We Need To Talk About Fast Travel In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

[@dustysmoke4996]

Simple fact- if, as you say, a part of the game is so tedious and frustrating that a lot of players won't even want to replay it a second time (or likely even finish it the first time) because of it, then it's time for the devs to address and fix that so masses of players don't abandon the game on account of it. And so masses of players don't end up telling their friends "Don't buy this game, trust me, you'll hate it because of these issues".

[@Renfail]

This. 100% this.

[@CarlWheatley-wi2cl]

Stalkers NEVER fast travel lol

[@Renfail]

This Stalker does

[@Derpymech]

i love a challenge, but not a walking simulator.... i think horses or something would be perfect

[@Renfail]

An interesting thought

[@Disorderly_Cuck]

Bloodsucker food

[@marenas32]

They can easily add more fast travel to their game modes. Easy mode more fast travel points, Medium less travel points, Hardcore as the game intended. Something like that.

[@Renfail]

Indeed

[@harolddoeshorror]

All i know is man...ive been having a blast...i have NEVER had so much fun getting so pissed off!!! More locations though would be nice

[@Renfail]

Absolutely

[@TheRagingRayn]

It only gets worse the further into the main story you get. The amount of miles you need to traverse for a small task is a bit absurd. If you know, you know.

[@Renfail]

Ooohhh interesting

[@ValenceFlux]

I got used to it the way it was but if they were to expand fast travel they should have ambush possibilities like monsters or anomaly encounters.

[@Renfail]

Could work

[@ahoosifoou4211]

Yea lik kcd

[@brawnperlman9864]

It's not about being 'hardcore' or 'brutal'. I don't think the intent is 'rEaLiSm' either. It's a survival game. That's the core function of the gameplay - you need to survive. Players Starfielding their way across the map entirely works against this.

[@voice_of_terra7228]

This is the true reason. Fast travel takes away from the tension. What he describes with the monster, emission, lack of supplies and friendly faces is just the game itself.

[@Renfail]

Sigh lol

[@abitofthisnthat]

Then you don't have to do it but other players would like more fast travel options.

[@vadymorlov4234]

very much enjoying those discussion videos of yours! Good insights and reasonable critiques. While stalker never had a philosophy of easily available fast-travel (and I'm fine with it), I'm more than ok with giving people options. If they were to go this route - I think making guides blanketed across the map would be a good solution (maybe even some of them roaming the world - for swamps specifically).

[@Renfail]

I can get behind that!

[@ansparaco]

I can't wait to make it to the swamps now. I think they should provide more fast travel options on normal mode, maybe less on stalker and even less on hard.

[@Renfail]

that's one way to do it!

[@SGT_R0CK_JR]

I’m honestly fine with the fast travel.

[@Renfail]

the system is great, it just needs more locations :)

[@SGT_R0CK_JR]

@ that’s fair, but I personally wouldn’t mind if they just kept the ones they have already and didn’t add anymore. Maybe a clear sky fast travel would be good though.

[@PeninsulaCity2024]

The old system worked well in the OGs since every area was basically its own map sperated by loading screen and are relatively smaller in comparison to S2. But with a larger world, you'll need more locations. And its been 15~12 years since the events of SoC and Call of Pripyat, you'd think those guides would have mapped out more routes since 2012 (events of CoP) from a lore perspective. Either way, as long as it doesn't negate exploration (which is where a lot of fast travel systems in my opinon end up doing), more locations wouldn't hurt.

[@ahoosifoou4211]

Swamp is always a dreaded place to fight in

[@Renfail]

twas not fun =P

[@kakapac6982]

good to know the swamp still sucks lol

[@Renfail]

sooooo bad lol

[@Doctor_MB]

I assume fast running and high jumping mods will be available like they were for SOC. I can't imagine playing SOC without my fast running mod. I have replayed that game many times thanks to mods. (Shadow Of Chernobyl)

[@Renfail]

Hmmm interesting

[@Jao_Ma0]

The swamps as in the first games are the weirdest part of the game. You always wanted to get through them faster and not remember them. Nothing changes.)) I agree that there needs to be a compromise for new people, the developers need to develop some mechanics. I have seen videos of people who are obsessed with the universe Stalker and those mechanics that brought to the game (yellow color designation, compass, etc.) they just turn off and consider it a bad decision. On the same scheme could be realized for example the call of a guide, which for a money is ready to help or for example he could spend you only when you have a weight is not overloaded. Well, and such a function could be turned off in the settings, for those who want to not suffer much with moving around the Zone. I passed about 20 hours and shocked by the size of the map. The most striking thing is that I am not bored to explore it and it does not seem empty. But long-distance runs start to get boring by the 20th hour. In the central locations you can look in a new place along the way. On the edges of the map in the opposite direction you have already passed places and there is no point in going to them. And the path turns into a marathon without a reason

[@Renfail]

It's a maaaasssive map :) And yes, those long-distance runs get REALLY boring after 30 hours of gameplay.

