Upcoming, high-detailed 'Raindrop' mod features crazy Russian scientist story.
Way back when footage of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. first found its way into the open, most of us were utterly gob-smacked by the apparent power of its engine. I certainly was. The developer was pushing it as a photo-realistic representation of the area surrounding Chernobyl, comparing in-game shots directly with that of video taken from the disaster zone. It had everyone convinced of its high-detail capabilities.
Unfortunately, it took many more years to develop into a playable game, its launch date continually being pushed back. When it eventually hit shelves in 2007, it was no longer a shining beacon of what was to come, as other equally or more impressive engines from the likes of Valve and Crytek were already playing host to fun, high-detailed titles.
Well, a mod for Half-Life 2 known as Raindrop has brought a little bit of that initial S.T.A.L.K.E.R. spark back, at least for me. It makes no mention of the heavily abbreviated game, but the design similarities are striking. This could very well be a result of the setting chosen – Russia. The back story begins in the early 1920s, with Russian scientists eager to find out if a community of people can be entirely self-sufficient. The findings of this apparently mundane investigation are to be used in creating emergency plans for a possible second world war.
Naturally, it swiftly makes a break from the banal, as these are crazy Russian scientists, after all. “This study is part of a series of tests which also includes the creation of super soldiers and paramilitary warfare,” explains developer Raindrop-Team, adding that very few people know of this. “Everything happens in the utmost secrecy.” Surprise, surprise. Many decades later – the 8th of September, 1997, in fact – you awaken in an abandoned tunnel, somewhere in Russia, without so much as a name.
Yes, yes, it’s a horribly cliched plot, but even publisher-backed games have difficultly in this area. Nonetheless, it’s looking quite promising – spectacular, even – as the screenshots demonstrate marvellous level design, especially for what ultimately amounts to a free, home-made mod.
It terms of gameplay, Raindrop-Team says it’s a first-person shooter that sports both fast-paced action and horror sequences, all built around entirely new textures and models. An “intensive and thrilling storyline,” it notes, is also in the pipeline.
Perhaps this could be the twisted and mysterious shooter we’ve been waiting for. Speaking of waiting, we’ll have to do so until at least the end of the year, the earliest that the developer expects to release the mod. Here’s hoping it’s all clear skies from here and doesn’t drop off the radar. If you’re interested, be sure to check out Raindrop’s section on Mod DB.
Below is the most recent teaser that shows off some of the beautifully fashioned environment and gives you an idea of the weird science angle the developer is targeting.
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