The replace 1.1 for the shooter addresses one of many greatest criticisms: the A-Life. We summarize what this implies for our ranking of Stalker 2.
Christmas got here a little bit early to the Zone this yr: GSC launched the 110 GB patch 1.1 for Stalker 2 simply earlier than the vacations. The replace fixes a whopping 1,800 points, most notably the largest level of criticism: the lacking/damaged A-Life 2.0.
Patch 1.1 is already the fourth main replace for the reason that launch on November 20, 2024. We devalued the launch model by 15 factors resulting from bugs, plot stoppers, efficiency and technical issues.How can we proceed our check and a doable improve now?
When will our evaluate come?
Initially, we wished to ship a follow-up check to Stalker 2 earlier than Christmas – now, out of the blue, someday earlier than the Christmas trip, the tester Patch 1.1 pops up.
In fact, we might write a follow-up check and an improve based mostly on the impressions of some hours of play. However that wouldn’t be truthful to the sport and the builders after a lot effort and work has gone into fixing bugs and different points.
At first look, a couple of vital issues have improved so much, however within the three hours or so of gameplay, we continued to wrestle with points we skilled within the launch model. Additionally, we have now solely been in a position to check the patch on one machine thus far, which doesn’t give a complete impression.
Now we have due to this fact determined to postpone the retest to the start of the yr, presumably January 2025. We wish to make investments extra time within the patch, together with enjoying by beforehand bugged quests once more, making an attempt out aggressive and stealthy play types, taking a more in-depth have a look at the in-game financial system, and rather more.
Small spoiler prematurely: There will likely be an improve in any case – however we will’t inform you how massive it will likely be at this level
First impressions after patch 1.1
What has improved?
Enemies now not spawn on the tip of the nostril: Earlier than, we might actually see enemies manifesting out of nowhere two meters in entrance of us. After the patch, the NPCs now not spawn within the visual field of protagonist Skif.
Extra random encounters: Random encounters with factions and mutants have been already current within the launch model. Nonetheless, it normally regarded like this: the enemy spawns instantly in entrance of Skif, is instantly aggro, and Skif shoots round in panic. There was no room for various approaches and even tactical retreat. After patch 1.1, these moments really feel rather more pure and are extra paying homage to the predecessors. Factions struggle amongst themselves, mutants assault loners – and we will resolve whether or not and the way we wish to intervene.
Economic system: In earlier patches, the builders already gave the financial system a money injection. This was essential as a result of within the launch model, for instance, we have been within the pink if we wished to restore a damaged weapon after which promote it. Now, not solely can we make some huge cash, however the restore prices have additionally dropped considerably. This makes the financial system a lot much less grind-heavy and a lot better balanced general.
Efficiency: At first look, efficiency appears to have improved on our RTX4070 check machine. Even in later areas like Prypjat, the sport runs with out stutters or FPS drops. In fact, we’re testing on extra machines and over an extended time period to have the ability to give a extra correct estimate right here.
What nonetheless didn’t work nicely for us?
Group AI: Whereas the habits of particular person opponents works a lot better within the open world, in order that we will even outsmart NPCs in random encounters, the AI completely can not address us in confined areas and in teams. NPCs both lose sight of us instantly, although we’re standing proper in entrance of them, or they’ve already focused us although we’re nonetheless 200 meters away, cowering behind a constructing.
Even stealth doesn’t at all times work reliably: Though we take out particular person opponents with knives and silencer pistols, everybody within the camp is aware of instantly – it virtually appears as if your entire NPC group shares an AI mind cell and reacts to the identical stimuli collectively, although Skif is simply concerned with a single individual.
Graphics and Clipping Errors: Flickering textures, enemies clipping by partitions and flooring, corpses in T-poses, respawning garments, and so forth are nonetheless current and spoil the in any other case nice environment of the shooter.
What can we nonetheless wish to test extra carefully?
Quests: Can we now full vital fundamental quests with out plot stoppers?
Sound: Has the sound design improved? Within the launch model, it was usually very troublesome to find enemies. Generally the mistaken sound backdrop was performed.
Enemy AI and A-Life: We’re trying much more carefully at what the revised AI is doing and whether or not this modifications the texture of the sport.
Efficiency: We’re testing on totally different computer systems to see if Stalker 2 is now higher optimized and now not crashes at 10 FPS.
Please be at liberty to inform us within the feedback what modifications you seen after patch 1.1 and whether or not you needed to cope with many issues earlier than that.
