While taking a step back from this game i was able to pinpoint the factors that bring me back to this game, as well as identify some of the things that push me (and probably a lot of you) away from the game. I think we all can agree with these points but I am curious what some of you have to say regarding the pros and cons of this game. What brings you back and what pushes you guys away?
The biggest allure to tarkov is the gunfights, and this can be distilled to a few basic points:
- HEALTH SYSTEM AND HEALING ANIMATIONS: Perhaps the most immersive health system across any shooter game I have played- having to use different items for different injury types is unique to tarkov and what adds heat and pressure to every gunfight.
- AMMO / ARMOR RELATIONSHIP: This is the second biggest factor that allows Tarkov to feel like such an intense platform for firefights- the variety of ammo and armor and how these two things affect each fight is unique to tarkov. We can add reload and weapon animations here because they are so immersive and so damn good- checking mags, capping mags etc. all add to that tarkov experience.
- IMMERSIVE AUDIO: *PREFACE: YES I KNOW THE AUDIO OCCLUSION IS DOGSHIT*: But the audio itself in this game sounds phenomenal and truly immerses the player into their environment. The double edged sword of this is that while we have audio that SOUNDS good and immersive, it is not RELIABLE and will punish those who do not know how to abuse the engines limitation of occlusion.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
The biggest aspects of this game that push myself and probably others away:
- Cheaters: We all have heard about them and we all have seen the clips- I am not here to tell you they are or are not rampant, you can decide for yourself. But dying to a cheater (blatant or discreetly) hurts in this game worse than any other game I have ever played. A quick google search will show you the sheer power and control someone can have in this game for +-10 dollars a day.
- Desync/ Network: This goes without addressing all of the hubbub regarding the latest patch. Whether its a lean peeker, a corner sprinter, or a hallway jumper the desync abuse/ pushers advantage in this game is ABYSMAL. This ties with this number one as the biggest issue and factor that pushes me away from this game, because sometimes you can hardly even trust whats on your own screen.
- Audio Complications: While the audio is one of the best aspects of this game it is also one of the worst. Right behind dying to a cheater or dying to a desync peek is dying to someone you NEVER had a chance to hear in the first place is the worst feeling. This is a massive issue considering how GOOD the audio can be, and it is incredibly frustrating to not be able to RELY on one of the only in-game senses you have.
I began thinking about this because of the sudden rise in "extract looter shooters' in the gaming scene- marauders, frontier, dmz, etc. . but personally for ME, the allure of tarkov isnt even the extraction style of game- its the healing/reload animations, the technical systems for health, and the diversity of ammo and armor that makes this game feel so unique in terms of gunfights. Tarkov has a unique system that I feel will not truly ever be duplicated.
That being said… I am playing a lot less than I used to. Desync, audio and cheaters are pushing me away quick. I come back every so often for some PvP but the vast amount of cheaters and borderline game breaking bugs always has a way of leaving a sour taste in my mouth. But I always find myself coming back, because it offers a truly unique experience in terms of FPS gaming.
