Poll: What S.T.A.L.K.E.R game do I start with?

[endtherapture]

I have had all 3 games sitting in my Steam for a while. No idea which one I should start with, guessing it's Shadows of Chernobyl?

Are there any recommended mods for the game?

What should I expect to experience in the game?

 

[Zeh Don]

From a sheer stability and technical point of view each game adds a lot, but I'd go as far as to say "Clear" is really just "Shadow 1.5", and a lot of what it adds to the game I didn't really connect with. I'd say stay away from that one, frankly, if you're looking for the best of the three.
"Call" is decent enough in and of itself, but if you've already played "Shadow" then "Call" isn't really that special, though it is the most technically competent of the three. You could start there if you're completely new to the series, and you'd find it pretty amazing.

In terms of the overall product, I still prefer Shadow of Chernobyl - I actually have it installed right now - but I do have to say that the terrific "STALKER Complete" mod for Shadow of Chernobyl is mandatory. I believe each of the three entries each has their own "STALKER Complete" variant. Do not play STALKER without that mod, it's really the game as it was supposed to be. It's fixes and technical upgrades are simply incredible, and make the game a borderline masterpiece.

I'd say start with "Shadow". Though you can't really go wrong with "Call", "Shadow" just feels more passionate to me.

 

[Darks63]

Well the first one after you get The complete mod for it. After that skip clear sky its a buggy mess that is supposed to be a prequel to SoC but the ending is laughably bad. Then play CoP with the complete mod installed as well.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

I think call of pripyat was more well made,mostly in technical stability but also balancing.
Clear Sky is a nice game but it is one of the HARDEST if not the hardest FPS I've ever played,so consider you will be dying as often as in Dark Souls,from very very early in that game.
Shadow over Chernobyl starts with OK difficulty but at about half the game it has a big difficulty spike and becomes really challenging.
I think call of pripyat is more friendly to newcomers because of its balance that makes it hm.. I'd prefer to say more "fair" instead of "easier".
But in each game you play as a different character and they are not direct sequels. But in the timeline the events of clear sky happen along those of shadow of chernobyl,and call of pripyat later.

 

[Smertnik]

SoC, then CoP. If you get bored afterwards you can start up Clear Sky and laugh at how bad it is.

 

[Norrdicus]

If you don't plan on skipping Clear Sky, play that first, because it's the worst of the series (while not being actually bad, you'll enjoy it more if you don't have the two superior experiences to compare it to)

What should I expect to experience in the game?

Expect to see some of the best scares outside a dedicated horror game (though in fact, sometimes SoC is scarier than your usual horror game) when you play during night time or underground, some really great enemy AI and immershun

 

[Guy from the 80's]

"Dont just stand there get in"
"Get out of here STALKER"


Make sure you got the gamma settings properly configured. During night time it should be pitch black. The only light source is from your flashlight OR moonlight.

Expect to see some of the best scares outside a dedicated horror game (though in fact, sometimes SoC is scarier than your usual horror game) when you play during night time or underground, some really great enemy AI and immershun

I'd like to quote Norrdicus regarding the AI. The firefights you get in STALKER are the best I've experienced in any shooter. In other games where you can just point and shoot, hitting enemies in STALKER can be difficult. Especially if you are moving.

Also, NPC's playing sad songs on guitar. Dont listen to the radio, only bad songs there.

 

[Lygus]

STALKER series has the most advanced combat AI, so... be careful in-game and enjoy the deadly shootouts!

It's a complex game with many calculations that involve faction, mutant relationships, exploration, use of inventory, horror and all.

STALKER is one kind of a game. If you haven't tried it, you can't call yourself a gamer.

 

[LetalisK]

Expect to see some of the best scares outside a dedicated horror game (though in fact, sometimes SoC is scarier than your usual horror game) when you play during night time or underground, some really great enemy AI and immershun

Yeah, no joke. I actually stopped playing when I got to the part where the ghosts started coming out of the ground and attacked me. Swarms of them. They never stopped coming. Uninstall.

edit: dicked up the quote

 

[Mekado]

Shadow of chernobyl first. It'll brutally introduce you to the combat and the atmosphere is genius. Pripyat second, it's the most polished and while the scary parts are a bit toned down the game is excellent (probably the best of all 3).

Then if you find out you love the atmosphere/genre/setting etc play clear sky, while it is a very good game imo it's the buggiest of all 3

You need mods for all 3 preferably (the complete mod is largely loved)

 

[Norrdicus]

Oh right, another 2 things I should mention

The difficulty settings affect your accuracy as well as your enemies', so you actually want to turn up your difficulty a bit if you want to go around stealthily, one-shotting enemies with a silenced pistol. The enemies can hit you more accurately too, but that won't do anything if they're already dead, amirite?

Did I say stealth? Indeed I did. Stealth plays a part in any combat scenario where the enemy hasn't seen you yet, and it feels pretty damn good. While there's a level of "all enemies know where you are simultaneously", they don't track you down with 100% accuracy. If you run away behind some cover and stay silent, the enemies will try to predict where you went and this can sometimes lead to one of those "You turn left to a small alley, and the mob chasing you continues their run forward, missing you" moments.

Make sure you got the gamma settings properly configured. During night time it should be pitch black. The only light source is from your flashlight OR moonlight.

The lighting effects in STALKER are pretty fantastic too.

The firefights you get in STALKER are the best I've experienced in any shooter. In other games where you can just point and shoot, hitting enemies in STALKER can be difficult. Especially if you are moving.

No joke, there have been times when I was flanked and snuck up on by a shotgunner, who then fired point-blank and killed me in 1-2 shots.

