S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

[Iucounu]

Is there anything about the engine Unreal 5 that precludes such a thing as A-Life?

ARK Survival Evolved (UE4) and ARK Survival Ascended (UE5) have AI somewhat similar to A-Life. Alas their default setting is to put NPCs in "stasis" beyond a certain player distance, but this stasis is allegedly possible to switch off: https://steamcommunity.com/app/2399830/discussions/0/3954784199573443652/

 

[Iucounu]

The original had the benefit of being level-based and didn't need to keep track of that many npcs. I don't know much about code but I assume that must simplify things a ton compared to an open world.

SoC and CS do track (offline) NPCs across most levels, in CS you can even monitor these NPC movements in real time on your PDA map. CoP doesn't have any migration across levels though.

 

[Drakortha]

While we're talking about decline, does anyone know if there is actual projectiles modelled in S2 or is it all hitscan?

I remember during the development they claimed it will have ballistics, like all real Stalker games. But if the hohols lied about that too, and it is in fact hitscan, I hope that none of the dumb niggers in this thread will try to keep pretending that this Stalker-themed, made for consoles, bootleg Far Cry game is a real Stalker game.

The more that gets unveiled about this piece of trash the more it becomes clear that their entire marketing strategy was to sell us the original stalker while actually selling us STALKER 2. They preyed on everyone's nostalgia. Plain and simple.

If the STALKER fanbase was any larger, we'd probably be getting one of these. And rightly so.

 

[adddeed]

Janky games like X beyond the Frontier from 1999 had AI doing its own thing while also simulating an economy. Space Rangers 2 from 2004 had AI npcs literally playing the same game you were playing and living in the game. Developres in 2024 are such talentless hacks its unbelievable. Esecpially with the technology and tools available to them nowadays compared to 20-30 years ago. Games peaked around a decade ago there is literally no reason to be playing anything newer than that. Its 95% shit coming out, maybe 5% something playable.

 

[EvilWolf]

not at all, braindead AI and heavily scripted events are one of the hallmarks of UE5. In most UE games the player can't even interactively open doors.. you hold X and watch some BS animation. Another thing missed by most gamers is just how piss modern AI is in FPS games, it really hasn't improved at all in decades and I don't think most games even reach F.E.A.R and HL2 level of AI which was smoke and mirrors but still a shit load of fun.

I love FEAR as much as the next guy, but the AI complexity is overblown by the fact they broadcast everything over radio and you say to yourself "Wow, they're working as le team!" when every other AI does pretty much the same thing except they don't actively tell you they're doing it. On top of that all of the jaw dropping moments are mostly scripted.You really shouldnt be using HL2 as a bastion of great AI either considering if you do any research about it you learn that it's held together by paper mache and duct tape.

While we're talking about decline, does anyone know if there is actual projectiles modelled in S2 or is it all hitscan? A lot of the gameplay footage I'm seeing where even people who are ridiculously fast at peeking can't seem to avoid taking damage make me think its hitscan.

It's actual projectiles. Mount a scope and try hitting something far away.

 

[Gerrard]

Another funny thing is that there is a bleeding mechanic, but the basic bandage both ends the bleed *and* gives you like 50% health back in 2 seconds. There's basically nothing to think about here when it comes to the survival elements compared to the popular mods for stalker 1.

And this is a good thing. There were no fucking """survival elements""" deeper than this in the original games. It's almost like it never was a survival game, as it has been pointed out multiple times.
Also the bandages heal around 20%, not 50.

 

[ArchAngel]

Another funny thing is that there is a bleeding mechanic, but the basic bandage both ends the bleed *and* gives you like 50% health back in 2 seconds. There's basically nothing to think about here when it comes to the survival elements compared to the popular mods for stalker 1.

And this is a good thing. There were no fucking """survival elements""" deeper than this in the original games. It's almost like it never was a survival game, as it has been pointed out multiple times.
Also the bandages heal around 20%, not 50.

Not in original but there are some in popular mod packs that most of the people still playing Stalker 1 play.

 

[Brickfrog]

Another funny thing is that there is a bleeding mechanic, but the basic bandage both ends the bleed *and* gives you like 50% health back in 2 seconds. There's basically nothing to think about here when it comes to the survival elements compared to the popular mods for stalker 1.

And this is a good thing. There were no fucking """survival elements""" deeper than this in the original games. It's almost like it never was a survival game, as it has been pointed out multiple times.
Also the bandages heal around 20%, not 50.

