Trying to get into it, I'm not usually a fan of games where you trade etc.
What are those anomalies about (the distorted areas)? I'm only up to the point where you're meant to help someone, by the time I got to him (past the guys shooting and the rabid dogs) he was dead

 

Supposedly areas caused by the 2nd Chernobyl "event". Suffice to say, don't go near them or you'll be zapped.

It sounds like you're near the bit where you'll have to go through the underpass. You need to time your steps forward right so you don't get zapped by the lightning stuff on the floor.

 

Aye, thats the bit. Lobbed a bolt in there before stepping in cause it looked a bit dodgy, the whole underpass lit up like the 4th July!
Decided not to bother risking it so went the long long long way round to avoid it (prolly explains why he was dead when I got there LOL)

 

Just ordered this tonight, looking forward to getting it.

Any more thoughts on the game now? You guys must be quite a way through by now.

 

I finished it on Friday.

All I can say is its really worth going through the rubbish gun/armour = quick death syndrome early on. Don't be afraid to just RUN! if you can't win in a stand up. You'll be back later to show them whose boss.

Really don't want to write any spoilers (PM if you need advice) but what I would suggest is that you save - alot.

 

bit-tech.net | S.T.A.L.K.E.R. gets a massive update

Interesting article on updates and sequels.

I'm on my 2nd play through on Veteran - cos I'm 'ard?

 

Woah I'd forgotten I'd got this game!
The 'pick up and play'ability of the 360 has taken my attention away from PC gaming. To be honest in the 2 times I played it the "rubbish gun/armour = quick death syndrome" really kicked in

 

OK. This should help you get started. Right at the start your told to talk to Wolf by the barman about going on a mission to kill bandits. Behind him is a ladder. Up the ladder and you need to get on top of the roof itself. Run and jump onto the next roof in front of you nearest the road. Walk to the sloping part of the roof nearest the road and you will see missing slates and through the joists is a box. Shoot the box (shooting boxes gives you stuff ala HL2) and you get an upgraded suit - think its a stalker suit. That will give you an advantage with the first mission with the bandits.

Biggest headache early on is the bunch of guys at the railway bridge. You can sneak up and over the bridge to avoid them. Easiest way to get shot of them is to stand at on the tracks and keep poking your head over so they see you. Slowly they'll come up to you and you just give them both barrels point blank.

With them all gone pick up an AK47 and all their ammo. Once you got a AK your fine. In shootouts don't stand and fight. Run and hide and let them come to you. AI isn't that bright.

Theres also a mission further down from cordon with AK47 toting soldiers - where the loud propaganda is coming from. Thats a good place for AK ammo early on and gives you practice shooting bad guys.

Hope that helps - and not too spoilerish. I won't tell you where to find Gordon Freemans corpse

 

WOAH!! Freeman is dead?!?

Thanks for the tips Ed

 

The HL events are supposed to be around the same time as STALKER. How he ends up near Chernobyl dead is anyones guess. You can pinch his PDA and desert eagle from his stinky corpse