STALKER: Call of Pripyat - PC

[HEXUS]

Taking us once again into the deadly area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion of 1986.

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[noTHINGface]

I've been playing this for the last week or so, and as a big fan of the series, particularly SoC I agree with what Mr M@a says here. A couple of things that do bother me however;

I dont like paying to travel between maps, I quite liked the trekking across the wastelands as in SoC to get to where I needed to be. Other may prefer this 'fast travel' solution. I wasn't so keen on the hub based design of each of the three maps, a little samey. I wish there was more regions to explore too.

Like Clear Sky this doesnt instil the same level of tension and fear that SoC did for me, I guess im used to what the zone has to offer.

[jnutt]

I've played SOC and am just about to go into the 3rd area of COP. I would say COP does not have as many of the moments of SOC. There are a few but SOC provides a lot where I was glad I had my brown trousers on Still a good game. If you buy SOC check the forums as there are patches available that will stop it crashing. Both games have excellent levels but I think so far I prefer SOC but we'll see.

[Grey M@a]

I dont like paying to travel between maps, I quite liked the trekking across the wastelands as in SoC to get to where I needed to be. Other may prefer this 'fast travel' solution. I wasn't so keen on the hub based design of each of the three maps, a little samey. I wish there was more regions to explore too.

Like Clear Sky this doesnt instil the same level of tension and fear that SoC did for me, I guess im used to what the zone has to offer.

I am with you, I loved the exploration of SoC and also when you went off the beaten track you would find whole cities mapped but not included in the main game.

That last comment rings true also, it is a case of whether we are used to the zone and its mutants/mechanics or its the case of been there and done that but it still has its moments. Blood suckers especially this time around, they seem to grunt a lot more so you know they are there.

I've played SOC and am just about to go into the 3rd area of COP. I would say COP does not have as many of the moments of SOC. There are a few but SOC provides a lot where I was glad I had my brown trousers on Still a good game. If you buy SOC check the forums as there are patches available that will stop it crashing. Both games have excellent levels but I think so far I prefer SOC but we'll see.

Same as above really, I think SoC was really in a class of its own and the Clear Sky and Pripyat are both more of the same, we know what we face so you don't fear it enough.

The one aspect of the game that I was glad that made it from Clear Sky were the constant blowouts from the reactor which forces you to run for cover. Although in Pripyat when you go for cover, so do the mutants and the enemy merc/factions so even if you get safe you still have to fight to survive.

As I said in the review (I was toying with the idea to ask Steve if I could do a full blown review first as there is so much in the game which I glanced over or outright missed) this seems to borrow from both and put things right. Although the tension is there during the night times, just doesn't have the same fear levels attached to it that SoC did but I can't say for sure if that's due to being used to the zone or if this time around it seems to be a lot brighter in the zone.

After playing it again though I feel as if this game is a little bit of a cop out, set shortly after the original and Strelok unlocking the path to the centre of the zone, the sheer lack in mention of this seems a little out of place. The story is linear if you stick to the "find the helicopters". I intentionally went out my way to do anything other than the helicopters at first to spark off factions against each other then went and did the main story just to get towards the end.

I do however now like the new radiation effects in those area's you can't avoid it. The screen turning green or blurred and you pumping yourself full of anything you have to resist it. Although you survive the effects you still suffer the symptoms without losing life etc.

I don't actually think a short review does the game justice, as with all Stalker games, no matter how many times you go through it, every expedition through the zone will throw something new at you So many little touches here and there, especially when you see the ALife system in action, loved it when I would kill stalkers and then move on only to look back and see mutants fighting over the body and the dogs dragging the corpses away.

[noTHINGface]

I don't actually think a short review does the game justice, as with all Stalker games, no matter how many times you go through it, every expedition through the zone will throw something new at you So many little touches here and there, especially when you see the ALife system in action, loved it when I would kill stalkers and then move on only to look back and see mutants fighting over the body and the dogs dragging the corpses away.

Which is a good point boss. CoP does feel more 'alive' and the little incidental moments like the one you describe above are much improved in CoP. The 'official' unveiling of the Burer and Chimera are also welcomed.

I was in one of the labs in Pripyat last night and for the first time I got the prickles on the back of my neck skulking through the darkness listening to the grunting of the snork I couldn't yet see... Ace moments like this are why I play Stalker games.

[Grey M@a]

The snorks, I hate them xD

They seem to die easier in this game to.

Although the labs and when you have the poltergeist and you see the chairs float you know you are in trouble. For a proper brown pants moment is when you are searching a lab and all is quiet and all of a sudden you get a chair chucked at your or a crate. Proper cack your pants moments xD

[kalniel]

Isn't this a Dx11 game? Interesting that it still looks dated in the reviewer's eyes.

[Grey M@a]

Isn't this a Dx11 game? Interesting that it still looks dated in the reviewer's eyes.

DX11 aspects in the game, namely the shaders as thats all DX11 is xD A few updates over DX10 although my card only does DX10 and it looks dated in the way the models and textures are the same from SoC at times. Although the Full DX10 dynamic lighting in the game is gorgeous

I have seen this in DX11 though on a mates machine and you can notice the odd improvement in the grass and tree's etc, but due to the age of the engine and the tweaks to get it working in DX11 you get an awful lot of pop up happening.

Even with that in mind, you can't beat a stalker game, and especially as its only £19.99 on Steam or if you own SoC or Clear Sky on Steam you can get this for £14.99

[malfunction]

As a fan of Fallout 3 (which I got at the end of Jan) would you recommend this? I appreciate it's more FPS than RPG orientated but the theme and scope seem similar.

[Grey M@a]

As a fan of Fallout 3 (which I got at the end of Jan) would you recommend this? I appreciate it's more FPS than RPG orientated but the theme and scope seem similar.

Personally for me malfunction, I prefer the stalker series over fallout 3. Never got into fallout 3, Stalker however I can go missing for hours on end just looking around the cities and surrounding area's.

[noTHINGface]

I second above ^

Stalker > Fallout 3. Fallout is the only game I 1000'd (on GFWL) and I spent hours playing it but it's not a touch on Stalker for immersion and solid fun hours. Like M@a above, I can happily spend hours wandering about, searching artefacts, exploring those scary ass tunnels...

[malfunction]

Thanks guys. It took me a while to get into Fallout 3 (particularly as I was playing in on the 360 - probably a lot easier to pick up with PC controls) but since then I've been loving it and would like to try something similar...

[Grey M@a]

Thanks guys. It took me a while to get into Fallout 3 (particularly as I was playing in on the 360 - probably a lot easier to pick up with PC controls) but since then I've been loving it and would like to try something similar...

Well if you like Call of Pripyat I would go back in the series and get Shadow of Chernobyl to, easily the most atmospheric game in the series so far. You will be on edge all the time as in the first game everything is after you. You have no friends bar the odd stalker group you have to help here and there.

As a side note, anyone with this on Steam and noticed Steam doesn't seem to track the hours you have put into the game? I played 8 hours over the weekend on this and it reckons I haven't played it for a week or two. Or is it just my Steam that's fubar.