S.T.A.L.K.E.R.... with screenshots too : ) 56K'ers beware

[Akela]

This is truly a game to be compared to Half-Life two, perhaps it is even better.

The Story:

In 1986 a Nuclear facility in Chernobyl, Russia had a nuclear meltdown... suffice to say the results weren't pretty. This event is not fictional, if you're curious you can read about it here:
http://www.chernobyl-international.org/facts.html

Anyway it takes place in 2012, the denizens who remained within Chernobyl were disfigured with grotesque deformities due to the massive levels of radiation, the Chernobyl area is now kept off limits due to obvious reasons, the area is now known as the zone. You are a Stalker, one of many assigned to various duties within the zone. Among the entities you face, you will encounter other Stalkers, Mutants, the Military and other various factions.

This is a FPS/RPG, unlike many FPS games this is freeform(for those of you uninformed, GTA style) and features ten mile of recreated Russia to explore. You are able to gain access to a large variety of vehicles from a little russian car to seimis and APC's.

I definately plan on getting this game, it was originally scheduled for release late 2004 but now I believe it is slated for the first half of '06.

And now, time for some screenies.

A Stalker


A Military Stalker


A Stalker From The "Duty" Faction


A Government Soldier


A Government Special Forces Unit


Various Mutants You Will Encounter, Expect Hostile Resistance



And one creepy high-res screenshot:

If you look carefully you can see a comouflaged stalker ready to ambush the abomination.

[Morkulv]

This game is just a never-ending story, same as Duke Nukem Whenever, we'll probably never see it again.

[Aki]

I've heard of it before, and it sounds great. I want it.

[Akela]

This game is just a never-ending story, same as Duke Nukem Whenever, we'll probably never see it again.

And they call me a pessimist.... the game you are referring to is Duke-Nukem forever and that's been postponed for longer thna a year, just like Half-Life 2 and I have that on my desk right now.

[white]

well... Duke Nukem Forever has been postponed for something like 8 years. Half-Life 2 was one thing, as they redid much of it due to the leak, and made a new engine from scratch.

[Akela]

But look at how much is available for viewing, then look at duke nukem forever, there's nothing so it'd be pretty easy to start over if you haven't done anything.

[white]

True. I don't know enough about this to comment, really.

[Akela]

Well, it's far from dead, I checked the forums and well.... it's complicated to explain but basically it will be out in under 12 months, I can guarentee that.

[Set]

Why are people so determined to kill my dial-up? Links would've been nice, you know. That way I could read this topic without having to wait several years for the damn thing to load. Ah well. I have a gift for you...

[Lupin]

Why are people so determined to kill my dial-up? Links would've been nice, you know. That way I could read this topic without having to wait several years for the damn thing to load. Ah well. I have a gift for you...

Well you were warned. And you can always press the 'Stop' button in the browser window to halt the page load.

[Akela]

Indeed, I put "56'kers beware" with people like you specifically in mind.

Darn, I sometimes don't realise how s***** some people's connection is, I just have to click on the link and I'm instantly their. And I think my 354KBS download speed is slow...

[Terastas]

Hmm. . . Usually I'm suspicious of freeform games, but I'm assuming the "various duties" will allow for the existence of plot to keep the game going.

At the very least, this is one I'm going to keep an eye on.

[Shadow Wulf]

Oh yeah I heard about this game a year ago, man are they still making it!?! well anyway the graphics are looking pretty solid.

[Akela]

Oh yeah, it's definately in the final stages of developement, word from the DEVs themselves if you look at the forumn