Original Stalker A-Life was once so advanced that players were constantly outsmarted by AI

Initially flawed at its debut, Stalker 2 A-Life has been gradually evolving with a sequence of updates. After significant overhauls, the enigmatic Zone in Stalker 2 is now teeming again, albeit it was once more sophisticated than most gamers realize.

Despite improvements following its launch, many gamers have voiced their frustration that the game’s AI is not significantly more intelligent than earlier games within the series. Interestingly, it has been discovered that the A-Life system in the original game was also scaled back from its intended form, as players often found themselves outmaneuvered by the game’s adversaries.

Stalker A-Life was extremely smart

In a conversation with Eurogamer, the original Stalker game designer Andrii Verpakhovskyi disclosed that the initial design of the A-Life system was highly sophisticated. During the development phase, the lead AI programmer Dmitry Yasenev crafted NPCs (Non-Player Characters) so intelligent that players found it challenging to defeat them.

The designer shared that he was flourishing while creating AI agents that surpassed human-average intelligence. However, their intelligence needed to be reduced eventually. The AI-controlled characters, using the same sensory tools as players, were frequently winning not just in combat but also when it came to resolving quests.

It was quite challenging to convince Dmitry that although the AI was stunningly attractive, it’s important to reserve some room for the user to enjoy themselves as well.

Initially, the Stalker A-Life system underwent significant changes, resulting in the version that players are familiar with today. However, making this adjustment was a challenging decision. During development, Yasenev hesitated to eliminate the enemies’ intelligence because it added depth to the game, but unfortunately, it turned out to be less enjoyable for players.

According to the designer, it was quite challenging to convince Dmitry that although the AI was stunningly attractive, there needed to be room for the user to enjoy themselves as well. At that time, the Stalker concept leaned towards not prioritizing the player; we had this vibrant world that could thrive on its own.

Although the artificial intelligence in the game might not be as advanced as some players would like, they remain captivated by Stalker’s A-Life mechanics, and there’s still time for its sequel. The smartness of opponents is crucial to the overall experience of this series, and will continue to be so.

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2025-03-06 16:22