S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (Stalker 2)

You seem to have plenty of time for video games, surely you could use some of that time?

Board games tend to have more of an immediate time commitment as well, unless it’s fairly lightweight or a pocket/wallet game, that’ll eat into a session. Setup and tear down time is akin to waiting for a ZX Spectrum game to load off tape.

Plus the space commitment. Some games I have can take an entire 6x3 table. A couple even more than that.

I've had to stop purchasing board games, as I never get to play them. Don't have a dedicated group and only get to meet up in person with my usual gaming buddy 5 or 6 times a year. Plus, last few times we have met for board games it has been at a board game café. I have a bunch that just sit on the shelf barely touched, so until I have actually completed all the scenarios of Undaunted, played that expansion campaign of Arkham Asylum and got my monies worth out of the huge number of Doomtown cards I have, I probably should resist.

I would happily play some solo and I did play a little of The Lord of the Rings Card Game myself during lockdown, but that game is impossible without extra assistance (should probably have tried playing as two characters, really). I possibly could leave something complex sitting out for long period of time, but I wouldn't especially want to do that. Multiplayer competitive games with solo rules bolted on are often a bit of a ball ache to play too.

As for board games over video games, I agree that the tactile nature of them is a big plus. Physically shifting pieces around is just immensely satisfying and the art work can often be fantastic (and often not). Plus, with thematic games, you really get to engage your imagination with the storytelling elements. It's a bit like the difference between reading a book and watching a film.

When it comes to playing with others, online games just can't achieve that same level of competition as looking at your opponent across the table (same with co-op games).

Lastly, I would also say that he limitations placed on board game designers with needing to work with limited pieces (some times not so limited), space and convey ideas abstractly means the game design often becomes much more imaginative than in the video game space.

www.eurogamer.net/stalker-2-heart-of-chornobyl-is-an-open-world-shooter-with-the-guardrails-removed

Really positive write up here. I was expecting a 6 or 7/10 game but now my hopes are creeping up.

Loved the original game and Call of Pripyat - they scratch an itch like no other game can.

I would've settled for a remaster/remake of the original or CoP but now this sequel is shaping up nicely I'm getting seriously excited.

Dirtbox is loving life somewhere - remember he was a big fan.

Eg have done a preview, seems quite positive

go up 4 posts from yours

Jokes aside, I'm super excited for this which is not exactly being calmed by decent preview write-ups

Rumourang has come back with potential for this to be 60fps on sS (after release, with a patch). Still 60 on sX though.

www.purexbox.com/news/2024/10/stalker-2-dev-confirms-performance-targets-for-xbox-series-xs-versions#comments


I've also been reading some other previews and its sounding more and more like it's sticking to the previous formula of go out there and figure shit out rather than the homogeneous open world model with hints, guides, icons and handholding.

I am surprised that the 1080ti is still doing work. Maybe it's just UE5 without any of the bells and whistles that would require DLSS.

Ian Higton from the old place has a preview up

It's looking very good.

Also, really looking forward to trying out the board game for the first time this weekend.

And I actually have the whole of November off work. Absolutely perfect timing \o/

(assuming it doesn't get delayed... -_-)

This is my backer's copy unfortunately - not sure when it's coming to retail (though looking at my local shop, they are estimating end of March). As you'd expect from Awaken Realms, it's gorgeous. It also seems to capture the theme very well.

It took me a good hour to punch out and sort everything yesterday but they do a good job of holding your hand here, not to mention the inserts and boxing - really elegantly done, no need to buy anything extra here.

In terms of rules, it looks a bit more complex than I imagined - probably a good thing in terms of longevity and engagement...once you've grasped it all. But of course I can't really comment until I've played, will post in the boardgame thread with thoughts later on in the weekend.

Looks like the series X ver of the game is 146 gig plus as there is update to the placeholder file