GH Review: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (PC)

Zardon · Mar 27, 2007, 07:41 PM

Read The Review Here
____________________

It was a long wait but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was released a while ago and Gaming Heaven has been following the development of this game for some time. We were one of the few sites to give away 200 keys to the public for the beta and we presented an indepth analysis a while ago.

Today we have our review ready and its a collaboration between Peter and Arush, with a rather unusual concept of a "journals" section as well as the primary review. We also have Flash videos, Quicktime VR files for download along with high res image shots showing the various lighting in specific places within the game.

We hope its an indepth and entertaining review, so enjoy !

OmegaRED · Mar 27, 2007, 08:46 PM

LOL@the video clip of the ambush.

"Wait for me to shoot"

drinks vodka. Shoots uncontrollably at soldiers.

Guarantee that ended in mission failure

jasonbourne · Mar 27, 2007, 08:48 PM

nice review, but like u guys mentioned its just sad that the game was in developmet for 6 years and yet is the buggiest game i`ve ever played , i cant geit to run stable on my system unless i switch to static lights .im really really desapointed , another great reason why people are not even paying for the game

OmegaRED · Mar 27, 2007, 08:58 PM

Ya but you gotta remember you're trying to play on Vista and with buggy Nvidia 8800 drivers. In Xp with other high end video cards there's little problems.

Zardon · Mar 27, 2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

Ya but you gotta remember you're trying to play on Vista and with buggy Nvidia 8800 drivers. In Xp with other high end video cards there's little problems.

well to be honest omega, thats not entirely true, the nvidia drivers for vista have some issues but 100.65 is actually a really decent set for gaming. I have been able to play almost everything fine (including C&C3 today). STALKER really isnt wonderfully coded. there is already a patch out today which apparently resolves 66 issues, and a ton more on the way with patch 2.

Erroneus · Mar 27, 2007, 10:22 PM

Yeah the patch is out, but:

Saved games from previous versions won't work with the patch.

>_<

OmegaRED · Mar 27, 2007, 10:44 PM

I'll stick with Shivering Isles and C&C3 until Stalker gets that 2nd patch.

bug77 · Mar 28, 2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

well to be honest omega, thats not entirely true, the nvidia drivers for vista have some issues but 100.65 is actually a really decent set for gaming. I have been able to play almost everything fine (including C&C3 today). STALKER really isnt wonderfully coded. there is already a patch out today which apparently resolves 66 issues, and a ton more on the way with patch 2.

Wow, so many fixes and there's already another one coming? This game must redefine 'buggy'...

ronnn · Mar 28, 2007, 01:29 AM

you guys are too harsh! All good games start quite buggy. Farcry was lots of work to get going when first released. When I am near fs, I will be sure to pick up a copy - as games that grown on you are rare. Most start with a bang and ............whimper.

brutusmaximus · Mar 28, 2007, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronnn

you guys are too harsh!

Yeah true, I guess it is too much to expect a game to run when you pay 40 bucks for it. I actually just removed the disc from my machine after experiencing 10 hardlocks, 2 BSODS and quietly said to myself "ah well, poor guys, not their fault, only took 6 years, im sure they will sort it sometime this year."

Shaga · Mar 28, 2007, 09:03 AM

Any of you know any tweaks to get full dynamic lightning to work better? Console commands, tweaks or something. Even driver recommendation would be good. I use latest official ATI-driver. Static lightning(dx8, no bumpmapping) works extremely well.

1280x1024 static lightning
maximum(every slider to the right, no AA) 40fps<

800x600 any of the dynamic lightnings
minium(every slider to the left, no AA) 30fps<

1280x1024 static lightning
high(without touching sliders, no AA) 60fps< [COLOR=Yellow]I use this.

[/COLOR]I use Windows XP atm. I have heard disabling HDR with dynamic lights isn't possible.[COLOR=Yellow]
[/COLOR]

Sandok · Mar 28, 2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

LOL@the video clip of the ambush.

