Staggering onto Steam, veins bulging, sweat dripping from its elbows, GSC Game World has dropped a vast, humongous, really quite substantial update for Stalker 2. Delivering a whopping 1,700 fixes to its open world survival shooter, patch 1.2 is so gargantuan that the Steam update doesn’t actually list the entire changelog.
As put casually by GSC Game World, this update encompasses “every part” of the game, working on balance concerns, modifying game locations, fine-tuning quests, rectifying bugs, and polishing their unique A-life mechanisms.
Starting off can be challenging, but it seems like the most significant personal updates are in the A-life and NPC AI within the game by GSC. They’ve rectified numerous issues with far-reaching consequences. Now, NPCs can effectively loot corpses, selecting the best weapons and armor from them, even those dropped by defeated Stalkers associated with other factions. The shooting mechanics for NPCs have also been revamped, although it’s unclear exactly what these changes entail, they appear to be aimed at making NPCs less mechanically deadly, introducing “randomization of accurate shots” in gun sprays, and decreasing wall penetration from certain ammo types. Lastly, for this particular game feature, stealth has been tweaked to make NPCs slightly less observant, while mutants have received various behavioral adjustments, such as enabling mutants capable of jumping to actually utilize that ability.
Beyond the broader system overhauls, the primary advantage of this update primarily enhances the central plotline. I won’t delve into the specific changes here, as they are riddled with spoilers, and there are approximately 300 additional adjustments on top of those mentioned. Essentially, the developers at GSC have tackled numerous problems that could lead to quests malfunctioning or functioning improperly, or NPCs behaving oddly during crucial missions.
In other locations, Stalker 2 has undergone various technical improvements. For instance, the player’s flashlight now correctly creates shadows, NPC interactions are more seamless, and transitions from cutscenes to gameplay have been refined for a smoother experience. Additionally, parkour animations will look better when starting from a crouch position, and NPC deaths due to anomalies will be choreographed appropriately.
Although the Zone is known for its peculiarities, the list of bug corrections turns out to be quite rational. A handful are amusing, however. The fact that “the grenade vanishes when tossed at one’s feet” in Stalker 2 leaves me questioning the well-being of the players, while “resolving an issue where shooting mutant limbs could elongate them” seems more like a desirable feature. I also appreciate “addressing an issue that made it challenging for rats to navigate tight spaces,” if only because there’s little that’s more pitiful than a claustrophobic rodent.
Typically, I would say something like “You can find the complete details here.” However, unexpectedly, there isn’t a comprehensive list available. The Steam update merely offers a summary of this extensive update. If you’re up for some scrolling and potentially straining your index finger, you can head over to the Stalker 2 website for the full rundown.
Previously, we had a soft spot for Stalker 2, earning it an 83% rating in our review. Similar to the original games, its main issue was instability. Fingers crossed that this upcoming megapatch will polish off most of those glitches, ensuring a more consistent, ominous atmosphere in the Zone.
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2025-02-15 18:02