Development Blog

I tried to play the first one. Just couldn't get into it. Thought it was a mediocre game at best.

I couldn't agree less. The first is one of my favourite games of all time despite its bugs and its failure to deliver on its original promise; as once you got beyond that it was one of the most immersive games I've ever played and also one of the best first person shooting experiences I'd ever had. I remember an intense battle in the Garbage area where I lost an entire hour and a half in continuous fire fights with bandits. I played the original release through completely un-modded and that was really challenging as they dumbed the combat down a bit with the first series of patches due to complaints that it was too hard and too realistic from the arm chair brigade of virtual combatants For about three weeks my life became the Zone and I considered it a landmark in fps evolution.

 

The sequel Clear Sky was a poor and almost inexcusable release full of the same bugs that tainted the first and with almost no concern to maintaining the look and feel of the original level design. With most of the latter part of the game feeling like a typical closed corridor type game rather than an open exploration type. Despite that, it still had some magic moments.

 

I've been playing Call Of Pripyat now for a week since its release over here and I have to say this is a much more polished offering with little to no bugs and much improved areas of the game bringing a more satisfying experience. It's definitely back to the feel of the original with much larger levels and that open play feel again. My only criticism so far is the poor terrain graphics and bad level design on the opening level where the hard coded vegetation layer draw distance is set so short and the contrast of the vegetation so high with the bland terrain texture that the 'popping' effect of vegetation constantly coming into view in front of you detracts from the illusion of the virtual world. But despite that and the now aging looking graphics (oh how much nicer this would look in Leadwerks) it's still capable of delivering some stunning landscape scenes that take your breath away in that typical bleak STALKER style; and the God Rays are the best I have ever seen in a game.

 

On top of this, it's one of the cheapest 'new release' games I've seen so thanks GSC and the publishers for that!

 

So it's a big 'thumbs up' from me. Sorry no more time for idle chit chat, the Zone is calling and I heed its cry

Yeah it's a great game, I love exploring derelict buildings in life so having it in a game is great. The second was disappointing because one or two of the new areas I wanted to explore more were just quick rush-through levels and the lack of Pripyat which was good to explore in the first. I think Call of Duty Modern Warfare made a better job of the Pripyat visuals.