The survival mechanics in the first game were barebones but this game was marketed as an "immersive sim" with "survival mechanics" so i think its fair to criticize their superficial nature.


This doesn't really upset me much though because it's the sort of thing that modders will certainly address if they're able.

 

[ArchAngel]

Another funny thing is that there is a bleeding mechanic, but the basic bandage both ends the bleed *and* gives you like 50% health back in 2 seconds. There's basically nothing to think about here when it comes to the survival elements compared to the popular mods for stalker 1.

And this is a good thing. There were no fucking """survival elements""" deeper than this in the original games. It's almost like it never was a survival game, as it has been pointed out multiple times.
Also the bandages heal around 20%, not 50.

The survival mechanics in the first game were barebones but this game was marketed as an "immersive sim" with "survival mechanics" so i think its fair to criticize their superficial nature.

All that in the list exists in the game :D

 

[Brickfrog]

All that in the list exists in the game :D

It's all superficial though. I never felt at any time that I was in danger from lack of food, radiation resist/reduction items, bandages, or even health packs.

It was a bit jarring coming off of GAMMA. Again, it isn't a giant complaint for me. The AI/spawner issues are the real problems for me.

 

[Gerrard]

Nigger what are you talking about, Anomaly is fucking empty unless you play with some stupid cranked up spawn rates. And the 3D PDA in Anomaly is utter trash with unreadable screen.

CTE?

What exactly? The PDA UI is made to be displayed 1:1 on your screen directly, the fonts are small and thin, so when they are scaled down and displayed on a moving object you end up with shimmering, squiggly mess.

Another funny thing is that there is a bleeding mechanic, but the basic bandage both ends the bleed *and* gives you like 50% health back in 2 seconds. There's basically nothing to think about here when it comes to the survival elements compared to the popular mods for stalker 1.

And this is a good thing. There were no fucking """survival elements""" deeper than this in the original games. It's almost like it never was a survival game, as it has been pointed out multiple times.
Also the bandages heal around 20%, not 50.

The survival mechanics in the first game were barebones but this game was marketed as an "immersive sim" with "survival mechanics" so i think its fair to criticize their superficial nature.


This doesn't really upset me much though because it's the sort of thing that modders will certainly address if they're able.

That isn't exactly a lie though, is it? All those things are in the game. Whether or not they "enrich the gameplay" is questionable.
In Clear Sky bleeding was a more serious issue and shitters complained about it BTW.

 

[Brickfrog]

That isn't exactly a lie though, is it? All those things are in the game. Whether or not they "enrich the gameplay" is questionable.

I agree, my point is that the implementation is questionable. I am certainly not accusing anyone of lying.

 

[Brickfrog]

Looks like someone has already made a mod to add custom loot to mutants. This is very encouraging to me. https://www.nexusmods.com/stalker2heartofchornobyl/mods/389

 

[baba is you]

I don't understand why they removed features from SoC from Stalker 2. Are the developers fans of the Stalker trilogy?

 

[Odoryuk]

Stop embedding top rated reddit posts. They are right there at the top of the front page of the subreddit. If we wanted to see that shit we'd go there. Fucking reddit mongrels.

Counterargument: start embedding top rated doggerinos and puppers from r/dogs

 

[NecroLord]

What's the name of that "african-american" character in the game?
What exactly is his purpose?

 

[Mortmal]

LOL. I managed to defend and protect a certain area, but as soon as I left, it fell and the NPCs were slaughtered.

Yes, it's clearly a worse script than CS.

I read that this part of the game is broken and untested. That gamers should take the very slow approach to Stalker 2. Also once you get into Clear Sky there is no going back so be warned.

What? It's over already? Glad you told me—I was just about to head there. I just need an optional psi suit. There are whole areas I never visited because I expected the story to lead me there at some point. There's not much incentive to explore, as either you're wasting resources or there's nothing spawning at all, and then you end up overloaded with loot. I also agree there's absolutely no survival aspect—there's plenty of food for everyone.

 

[baba is you]

After playing for over 30 hours, I wonder if GSC can really fix this and add A-life.

The first 10 hours were really good. But after that, something keeps falling apart. I don't want to play anymore because I keep feeling bitter.

Looking at the game, there are some hopes, but mostly, it's just dark despair.

Since this is the game I was most looking forward to this year, I'm just most disappointed.