STALKER: Clear Sky - Careless stalk costs lives in a radioactive revisionist prequel

Somewhere, in the murky gap between what we want and what we actually get, there’s a sense that games which simply allow us to explore aren’t turning up frequently enough. The original Chernobyl-based shooter from Ukrainian developers GSC Gameworld disappointed some gamers by drawing us inexorably into its weird storyline and then not encouraging (or allowing) us to delve into its intricate world of dereliction. That, and a number of other issues, should get addressed in Clear Sky, which is a prequel set in that same mutant-ridden exclusion zone in the depths of the Ukraine. Once again you take on the mantle of a stalker looking for riches and adventure, but this time you get to be rather more selfish with the story.

In Clear Sky’s more open world there will be much more of a focus on allowing players to make their own way in the zone. The various factions which made an appearance in the original game will be better defined and will now have their own storylines, missions and AI interactions. Each faction will now have a definite HQ, with their own mission-dispensing commanders and helpful traders. You’ll be working alongside the agents these factions have sent out into the zone, or coming into conflict with them.

While there was only a small selection of faction-based decisions we were able to make in the original Stalker game, Clear Sky will be all about deciding who you want help out, and who you want to kill. Decisions about who to shoot and who to talk to will take place dynamically out in the radioactive wilderness. Ultimately, GSC tell us, you’ll be able to lead a single faction to victory.

The new game is also incrementally improving the original technology, with the new DirectX 10 lighting making a huge difference to the look of the world. Those ‘watery sheen’ effects mean that it’s even more dank and murky than ever before, making for far more detailed atmospheric horror amid the crumbling Soviet landscape. The real question, though, is not about GSC’s visual talents, but whether the much-discussed A-Life artificial intelligence systems, which control interactions in the world once scripted events have been triggered, will really allow gamers to attain a sense of place and exploration. There has been a feeling that, despite GSC’s claims, the living world systems it developed essentially took a back seat to the linear storyline that was so awkwardly delivered via NPCs and PDA messages. Allowing the game, and the gamer, to just get on with living in the zone could mean discovering more about what players actually want from the experimental end of FPS games

THEY Hands-On

There’s been a bit of buzz about Metropolis Software’s latest project in development, They. The first-person shooter places you in the heart of London in the near future and pits you against an army of invading robots. They’s canned premise sounds painfully generic at first, but the title has some interesting twists in store for those looking for a good reason to pick up a gun and fight.

Right off the bat, They breaks away from the traditional shooter weapons system. You won’t find new weapons as you play through the game. Instead, you’ll collect various parts that can be used to tune your weapon in order to create your own custom-made Swiss Army gun.

Above: They shifts the focus from the protagonist to what matters most in a shooter, your weapon

The weapon tuning screen features slots for the upper and lower barrels, gadgets and generators. Like Ripley at the end of Aliens, you can mix and match the parts you find to create your favorite combination of weapon types with gadgets that range from scopes to improved grips that increase aiming accuracy. Plans are also in the works to include additional customization options that’ll let you paint your weapon and even decorate it with your own custom designs.

Finding new parts in They to tweak your weapon feels like the shooter equivalent of upgrading an RPG character with new gear and skills. We’ve always had trouble identifying with the man behind the gun in most shooters, so it’s interesting that They shifts the focus from the protagonist to what matters most: your weapon.

Above: They has its fair share of eye candy. It’s running on a tweaked version of the Nexus Engine, which was used in Metropolis Software’s last project, Infernal

But even though we didn’t find ourselves drawn in by They’s main character, the title’s plot does have promise. You’ll notice that orange ethereal entities float above some of the killer robots you encounter. These specters improve the killer robots’ AI, making them m ore dangerous. When the orange spirits are pulling the strings, the robots under their control will be more likely to play it smart by taking cover and trying to flank you. You can’t shoot these orange menaces and if you defeat a robot that’s guided by one of them, they’ll move on to the next host to cause you further grief.

Who are these untouchable entities and why are they attacking? That’s the real mystery of They. And the key to unraveling the connection between the orange specters and their army of machines seems to be a young child who appears to you in visions throughout the game. The creepy and surprisingly articulate tyke speaks in riddles and suggests that there’s a lot more going on behind this seemingly straight forward invasion. We’ve been told that he’s not like Alma, but as far as plot devices go he does seem quite similar doesn’t he?

With a tweaked out gun fit for Ripley, specters that seem inspired by H.R. Giger, and a mysterious boy who’s totally not Alma, They may not be the most original game we’ve seen lately, but it’s borrowing from all the right places and looks quite promising on the whole. They is currently scheduled to release sometime in 2009 and plans are in the works for releases on the PC, 360 and PS3. We’ll keep you updated as more news on its progress rolls in. In the meantime, click here for the latest screenshots of this upcoming shooter.

Ghostbuster: The Video Game: Co-op, DLC, and story info

Speaking to videogaming247 at the Sierra Spring Break 08 in Mallorca last week, Terminal Reality president Mark Randel said that Peter Venkman will have a love interest in the upcoming Ghostbusters game, a lady that doubles as the game’s heroine.

