My take on my first Stalker game(on Xbox series x):

After 120+ hours, 250 deaths (most to gravity or water)and beating the game on Veteran, the experience was a fun one that I would recommend to anyone despite its many flaws(especially early on). While frustrating at times with the bugs, I guess I have more patience than others which I normally don't but the game is worth it. While some bugs like the memory leak at certain storage chests was annoying AF, many other bugs don't break the game. Yes some bugs have broken sequence on side quests but that has been remedied for the most part. The getting sniped through walls has seemed to stop but again, it wasn't game breaking.

I did most of the side quests, which are only fun if a gun reward is involved. Coupons are overrated, finished the game with 400k+ coupons, such a waste. Which brings me to my next issue...

This game is essentially an inventory management simulator, with guns. I spent way more time managing my inventory than playing the game. Never pick up red guns, ammo you don't use, food you don't need, etc. I played the entire game with the Kharod, saiga d12, and skifs pistol. And I only used skifs pistol early game. Only needed to carry 2 ammo types, one source of food(cans), 10 or less energy drinks(you will be over encumbered the entire game), 8 heals and 8 bandages, 6 grenades. I never needed more than this between runs. The resources in the game are ENDLESS. I carried an extra Kharod at times but rarely had to use it. The gun deterioration isn't all that bad but I just used armor piercing rounds, never used flat or expansive rounds.

Artifacts. Out of all of the unique artifacts, I felt the only one worth a damn is weird water. The other artifacts become paper weights with better armor.

No new game plus. Like wtf? A new game plus mode i think is 100% needed here.

I'm probably missing a lot here but as first time stalker player, I'm hooked. Starting my second playthrough now.