|
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl: Limited Edition Steel Case (PC DVD) | 
 enlarge
| From: THQ
Category: Video Games
List Price: £34.99
Buy New: £33.99
You Save: £1.00 (3%)
New (1) Used (3) from £8.50
Rating:  18 reviews
Platforms: Windows 98, Windows Xp, Windows Me, Windows Nt
Genre: role-playing-games
Rating: To Be Announced
Media: Video Game
Age: 15 - 18 years
Operating System: Windows Me
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.7 x 1.4
EAN: 4005209089005
ASIN: B000MQ7LHW
Release Date: March 23, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: brand new/uk
| |
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Preview
Although it hasn't quite reached the legendary levels of delay of Duke Nukem Forever, you could still be forgiven for wondering whether S.T.A.L.K.E.R. will ever come out. Thankfully the months and years of hold-ups look like being worth it, with a unique mix of first person shoot `em-up and role-playing game. The idea is that there's been more trouble at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, causing bizarre mutations and other stranger phenomenon (the unusual storyline is highly influenced by Russian Sci-Fi classic Roadside Picnic). The game's open ended gameplay casts you as a "Stalker", a professional mercenary who makes a living salvaging items from the Chernobyl area and selling them, adding an Elite style trading element that further differentiates the game from the norm. Another atypical feature is plenty of non-player characters you can talk to and interrogate at length, receiving missions and even joining various different guilds. You not only have multiple options in any conversation but can also vary your tone from aggressive to friendly or disrespectful. The game's action credentials don't take a back seat though, with excellent graphics using the developers own proprietary "X-Ray" graphic engine and the renowned Havok physics engine. Naturally there's plenty of weapons, both manmade and otherwise, as well as a wide range of vehicles to commandeer and use over the 30 square kilometres of game world. Hopefully this will prove that the adage about the best things coming to those that wait applies to video games too.
HARRISON DENT
|
| Customer Reviews:
s.t.a.l.k.e.r shadow of chernobyl March 27, 2007
draconian (aberdeen)
13 out of 30 found this review helpful
waited ages for this game first impressions real good then it started crashing,freezing up then wont even play off of the saves,seems this problem is very widespread,although a patch is underway who knows how long.
im sure when the bugs are fixed this is goin to be an awesome game just dont be in a hurry to purchase
Not your typical shooter April 2, 2007
Dr. P. J. A. Wicks (London, England)
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
It's been a long wait.
When Stalker was first previewed in the gaming press we were told about vehicles, a freeform world, and needing somewhere safe to sleep each night. Somewhere along the way these elements have been quietly dropped, and whilst it isn't quite as new or creative as you might have been lead to expect, it is still quite a novel experience. First off, approach Stalker as you would an RPG; in the opening few hours you're weak, vulnerable, and heavily outgunned by even the weakest of enemies.
It's tempting to think that as this is a shooter you can charging in guns blazing; not so. You'll quickly learn that you're definitely not the badass you normally are in video games, and so there is more of an element of choosing your battles, keeping your head down, and going for targets of opportunity rather than blasting in through the front door.
In terms of gameplay, this feels a little bit like a kind of FPS version of that other post-apocalyptic RPG, Fallout, only without the humour. You spend a lot of time fiddling with items, collecting anti-radiation medicine, and shooting mutated beasties.
So how does it play? It's tense. You are perpetually short on ammunition, there are nasty invisible beasties around, and every now and then one of them can mess with your mind. It's also surprising. You hear some noises in the distance and go to investigate with your binocs to find a group of stalkers battling a pack of mutated dogs. You can help the stalkers, help the dogs, walk on by, or wipe them all out and take their kit. In that sense it's more of a freeform game then your typical corridor-based shooter, having more in common with an RPG like Oblivion. Atmospherically, the game does brown, grey, and rain very well. The future's not bright, it's bleak and muddy. The human AI is also admirable in its sneaky tendency to constantly try to pin and then flank you.
So why not 5 stars? The game's not perfect. Multiple bad guys cause a decease in framerate even on quite a respectable PC, there are some clipping bugs, and the quicksave button doesn't work (quickest way to save is to press the ~ button, then type "save whatever" where "whatever" is the filename, "load whatever" to load). It's also got a bit of a harsh learning curve to it and all that murky brown can get boring after a while.
All in all though a worthwhile experience, and if it does well I've got high hopes for the sequel.
 Inspired, playable when patched April 12, 2007
S.T.A.L.K.E.R
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
It is the saddest irony of the games industry that truly inspired games are released before they are finished to fit in with Mr. Suit's fiscal year plans.
This is such a game. Play it from the box, and you'll get shot by enemies poking their guns through walls. Your bullets won't pass through leaves, and savage mutant dogs will happily ignore you while you shoot at them. Download the patch before you start playing. The patch fixes 68 major playing issues, and must be considered vital.
However, the style of play, the atmosphere, the graphics, and the level design are all exquisite examples of how games should be made. You can tell in your first ten minutes of play - it was designed up to the hilt by some very talented artists and designers. It's a challenging game that operates with an inventory, meaning you have to pick your equipment carefully if you plan to be away from your base for long periods of time (this is an FTR - Free To Roam game - you can choose which assignments from which people that you'll follow through). You'll find yourself having to think of strategies to defeat enemies. In short, it's a tactical and compelling FPS.
The interface, it has to be said, is also well designed and laid out.
Finally, the contents of the metal box are awesome. As well as a bonus disk and downloadable military skins for multiplayer modes it contains a "survivors manual" with artwork, offering a rare insight into the design.
The only let down of this game is the need to download the patch, which someone needs to take responsibility for.
Someone wearing a suit, that is.
 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - Limited Edition Steel Case (PC DVD) April 2, 2007
Barry E. Lippard (ORPINGTON, KENT United Kingdom)
5 out of 24 found this review helpful
If you have Windows Vista, do not but this game. it wont run. i used the patch, but all i see is a good intro scene and can play a few minutes before it crashes due to a trap bug error. Also you cannot save your progress. wait a few months and wait till they fix the game. its only a Beta game ata the moment.
STALKER - not as bad as everyone makes out.... April 10, 2007
Deckard (Manchester, UK)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Please don't be swayed by the negatives of the other reviewers. I bought this game the day it came out nad have had many hours of interactive immersive gameplay - and I have hardly done anything yet! There is already a new patch out, and as far as performance goes I get framerates of 30+ consistently on a rig that is P4 3GHz, 1GB RAM, Radeon X800 XT.
As far as the game itself goes there are things that are brilliant, such as the overall atmosphere, the environment, the weather effects, the day/night cycle, and the mainly superb AI. There are some annoyances though such as the need to eat, and the fact then when fiddling around in your inventory you can get shot (very annoying). However the balance is in favour of the good.
My opinion: buy it (if your rig can match the specs), patch it, then play it, you won't regret it.
|
|
|
|
www.ebay.co.uk
Copyright Thalasar Ventures
| |