He also told of the enormous input Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis had on the game.

“They co-wrote the script for the videogame. They introduced a lot of stuff that we didn’t think of,” he said.

“They took the game to higher level than we could have done. Harold Ramis added a heroine for example, so now Peter Venknman has a love interest in the game.

“Dan Akroyd went so far as to write down all the equipment that you use and write that in to the Ghostbusters mythology.”

Ghosbusters will with us this October for PS3, 360, Wii, PS2 and DS.

Nintendo Says No Dice On Metroid Trilogy Wii

Nintendo has come out to quash the rumor that a Metroid Prime Trilogy will be coming to the Wii. The rumor stems from a post on GoNintendo, where a tipster claimed that the computers of a known retailer had the game listed under the Wii section. Rumor mill for now, but it could be true.

The Getaway PS3 in pre-production

We can’t say we were ever huge fans of the PS2 Getaway games, as they lacked in many areas in terms of gameplay. However, their effort to try and offer gamers some solid British Gangster videogaming was a welcome one. We just wish it came off better than it did.

Nevertheless, it now seems as if Sony’s London Studio will be getting another chance to impress, as the PS3 version of the game has finally been confirmed to be pre-production, and is being currently worked on at the studio.

The Guardian reporters that “A small team is working on pre-production for the next iteration of The Getaway” at the moment. In the future they will apparently be “joined by the bulk of the Eight Days team when the latter is completed.”

If you have not heard, Eight Days is a similarly styled action game that the studio are also working on, but it also remains rather mysterious at this time.

Hopefully the studio will make a better effort this time, and deliver something like Get Carter and The Long Good Friday in virtual form this time round.

Regardless, the fact Sony are working on the game is great news in our opinion, as the lack of info since the game was demonstrated in May 2005 at E3 was disappointing.

We still have a long wait though.

Joystiq Impressions: Prototype

After a recent demo of Sierra's Prototype, I came away feeling a little less excited for the title than when I started. I'm still anticipating its Fall, 2008 360/PC/PS3 release, assuming it ships on time. I think it could be an exciting third-person action/mystery. But I'm uncertain about if it will become a cohesive experience by then; I saw well-executed elements but I'm not sure if they will combine.

And admittedly, Prototype's open-world scope is much too big to take in from a single demonstration. The fast, physical action and control look better than other games, with the the player able to change fighting techniques and attacks at any moment. Developer, Radical Entertainment didn't spill too much about the story, only repeating that you play an amnesiac with the ability to morph into other peoples' identities.

I hope that plot can connect to the action. I think it could, especially because the character gains the memories and abilities of the identities he steals. And while the anti-hero is becoming a cliche, Radical stressed that you're not trying to save Manhattan from its plague of monsters. You're out for yourself, and the story is supposed to explain why.

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Prototype is a fairly open game, letting players wander through all of Manhattan, although it's not a literal building-for-building remake. The demo I saw centered on the ability to fight through situations, although gamers will be able to choose a sneakier path, walking in shadows and impersonating others.

The city has been infested with a plague, turning some people into zombies and introducing other monsters. Even the buildings evoke this wasteland setting, decaying with the exposure. The military has moved in -- in addition to a shadow group of mercenaries -- and you're at the center of the mess.

While you've lost your memory, you've gained unnatural powers. One attack swings your arm out like a tentacle, striking everyone in the vicinity. Your hands can turn into claws, quickly cutting down others. A punch into the ground can raise a circle of spikes around you.

But the shape-shifting and movement are the most important powers. By touching any other person, you can take their form, and meander through the city mostly unnoticed. Or you can run -- literally -- up buildings and scamper along ledges, moving over any surface.

The story will require players to steal certain identities. For example, if you can take the form of a military commander without being seen, you can run that local outpost. One part of the story will even have you pretend to be a pilot, flying missions and following orders until you get enough clearance to learn more about your history.

I saw a couple of these 25 military bases, and like the rest of the game, the graphics seemed adequate but not a highlight of the game. Sure, details are being optimized, and some areas clearly were being further developed. But there still seems to be a lot of work to finish by the fall.

The animation, however, looked fluid and fantastic. Everything moved at a strained pace, from the character hopping between buildings, to the black-ops attackers trying to bring him down. These aspects should make Prototype a physical thrill, regardless of how much the other visuals improve.

Maybe I was hoping for too much, wanting to see Prototype neatly come together in front of me after a brief demonstration. The massive open-world setting and twisted characters are messy. Whether the story can give a through-line or not, that chaos could be a good thing.

Team Fortress 2 Medic Update Confirmed for Next Week

While it was only hearsay and bordering on a rumor earlier today, it is now confirmed that the major update for Team Fortress 2 will not arrive until "early next week."

Valve's Robin Walker kindly responded to my inquiry of whether or not the "rumor" of a delay was true, and that the update would not hit until next week.

"Yes, it should be out early next week."
Robin.

Undoubtedly busy, I'd like to thank Mr. Walker for confirming this for us. Expect to see Goldrush and entire teams consisting of Medics starting early next week. The exact day and time are not yet known.