, and is way more CPU efficient in the process.

That sure, but is not like 5.1 couldn't come close.

Had another play around with this last night, some crazy bugs still - when you're at the S-lag Heap, and high up on the metal frame admiring the view, whilst having that conversation where you walk along the frame looking down at drop etc; whilst the guy is talking to you, a segment of the view in the distance flickers on/off to detail - it did this when it came out when I first played it

@Calin Banc Regarding graphics, the thing that I should have said, that looks the worst, is when you are running, the detail of anything infront of you tends to degrade, and the edges of the objects tend to be rougher and look lower res.
I do agree when you're stood still the graphics look better, but the minute you run, it definitely falls apart, even the view infront of you.
I stand by my point that they've just given you reasonable graphics on the gun/arm/hands, and some objects close to you, such as a wrecked car or container etc.

It "degrades" on the vegetation side on lower resolution, as in more aliasing. Is not that obvious (or at least to me) on the interiors. This improves a lot as you go higher in resolution, so if at 1080p is problematic, it's less so at 1440p and at 4k probably i need to zoom in to see anything. I don't have much of an issue with it, tbh, as DLSS can handle it relatively well.

Flickering has improved as well from launch. The culprit was mostly vegetation for me. Starting a new game, I think I only saw a few times briefly. I'll keep a watch for the segment you've mentioned.

All in all, I don't find it be pants. Plus and minuses, just like other games have....

BTW, I think the light GI is more stable on lower settings which is wild )

 

[deviation]

That sure, but is not like 5.1 couldn't come close.




It "degrades" on the vegetation side on lower resolution, as in more aliasing. Is not that obvious (or at least to me) on the interiors. This improves a lot as you go higher in resolution, so if at 1080p is problematic, it's less so at 1440p and at 4k probably i need to zoom in to see anything. I don't have much of an issue with it, tbh, as DLSS can handle it relatively well.

Flickering has improved as well from launch. The culprit was mostly vegetation for me. Starting a new game, I think I only saw a few times briefly. I'll keep a watch for the segment you've mentioned.

All in all, I don't find it be pants. Plus and minuses, just like other games have....

BTW, I think the light GI is more stable on lower settings which is wild )

I play at 4K DLSS Ultra
Yeah I was playing it on a monitor for the 2nd playthrough, it looks a bit pants when you're that close to a screen - so I switched to the TV with a controller, and it looks a lot better sat further away.
But yeah, the minute you run, it is definitely degrading, but it's acceptable on a TV
The flickering scene in that place was even the exact same half of the same building as on release
I do like what I like about it, a fair bit, but it is very bland/average, at best overall.
I'm still umming and arr'ing whether I'll see through a second playthrough, I just like messing about here and there with it - however I'm definitely not wasting my time hunting the artifacts and doing the boring side missions, nor stashes, this time
Haha, the lighting is pretty good when it's good. There's far too much nightime though and hardly any rain.

 

[almostgfx]

I totally forgot about game pass on pc too and with stalker 2 being there I think its time to give it a go bugs or not!

 

[deviation]

I totally forgot about game pass on pc too and with stalker 2 being there I think its time to give it a go bugs or not!

If you take it for what it is (a walking simulator) and don't expect to be blown away by the story, you'll get enough out of it, just remember the world is pretty bare and you don't encounter enemies very often.
For basically free thanks to game pass, you can't loose tbh

 

[Calin Banc]

I play at 4K DLSS Ultra
Yeah I was playing it on a monitor for the 2nd playthrough, it looks a bit pants when you're that close to a screen - so I switched to the TV with a controller, and it looks a lot better sat further away.
But yeah, the minute you run, it is definitely degrading, but it's acceptable on a TV
The flickering scene in that place was even the exact same half of the same building as on release
I do like what I like about it, a fair bit, but it is very bland/average, at best overall.
I'm still umming and arr'ing whether I'll see through a second playthrough, I just like messing about here and there with it - however I'm definitely not wasting my time hunting the artifacts and doing the boring side missions, nor stashes, this time
Haha, the lighting is pretty good when it's good. There's far too much nightime though and hardly any rain.

