I just started playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

[Smartazz]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a great game, but it's just so hard. I'm playing on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. difficulty, which is the 2nd difficulty setting and the game is still almost impossible. It's not that I'm bad at first person shooters because I can play Half-Life 2 on hard and I've beaten F.E.A.R. on Extreme(hardest setting). I'm also pretty good at Battlefield 2, so I don't know what my problem with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is. Is there a certain way I should be playing this game unlike other FPS? Thanks in advance for your help.

I just beat the game, thanks for your help guys.

edit: I posted a video of all of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. endings in case anybody wanted to see them, they're probably spoilers though: http://youtube.com/watch?v=IcO3gtcOeio

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Being especially good at FPSes is a penalty in stalker, since it does not treat run and gun nice.

Move slow. Find cover, stop, crouch low, wait a second, then fire. Do not run and gun. Mouse movement also causes accuracy penalties, so you should put your crosshair where they're going to be in a quarter second and wait whenever possible.

Don't overestimate your effective range. A pistol is not a sniper rifle, nor is a submachine gun or assault rifle. No amount of skill will make them effective outside their range, which is a few yards at best for a pistol or smg, maybe 20 for a good quality assault rifle. Get closer, then shoot.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Originally posted by: PhatoseAlpha
Being especially good at FPSes is a penalty in stalker, since it does not treat run and gun nice.

Move slow. Find cover, stop, crouch low, wait a second, then fire. Do not run and gun. Mouse movement also causes accuracy penalties, so you should put your crosshair where they're going to be in a quarter second and wait whenever possible.

Don't overestimate your effective range. A pistol is not a sniper rifle, nor is a submachine gun or assault rifle. No amount of skill will make them effective outside their range, which is a few yards at best for a pistol or smg, maybe 20 for a good quality assault rifle. Get closer, then shoot.

This guy has got it, but I'd like to also add using controlled bursts instead of just blazing through your ammo. The AK can be a very accurate gun even at somewhat long ranges if you crouch, sneak, and shoot in 1-3 round bursts.

 

[Smartazz]

A friend of mine just pointed out that the game is called Stalker for a reason(sorta). You kind of have to stalk your prey before you go in for the kill. I get what you guys are getting at now, I'll give the game another try. Thanks.

 

[CrystalBay]

It is also important to cautiously look around for better weapons ... The atmosphere of this game can really draw you in. Did you get the hidden Merc suit at the first village?

Another tip push F6 a lot...

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: CrystalBay
It is also important to cautiously look around for better weapons ... The atmosphere of this game can really draw you in. Did you get the hidden Merc suit at the first village?

Another tip push F6 a lot...

That's what I recommend until you start getting better guns. Nothing beats the good-ole save/reload cycle ad-infinitum. Personally, maybe I play RPGs too much, but I got used to the "you will die in 2 seconds, you will not kill without beaning things to death with blunt swords". Think I stuck with the pistol all the way up to the end of Garbage. Once you get your hands on an MP-5 or AK, it gets way easier. Then it turns retarded near the end... Good luck, don't give up.

 

[Miklebud]

Yup, the game definitely is a bit of a challenge in the first areas with limited weapons and ammo. But once you get the hang of things and pick up better weapons, the game is a blast!

One thing I overlooked was the "Quick Med pack" ( [ ) and "Quick Bandage" ( ] ) buttons. They sure help when you're bleeding on the run.

Quicksave is your friend!

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: Miklebud
Yup, the game definitely is a bit of a challenge in the first areas with limited weapons and ammo. But once you get the hang of things and pick up better weapons, the game is a blast!

One thing I overlooked was the "Quick Med pack" ( [ ) and "Quick Bandage" ( ] ) buttons. They sure help when you're bleeding on the run.

Quicksave is your friend!

Thanks for those buttons, it would def. be a help, especially quick save.

I forgot to ask before, if I use two artifacts at once, does it do twice the good and twice the bad effects? Thanks.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Yes the effects compound IIRC

Once you get a scope it makes all the difference in the world.

I really enjoyed the game, and thought the end level was nifty.

Game was very hard.

 

[pontifex]

I played through and got the "rich" false ending awhile back. I just finished again (from a saved point near the end and did both "true" endings. it was kind of cool but also kind of disappointing.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I played through and got the "rich" false ending awhile back. I just finished again (from a saved point near the end and did both "true" endings. it was kind of cool but also kind of disappointing.

Ya, those endings were a bit rehashed. They say 7, but changing a whole 10 seconds of animation is really stretching it. The longest final ending is the most disappointing considering how much farther you have to go, and people to kill. After you go outside of the Chernobyl plant, it goes downhill a bit.

 

[lamere]

Originally posted by: CrystalBay
It is also important to cautiously look around for better weapons ... The atmosphere of this game can really draw you in. Did you get the hidden Merc suit at the first village?

Another tip push F6 a lot...

there's a merc suit in the first village?

where?

 

[x2 3600 rules sazakky]

good for you fucking cagney.


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[Kromis]

:Q

 

[trance247]

i found the game very realistic on hardest setting, one shot one kill if you don't have good armor...fun but not as much for say typical fps fan, but it is rpg mostly

 

[BFG10K]

I didn't find it especially difficult but that's because I played it like a tactical shooter (which it is).

Stance, iron sights and cover are your friends.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: trance247
i found the game very realistic on hardest setting, one shot one kill if you don't have good armor...fun but not as much for say typical fps fan, but it is rpg mostly

Thanks for reminding me, just remembered how effective it is to simply return fire in Stalker. Most other games have AI that just stand still, maybe walk off a bit if you shoot back. Here, even if you don't hit them, letting off a few rounds usually gets them to take cover and stop firing IIRC.

 

[Oyeve]

Its a great game, but if you go into in with the mindset that its a FPS you will not enjoy. Like the others suggest, retry it in a new mindset. The game is very enjoyable and you will be immursed in it. My only beef is I hate having to read all the dialog. I wish they had a higher budget for voiceover actors. Too much reading IMO.

 

[olds]

Where is the scope?

 

[40sTheme]

You have to find/buy them (i don't know if you can buy them...). Faiakes Mod makes the game even better, but I'd beat it normally one time through.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

The scope for what? NATO and Eastern Bloc assault rifles use different sights. At any rate, a scope for the eastern bloc rifles is available as a quest reward in the dark valley. NATO scopes are first available in the wild territory, IIRC. Just find someone with a scoped M16, take it, and right click on it to remove the scope.

 

[Smartazz]

I just beat the game. This is the best FPS/RPG I've played in a long time, I liked it more than HL2 personally.
edit: BTW, I took everyone's advice into consideration and I found the game a little easier than before. It's very tactical and nothing like F.E.A.R.

 

[Smartazz]

May be a SPOILER:










Can somebody please explain who the monolith is? A PM message would be preferred, thanks in advance.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

SPOILER:







IIRC, I figure the monolith is "ground zero" of the meltdown. The "elephant foot" if you will. I guess for gameplay purposes it's located where it is. Further, I took it to be something that doesn't really exist as it's perceived. Just a big radioactive something that when folks get close enough they become so irradiated they see whatever.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
SPOILER:







IIRC, I figure the monolith is "ground zero" of the meltdown. The "elephant foot" if you will. I guess for gameplay purposes it's located where it is. Further, I took it to be something that doesn't really exist as it's perceived. Just a big radioactive something that when folks get close enough they become so irradiated they see whatever.

SPOILER:








I assumed that the wish granter was the monolith, is this the case?
Edit: If the monolith isn't the wish granter, than who exactly is the wish granter?