"Wait for me to shoot"

drinks vodka. Shoots uncontrollably at soldiers.

Guarantee that ended in mission failure

It sorta did...

That's why, after empting the first clip into the wall behind the baddie, I decided to expertly fade the video

Now, nobody can tell the mission was a failure

Peter would have made a better clip, I'm sure

HawgsHead · Mar 30, 2007, 04:36 AM

I assume it's not on store shelves in the States yet?

Sandok · Mar 30, 2007, 06:20 AM

It's out in the US (came out last week).... Well that's what the website says

Tipstaff · Mar 30, 2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

I'll stick with Shivering Isles and C&C3 until Stalker gets that 2nd patch.

Same here.

Mar 27, 2007, 07:41 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	GH Review: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (PC) Read The Review Here ____________________ It was a long wait but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was released a while ago and Gaming Heaven has been following the development of this game for some time. We were one of the few sites to give away 200 keys to the public for the beta and we presented an indepth analysis a while ago. Today we have our review ready and its a collaboration between Peter and Arush, with a rather unusual concept of a "journals" section as well as the primary review. We also have Flash videos, Quicktime VR files for download along with high res image shots showing the various lighting in specific places within the game. We hope its an indepth and entertaining review, so enjoy !

Mar 27, 2007, 08:46 PM	#2
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	LOL@the video clip of the ambush. "Wait for me to shoot" drinks vodka. Shoots uncontrollably at soldiers. Guarantee that ended in mission failure __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Mar 27, 2007, 08:58 PM	#4
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	Ya but you gotta remember you're trying to play on Vista and with buggy Nvidia 8800 drivers. In Xp with other high end video cards there's little problems. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Mar 27, 2007, 10:22 PM	#6
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Yeah the patch is out, but: Saved games from previous versions won't work with the patch. >_< __________________

Mar 27, 2007, 10:44 PM	#7
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	I'll stick with Shivering Isles and C&C3 until Stalker gets that 2nd patch. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Mar 27, 2007, 08:48 PM	#3
jasonbourne DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: great yarmouth uk Posts: 1,082 Rep Power: 0	nice review, but like u guys mentioned its just sad that the game was in developmet for 6 years and yet is the buggiest game i`ve ever played , i cant geit to run stable on my system unless i switch to static lights .im really really desapointed , another great reason why people are not even paying for the game

Mar 28, 2007, 01:29 AM	#9
ronnn DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 617 Rep Power: 0	you guys are too harsh! All good games start quite buggy. Farcry was lots of work to get going when first released. When I am near fs, I will be sure to pick up a copy - as games that grown on you are rare. Most start with a bang and ............whimper.

Mar 28, 2007, 09:03 AM	#11
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	Any of you know any tweaks to get full dynamic lightning to work better? Console commands, tweaks or something. Even driver recommendation would be good. I use latest official ATI-driver. Static lightning(dx8, no bumpmapping) works extremely well. 1280x1024 static lightning maximum(every slider to the right, no AA) 40fps< 800x600 any of the dynamic lightnings minium(every slider to the left, no AA) 30fps< 1280x1024 static lightning high(without touching sliders, no AA) 60fps< [COLOR=Yellow]I use this. [/COLOR]I use Windows XP atm. I have heard disabling HDR with dynamic lights isn't possible.[COLOR=Yellow] [/COLOR] __________________ Server: Currently Offline Last edited by Shaga; Mar 28, 2007 at 09:12 AM.

Mar 30, 2007, 04:36 AM	#13
HawgsHead Rest In Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Danville Virginia.The United States of America"In the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob We Trust" Posts: 2,012 Rep Power: 0	I assume it's not on store shelves in the States yet? __________________ Rig specs to the left in the boxes....X-Box 360 w/Hitachi 42" HDTV....If Darwins theory of evolution is true then why are monkeys still monkeys?It takes much more faith to believe in Darwin's theory over the Genesis account of creation.

Mar 30, 2007, 06:20 AM	#14
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	It's out in the US (came out last week).... Well that's what the website says