Use mods: there are for longer days, better ballistics and less spongy enemies, more loot (bullets, better quality guns) drop, A Life redone basically, graphics, sound, etc.

 

[almostgfx]

If you take it for what it is (a walking simulator) and don't expect to be blown away by the story, you'll get enough out of it, just remember the world is pretty bare and you don't encounter enemies very often.
For basically free thanks to game pass, you can't loose tbh

Thanks for the heads up! I actually thought it looked like quite a populated world but with that and the story being plain probably best that its done on gamepass then!

 

[deviation]

Use mods: there are for longer days, better ballistics and less spongy enemies, more loot (bullets, better quality guns) drop, A Life redone basically, graphics, sound, etc.

Thanks mate, is there any specific mods you'd care to recommend/link? As that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for
Oh, and is there a way to disable the annoying radiation effect on the screen with the flickering pixels, I really hate that! I get why they did it, but on lets face it all of the long treks with it happening, it gets rather old quickly! The gauge lets me know I'm being affected by it, I'd rather have just that TBH.

Thanks for the heads up! I actually thought it looked like quite a populated world but with that and the story being plain probably best that its done on gamepass then!

You're very welcome mate, the plot isn't amazing; I think the plot of the first is better, whilst known to be nothing special, bar a little twist.
Yeah on gamepass you can't loose.
My recommendation, would be to swerve the side missions, they're very samey and offer nothing exciting, I did a lot of them until I realised this, and going after the artifacts is pretty pointless, I'm yet to find one that was worth it - and I got a fair few of them.

 

[Calin Banc]

I totally forgot about game pass on pc too and with stalker 2 being there I think its time to give it a go bugs or not!

Depends how you wanna tackle it. Perhaps wait until the next big patch, with the new UE 5 version?

Thanks mate, is there any specific mods you'd care to recommend/link? As that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for
Oh, and is there a way to disable the annoying radiation effect on the screen with the flickering pixels, I really hate that! I get why they did it, but on lets face it all of the long treks with it happening, it gets rather old quickly! The gauge lets me know I'm being affected by it, I'd rather have just that TBH.


You're very welcome mate, the plot isn't amazing; I think the plot of the first is better, whilst known to be nothing special, bar a little twist.
Yeah on gamepass you can't loose.
My recommendation, would be to swerve the side missions, they're very samey and offer nothing exciting, I did a lot of them until I realised this, and going after the artifacts is pretty pointless, I'm yet to find one that was worth it - and I got a fair few of them.

There's plenty wrong with the game, but still has, for me, its magic. Including the side missions. For better and for worse, it really isn't that different from the previous 3 games in my book.

Below is the list with what I'm playing now. You can go on Nexus or wherever, get whatever mods you're interested an experiment.

Things I like about these mods: it turns off music completely, making it more immerse. No more tanky mutants or humans. Ballistics is redone, so you don't have a puny pistol being deadlier than an assault rifle and also needing to mag dump a few into an NPC/monster, enemies are less accurate from like 200m away with the shotgun ), they drop more loot, including upgraded weapons, some body kit, etc. Ah, and the RT audio thing makes the sounds a bit better positioned specially. I think.

 

[deviation]

Depends how you wanna tackle it. Perhaps wait until the next big patch, with the new UE 5 version?


There's plenty wrong with the game, but still has, for me, its magic. Including the side missions. For better and for worse, it really isn't that different from the previous 3 games in my book.

Below is the list with what I'm playing now. You can go on Nexus or wherever, get whatever mods you're interested an experiment.

