What you need to know
- GSC Game World’s open-world survival shooter STALKER 2 came out last week on Xbox and PC, and while the game has been very successful and well-liked so far, it’s not without issues.
- Chief among these are bugs with the AI simulation system A-Life 2.0, quests, and performance, but many players have also taken issue with aspects of STALKER 2’s gameplay balance.
- Specifically, the community feels that several mutant enemies are too tanky and have too much health, and also that the cost of repairing your gear is too high relative to the amount of money you can make. Some also dislike how short the day/night cycle is.
- GSC has stated in the official STALKER Discord server that it’s looking into ways to address these concerns in future updates, though patches will focus on bug fixes and performance improvements for now.
As a long-time fan of the STALKER series and someone who has spent countless hours traversing the treacherous lands of The Zone, I must say that my initial excitement for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl was slightly dampened by the game’s launch issues. Despite its undeniable success, it seems GSC Game World has a few kinks to work out.
After much anticipation, STALKER 2, the open-world survival shooter, made its debut last week, receiving praise from critics on Xbox and Windows PC platforms, climbing up Steam charts, and selling more than a million copies in just a few days. However, despite its highly successful launch, it hasn’t been without its issues.
In STALKER 2, some significant challenges include malfunctions with quest-carrying bugs and the A-Life 2.0 AI system, controller deadzones on Xbox, poor performance, and an issue with gameplay balance. Players find that certain mutants are excessively durable and have excessive health, making combat challenging. Additionally, repairing damaged weapons and armor is costly, which many find unrealistic. The day/night cycle in The Zone is also short, making it difficult to complete tasks during the day before nightfall.
The initial update for STALKER 2 is planned for release this week, focusing primarily on resolving critical bugs related to the main storyline malfunctions and widespread performance difficulties. Nonetheless, developer GSC Game World has acknowledged they are examining ways to improve aspects of the gaming experience that players have expressed concerns about.
Mol1t, the studio’s community manager, shared in the official STALKER Discord that while A-life is the primary focus, other aspects are still under debate and specific plans remain undisclosed until they are fully set. Topics being discussed include balancing mutants, day-night cycles, and the economy. However, due to existing issues with bugs, optimization, and quests, these have a higher priority. In the interim, they are considering feedback on more complex design elements carefully, avoiding hasty changes that might overreact. This is to assure players that their main community suggestions are being acknowledged and not disregarded.
Essentially, the developers are focusing on aspects such as improving gameplay (A-Life), adjusting mission objectives (quest fixes), and enhancing performance efficiency (performance optimizations). However, discussions are ongoing about fine-tuning elements like mutant health and The Zone’s economy. These changes may not be introduced quickly since they have lower priority at the moment, but we can expect them after STALKER 2 has reached a more stable development stage.
It’s important to mention that visibility concerns, a topic brought up by the community due to the exclusion of binoculars in STALKER 2, have caught GSC’s attention. These binoculars were present in all previous STALKER games and served well for surveying locations. However, Mol1t hinted that they might not be introduced immediately; if they do appear, it would likely be in later significant updates following the hotfix period.
In my perspective, I’m relieved that the studio is taking their time to strategize an effective solution for balance issues, as I’m doubtful that a straightforward reduction of mutant health is the ideal approach. During my 60+ hour gaming experience, I’ve found that creatures such as bloodsuckers and poltergeists appear excessively durable in the early stages, but they become less problematic once you acquire top-notch weapons with improved armor penetration. It seems adjusting their armor values or damage falloff effects might be more suitable. Moreover, I hope the studio avoids significantly lowering the cost of gear maintenance, as it has always played a crucial role in determining whether to engage in a fight or retreat in this game series. The Stalker’s world wouldn’t feel like The Zone without its challenges and hardships.
Still, it’s unfortunate that it’ll be a while before major changes are made. Something to keep in mind if you’re on PC, though, is that the first STALKER 2 mods are already here, and many of them make percentage-based adjustments to the gameplay balance you can use until the developers update the game with their own tweaks. There are also mods that help reduce performance problems like stuttering and add useful console commands that can be used as workarounds for broken quests, so installing them is definitely worth considering.
The long-awaited game, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. It’s been hailed as one of the top Xbox games and PC games of this year. With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $59.99, it’s worth noting that you can currently find it at a discounted price on CDKeys. Additionally, you can play it through Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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2024-11-26 23:09