Comments on: Eurogamer: Stalker: Clear Sky Review

By: Chris R

Chris R — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:53:12 +0000

Hey, if I get the Steam version of Clear Skies.. will I have issues when I add mods in?

By: tarkovsky fiend

tarkovsky fiend — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:10:49 +0000

Just want to say I hope the GSC games Designer lead doesn’t really lose his ( her? have these GSC guys any concept that another sex exists? No, really?>??? where is Missus Stalker????) job, because they’re an incredibly talented group of devs.
Just wish they’d polish they’re ‘baby’ more.
Best example of a similar situation concerning reviewing a game and scoring it in the here and now- maybe Something like Vampire:The Masqerade. Loved the concept, execution…Oh, I can actually finish the game 3 months after release..thanks to the mod community. You have to review what’s in front off you, rather than in future potential (i.e. Mods will fix it…or with Stalker – quality new scalable interface patch – limit AI grenade throwing, NPC spawning rate, blowouts on/off, Fag Quake gamer mode or REAL HARD PROPER STALKER not a pish reviewer! options …maybe?)
You’ve got to rate it higher than Sh*te like Ghost Recon: Advanced Fartfighter anyway…?
Gimme bugs and shallow game design to American crap anyday.

By: tarkovsky fiend

tarkovsky fiend — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:58:30 +0000

Guys, do you think that these rash, apparently not-very-well play-tested ‘bad game-design decisions’ have transpired because of GSC’s infamous release-date problems? I really think they took that criticism of the vanilla game as gospel and have just fired they’re game out as fast as possible without thorough playtesting.
I was gutted when I read Jim R’s review in PCG. Clear Skies release was (by far!) my most eagerly anticipated game/event of the year. I haven’t got it yet because of the strength of criticism from reviews. I can read through the lines and I know where my tastes can radically differ, but I do see some disturbing trends in the reviews concerning gameplay design building up here.
But here’s the thing: I CAN’T PLAY THE ORIGINAL STALKER :SoC AS IT WAS IN IT’S ORIGINAL RELEASE. It infuriates and bores the hell out of me! With Patch 1.4, Realism mod and my own tinkerings ( giving the Trader the SVD sniper rifle from the start, but he sells for double price- You’ve still got to raise the cash, that sort of thing) – I love the original to bits.
Endpoint?
Mods will change and improve the game considerably. GSC should get rid of the game design muppet that seems to have b*ggered up quite a bit – or tell him to lay of the vodka!
And lets swap sounds files with our Ukrainian & Russian gaming comrades so we can all once again enjoy the mystery and respite from rotten NPC dialogue and ‘jokes’!

By: Real Horrorshow

Real Horrorshow — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:26:54 +0000

Having actually played the English version of the game now, I have to agree with the reviews for the most part.

Clear Sky is a good game, it’s just not S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It’s missing it’s soul.

By: cullnean

cullnean — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:07:10 +0000

@armitage

just becaues they dont like a game you obviously love does not make them rubbish at games (except gillen)

By: Armitage

Armitage — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:58:37 +0000

True: Bugs too much
False: Too difficult.
Better said: A challenge too big for the reviewers.

I have read now couple reviews that indicate that the reviewers have grown up to a brainless FPS world where no patience is tolerated. You survive in STALKER by stalking, waiting the right moment. Not running and shooting brainlessly everybody. I find it interesting that this very boring and unrealistic and far too common game style actually amuses someone. And when you have a challenge, you hate it. What kind of people are like that? Wussies. =)

By: Armitage

Armitage — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:53:27 +0000

Seems like reviewers of this day are so poor players that they seem to dump a game they cannot play. I play Stalker with Veteran level, and it seems to be kinda easy. Planning to change on Master. Maybe you need to be a Stalker to like the game. Not a wussy. =)

By: MeestaNob!

MeestaNob! — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:21:32 +0000

Games should be reviewed on release. It doesn’t matter if it has a handy autopatcher or continuously updating online content. Same goes for MMOs – you are reviewing the experience an early adopter would have, no use reviewing it otherwise.

You wouldn’t review anything else months after it came out, and issue a retrospective “I told you so”. Reviews MUST happen on a products release, in effect it’s part of the hype train (whether it wants to be or not), and is useless months after, especially in print media.

Magazines can write future articles about improvements and suggested revised scores/grades without actually changing their initial opinion. Websites have the luxury of doing this daily.

At the end of the day when you take your money to the shop you are buying something today, not in 2 months time when the gremlins have been moved on.

By: PJ

PJ — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:06:26 +0000

btw- its perfectly possible to hide your stuff at the flea market before that unavoidable robbing happens, thus braking the experience but getting back that sweet jacket that costed 20k rubles to fit out ^^

By: dhex

dhex — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:54:49 +0000

should game reviewers make their judgements with presumption of a problem-fixing patch in mind?

unless the company has announced a major patch as imminent, no. and even then; if someone hands you 3/4ths of a meal, and you’re a restaurant reviewer, you don’t presume the other 1/4 was delicious. you don’t even know if it exists.

By: Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:49:49 +0000

Well there have been at least three 80 plus reviews so far. I have a strong feeling Clear Sky is going to live up to expectations by the second or third patch.

By: Jetsetlemming

Jetsetlemming — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:45:56 +0000

A third OR Halfway? What, didn’t you finish the game? ;)