Things I like about these mods: it turns off music completely, making it more immerse. No more tanky mutants or humans. Ballistics is redone, so you don't have a puny pistol being deadlier than an assault rifle and also needing to mag dump a few into an NPC/monster, enemies are less accurate from like 200m away with the shotgun ), they drop more loot, including upgraded weapons, some body kit, etc. Ah, and the RT audio thing makes the sounds a bit better positioned specially. I think.

Thank you mate, that's a great help! I'll have a play around, cheers!

 

[Calin Banc]

Thank you mate, that's a great help! I'll have a play around, cheers!

Well, I gave it a go with Chat GPT and he suggested the below order and activation:

• Immersive World and Physics (Better Physics) — ON
• Dynamic Weather Overhaul — ON
• More Realistic Forest — ON
• Sound of Silence — ON
• RemoveVignette — ON
• Weapon Reposition Project — ON
• Powerful Bright Flashlight — ON
• Enemy Weapon Attachments — ON
• Enhanced_Stealth — ON
• Lethal Mutants Main — ON
• Maklane’s Better Gunfights Rebirth — ON
• Cinematic Bullet Impacts — ON
• Reasonable Weapon Degradation v1.2 — ON
• Descriptive Ammo Boxes — ON
• Ultimate Stashes Upgrade 1.3 — ON
• Increased Rewards — ON
• Reduced Repair Cost 1.5 — ON
• Sell Damaged Stuff (upd. 1.5) — ON
• RandomAmmoLoot — ON
• Optimized Tweaks S.2 (Optimized Tweaks BASE) — ON
• Fully Unlocked Ballistics and Range – FUBAR Main — OFF (will mix with Maklane’s)
• Lethal Mutants Main Better Ballistics — OFF (will mix with Maklane’s)
• Less Weapon Degradation 50% — OFF ("double" mod, just keep Reasonable v1.2)
• Readable Ammo Bundle — OFF ("double" mod with Descriptive Ammo Boxes)
• RandomAmmoLoot100 — OFF (pick one, kept „RandomAmmoLoot”)
  
  Give it a go yourself.
  Also, upon activation RT Audio, make sure is you chose "After" at the order to load and any other RT visual mods to be bofore it. So it's that Shaun's mod with Ultra Quality Before, then chose Ray Reconstruction After Shaun... and RT Audio after Ray Reconstructions. When two mods like this needs to be resolved in order to have the proper order, Vortex should ask you about it.
  
  Anyway, I've also added DLSS v310.3 for for everything via DLSS Swapper. The images seems more stable like this.
  
  Oh, if you add more mods, ask ChatGPT. Not sure how good answers it goes with the free version, but the one right after that you pay for, seems decent

 

[opethdisciple]

Ok so this has been on my list to pick up once summer was over.

However when I check the reviews for this game it gets a luke warm 73 on metacritic which is very average.

Is this game worth the time investment?

Obviously I'm gonna get replies from fans of the game.

 

[Mr Evil]

Ok so this has been on my list to pick up once summer was over.

However when I check the reviews for this game it gets a luke warm 73 on metacritic which is very average.

Is this game worth the time investment?

Obviously I'm gonna get replies from fans of the game.

Review scores might be a bit off because of politics. This is an easy question to answer though: Did you like the original Stalker games? If you did, then you'll like Stalker 2. If you didn't, then you won't.

 

[PieEater]

Review scores might be a bit off because of politics. This is an easy question to answer though: Did you like the original Stalker games? If you did, then you'll like Stalker 2. If you didn't, then you won't.

Spot on, I loved the original games, and steam says I've got 193 hours logged on Stalker 2. It has some flaws but considering the conditions the devs had to work under and the fact the OG games wern't perfect that's forgivable especially considering the custom mods that are available.

 

[ED209]

Ok so this has been on my list to pick up once summer was over.

However when I check the reviews for this game it gets a luke warm 73 on metacritic which is very average.

Is this game worth the time investment?

Obviously I'm gonna get replies from fans of the game.

If you get the game via Steam you can request a refund it if your play time is under 2 hours.