The AI simply loves flanking tactics, complete with AI working as a distraction for the sneaky guy and giving covering fire from behind cover

 

[sneakypenguin]

Start with CoP its the best stability wise and get the complete mod for it. Also its the most balanced of the 3 imo.

 

[the December King]

It's all already been said, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R games are fabulous shooters with some of the best jump/scare moments outside of dedicated horror games.

I'd start with Shadow of Chernobyl, as others have said it's got the most heart and is really fun, but tough. Clear Sky technically comes next, but it is the weakest of the three games, introducing some questionable mechanics. But Call of Pripyat, although smaller in playable space than the other two, is the most polished in content as well as execution.

And as has already been said, the Complete mods are a must.

So sad that these games will not be continued...

 

[Old Father Eternity]

First, to correct Stavros, CS is just prior to ShoC.

Now it would probably be best to start with ShoC, as gameplay wise CS and CoP are more similar to each other than they are to ShoC (also it has the best atmosphere of the three). Also ShoC has the largest amount of good mods out for it.
Next, if you wish to find out how exactly the events of ShoC were set up, play CS. It is not the best game of the three but with all the patches it is pretty decent, however do not bother with the 'faction wars' feature on your first run.
And finally, or next if you want to skip CS entirely, CoP, gameplay wise the best of the three.

As a general note for all of them, complete a vanilla play-through first to see what you like and dislike about them then start slapping on the mods based on your vanilla experience.

As for the mods, obviously you have your mod db but beside that there are also the forums on gsc game world.

 

[Teoes]

Ah, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., my love.

With the most recent patch, Clear Sky becomes stable enough to play and I was able to finally give it a whack. I liked what they were doing there with the upgrade system and having to hunt down flash drives to allow specialist technicians to perform certain complex upgrades. Unfortunately the game comes with a heavy territory control aspect that is tolerable when it works, but generally doesn't work. The issue is that with these massive maps, you're supposed to rely on the AI to assist you but in these aspects it is pants-on-head-retarded. I could go in to more detail (specifically the pain that was trying to get Freedom to win the turf war against Duty so I could unlock their exoskeleton), but suffice to say that Clear Sky is the black sheep of the family.

That leaves SoC and CoP. Go with either and you'll have a great time - as others have said, the Complete mod is a necessity for SoC but personally I've never needed it for CoP and found the vanilla version fun enough.

CoP does the open world aspect the best, has a good upgrade system that is some work to unlock but isn't as finicky as in Clear Sky (which is both a good and a bad thing, in ways), but the story's pretty weak. There's only 3 main areas to explore but they're huge and there's tons to do in them.

SoC doesn't have the upgrade system and in my opinion doesn't the open world aspect quite as well as CoP - although it is still fantastic, but it has a much better story to drive you from place to place. It also has more underground areas, where it goes into full-on soil yourself tension mode. Encounters deep in the earth with a Controller or Bloodsucker (or 2!) appearing are OHGODOHGODOHGODBACKPEDALFIREFIRENOOOORELOAD*dead* awesome.

Give either of them a couple of hours to sink their atmospheric claws in and you'll not turn back. Just don't be put off with how weak you are when starting SoC (less of an issue in CoP as they copped out in giving you an AK! Pff. Noobs.) as you're wearing tissue paper and carrying a peashooter. Your only solace is that the enemies' weapons are pretty much as inaccurate as your own and that means you only have to contend with their divine aiming skills. Take it slow, take it careful, abuse the quicksave/quickload keys and if you can ambush some military guys to get your hands on an assault rifle you're laughing.

 

[Lygus]

Speaking of mods, Misery 2.0 will be released on July 31 for CoP. Very much anticipated and worth a replay. Which is exactly what I'm aiming for on August.

For SOC, I recommend Oblivion Lost 2.2, Priboi Story (it features an alternative storyline, which is awesome and refreshing) and Stalkersoup.

For CS, give Faction Wars a try. It introduces team management mechanics and kind of innovative overall.

And don't forget the biggest of the mods - Lost Alpha (actually, it's already a standalone game with potential to be released by GSC themselves as the next official STALKER title).

 

[AT God]

If you haven't played any of them and don't know the plot twist in Shadow of Chernobyl, play it first, other wise, Clear Sky is probably one of the better ones, I didn't enjoy CoP as much as the firs two.

 

[Vale]

Shadow of Chernobyl is good. You oughta give it a shot (with, preferably, the Complete mod), and maybe not finish it. Clear Sky has the coolest name but you can skip it 'cause the game ain't so good.
Call of Pripyat you should just straight up marry. That's what I did. No mods needed either, vanilla's pretty damn amazing as is. Less focused than the previous games (and technically smaller in scope) but has the best sandbox experience and the coolest "world" in the series. Buy it play it love it.

 

[the December King]

Speaking of mods, Misery 2.0 will be released on July 31 for CoP. Very much anticipated and worth a replay. Which is exactly what I'm aiming for on August.

For SOC, I recommend Oblivion Lost 2.2, Priboi Story (it features an alternative storyline, which is awesome and refreshing) and Stalkersoup.

For CS, give Faction Wars a try. It introduces team management mechanics and kind of innovative overall.

And don't forget the biggest of the mods - Lost Alpha (actually, it's already a standalone game with potential to be released by GSC themselves as the next official STALKER title).

Ooooh, man, this totally lifted my spirits! I've been waiting for the Lost Alpha stuff for a looong time. And I might grab that Oblivion...

are all of these mods accessible through Steam, or do I have to go 'off road'?