[@spicydong317]

Maybe "travel kit" like items that allow you to teleport from anywhere to any town Just make it costly and rare

[@Renfail]

Interesting

[@balsbrother7569]

I don't mind the travel system as it is. I don't think the Devs will change it as it's always been the way they do their games. However I can see mods being created that give more fast travel options as not everyone will share that vision. Mod support is being added for all platforms eventually. Also yes the swamps suck and it is a slog.

[@Renfail]

the swamps are NOT fun =P The rest of the game I've loved

[@Devilseyes13]

I feel like they need to Adjust how fast stamia Regenerates in the game. Its way to slow for how much running around you do in the game.

[@balsbrother7569]

You do that with artifacts. I have one that has strong stamina regen & a regen upgrade on my armour. Takes about 2 seconds to refill from empty & I don't need to carry energy drinks anymore.

[@Renfail]

Artifacts!

[@Devilseyes13]

How far into the game do you find that? ​@balsbrother7569

[@johnnyrockabilly4962]

REN drain the swamp lol😂

[@Renfail]

Yes please lol

[@kacejot]

COP had fast travel with stalker squads. You just find wandering squad and pay them a little for a travel. If they go somewhere and their destination is the same to yours, then the travel is free. Why there is no such feature in S2?

[@kacejot]

Stalkers squads are very rare in S2. They mostly sitting in the safe zone.

[@Renfail]

Interesting!

[@ThatTomCats]

I would not use it, but i think it should be a option upon starting a new game.

[@Renfail]

More options are always better.

[@MrJosh066717]

I think fast travel should cost something. Maybe it costs ammo and food or something. So it’s a risk reward scenario

[@Renfail]

It already costs something: coupons. Which are hard AF to come by. So it doesn't need anything else =P

[@ThatGuyKal]

I prefer not to fast travel because all the things you encounter along the way are part of the journey and experience. That said, i can totally understand why some folks want it and the developers should look at a solution for those players to ensure the game stays accessible.

[@Renfail]

Player agency is key in modern game dev :)

[@zigs44]

I started on Stalker difficulty last night. After seeing the map size and how this game is paced I just don't think I have enough time to play this lol. I'll try to chip away at it, but I still barely scratched the surface in DAV...

[@Renfail]

Yeah the map is HUGE

[@SirSquash]

I just never use it. I like going on foot. You could say im more familiar with the territory than the guides are.

[@Renfail]

enjoy if that's your thing :)

[@thisguy35]

there is a guide in the clear sky base of the older games

[@Renfail]

I could have used one today!

[@darcinek]

I just think everything should cost a little less and the guide system and repairs are going to be actually viable And then they could add artifact activation and do teleports using an artifact late game like it was planned for the og games I don't want a skyrim fast travel i think you should pay koupons for fast travel

[@Renfail]

coupons are just fine. They just need more waypoints!

[@darcinek]

@@Renfail yeah more traversal destinations would be good But the artifact teleport system would be pretty good and definitely improve the late game in my opinion You wouldn't have to go to towns and go up to a guide In the late game you would just use your artifact to do fast travel

[@tazwest6992]

I think woul be a nice idea add some walk traveler vendor(How in Fallout4)that can be a nice add!i know is a easy way to seel item but wen you make km km km and are encoumbered,and you need to make your way back for km km km is a little Boring!

[@Renfail]

It is a pain to trek back and forth!

[@kostello2011]

Hope it's just on release, and in the next dlc they will add fast trevel.

[@phillipdunham8606]

They have fast travel, its adding more fast travel locations. They are called guides that you pay to travel instantly to other camps

[@Renfail]

could be!

[@harolddoeshorror]

100% agree with your maon point

[@Renfail]

cheers

[@Erocksome]

Is it just me or wouldn't it be cool if the devs would have implemented dirt bikes for traversing. It just seems like that would be a perfect fit for the zone. Going in Rambo style! 😅 Any modders out there make it happen!

[@Renfail]

Could be!

[@ravereviews6853]

My main frustration is the monsters. Why as soon as I leave the boundary or jump on top of a car or box they all simultaneously turn around and walk away 😂 I love this game but it kills emersion once you realise they won't follow you past a certain boundary, like they'll turn around instantly and walk away as soon as you cross it. Having said that I'm still real enjoying the game. Just being critical

[@Renfail]

A fair point

[@kaetha1]

The game should have fast travel, I’m old and don’t like all the back tracking

[@Renfail]

Hear hear

[@johnnyrockabilly4962]

stalker 2 is a masterpiece and I agree on your fast travel opinion Ren I love this game

[@Renfail]

I'm seeing the core of it!

[@karl343]

They should put Quads into the game, make it so you need to loot petrol canisters to keep it running.

[@darcinek]

Yeah it was planned for the og games maybe not quads but some sort of transport like an old military pickup would be cool

[@Renfail]

Oooh quads could be cool

[@darcinek]

@@Renfail an old broken down lada would be more fitting

[@Renfail]

@darcinek I can dig it

[@darcinek]

@@Renfail that stops working if you hit the smallest thing XDDD Actually it would be a good balance to you just running over your enemies

[@Superdemigod]

I wish they have some sort of zip line to get from a point to another

[@Renfail]

that could be fun!

[@Notwokeever]

if your not having fun and you cant cut it then why carry on

[@Renfail]

sigh, there's always one.