But that is not a mark against it given that the main appeal of this mod is found elsewhere: CoC is a huge, non-linear sandbox. As far as game mechanics go, it is as plain as they come, and no more advanced in the graphics department than Call of Pripyat. That said, an SSD helps mitigate some long load times enormously regardless of your machine.

The end result is both nostalgic and exciting for what it adds, while also becoming more accessible for newcomers - an aspect underscored by the inclusion of a slickly-produced PDF manual. Inventory management is a little more complex too, with your backpack and combat-accessible toolbelt make sure you put your bullets in there becoming separate panels. Food, water and sleep are important, although not as demanding or frustrating as they initially sound. Lost Alpha also tries to increase immersion through basic survival simulation aspects. The most liberating is the ability to purchase and maintain vehicles to drive around the greatly expanded world map, while the larger environments allow more room for the AI factions to live and breathe, lending the Zone a new and unpredictable edge. It is the result of poring over details from leaked test builds of the game, design documents, and early magazine previews, from which the fan team then assembled their own version of the game.ĭespite retelling the story of the original game, albeit with a few more cutscenes and quests to improve coherence, Lost Alpha introduces a slew of new features.

Lost Alpha is a community passion project that picks up the pieces.

The result of years of protracted development hell, it was buggy at launch, and had swathes of planned content left on the cutting room floor. So, here we present, in order of their accessibility to newcomers, the Big Three. The series puts you in the shoes of freelancing mercenaries - the titular STALKERs - wandering this horrific environment in search of fame, glory, or perhaps just a big payout.

Stalker call of pripyat steam overlay