An enjoyable action RPG romp in a dystopian sci-fi British setting. This is not the same as Stalker.
The achievements are pretty straightforward and none are desperately challenginging - however Not Expecting a Call is very missable; for not answering any telephones through the whole playthrough, and
Quick Exit is time-based, requiring completion of the whole game in <5 hours.
There are five endings, each with a separate mutually-exclusive achievement - however the points of no return are very late in the game so these can all be unlocked in a single playthrough.
The recommended strategy is two playthroughs:
Difficulty doesn't affect achievements, so the 2nd run could be done on the easiest difficulty to avoid getting held up by enemies.
Tips:
Pick up the metal detector
Pick up the metal detector
Having the metal detector is essential for collectibles achievements like Where there's muck there's brass and
Packed lunch - but fortunately its easy to get one.
There are multiple places where a metal detector will be lying on the ground - but the first is just after you start the game, you'll be in Slatten Dale. Continue down the hill from the telephone box towards the town and keep to the right; you'll see a shallow pool of water with a body in the middle. A metal detector is next to the body which you can just pick right up. And then run away before the leeches eat you alive...
Unlock the Interchange
Unlock the Interchange
Find 5 traders in the Quarantine Zone
Find 5 traders in the Quarantine Zone
There are more than five in the game overall, so this should come naturally as you play through and explore - just talk to any friendly NPCs you come across throughout the map.
Note each NPC, including the traders, often have other useful information - so it is worth checking out all the conversation options to unlock more Leads to follow.
Cause an enemy to drop their Molotov cocktail
Cause an enemy to drop their Molotov cocktail
Power up Data Store Charlie
Power up Data Store Charlie
Extract the battery from an overheating robot
Extract the battery from an overheating robot
After taking enough damage, robots will kneel down and start steaming as they overheat. This is the time to go behind them and interact with the Atomic Battery plugged into their back to take it out.
Note these are the same kind of Atomic Batteries as you need for the story, and can be used for the same purposes :)
NB you can put the battery back in again if you like for Batteries Not Included
Power up Data Store Delta
Power up Data Store Delta
Find 10 metal detector caches
Find 10 metal detector caches
Once you've got the metal detector (and unlocked Detectorist) then as you explore the map you'll see notifications in the bottom-right when your metal detector has detected something to dig. Use the onscreen instructions to use the metal detector to find the cache, after 10 regular caches the achievement will pop.
So long as you get the metal detector relatively early, and follow up on most of the pings you get whilst playing, this should be easy to unlock without any special effort during a regular playthrough.
Find the Signal Redirector
Find the Signal Redirector
Once you've got it, unlock five doors for Burglar
Read 50 notes in the Quarantine Zone
Read 50 notes in the Quarantine Zone
Find 5 buried lunchboxes
Find 5 buried lunchboxes
Exactly the same as for Where there's muck there's brass - but some of the things you dig up will be unique lunchboxes with a comic/cartoon image on the lid. Just keep going and you'll hit 5 soon enough - or hit up the interactive map to filter for locations.
Power up Data Store Bravo
Power up Data Store Bravo
Power up Data Store Alpha
Power up Data Store Alpha
Take out at least 5 enemies in one explosion
Take out at least 5 enemies in one explosion
Loot, craft or trade for grenades - regular normal-looking frag grenades are fine - then look for a group of enemies close together.
There are a couple of ways to get enemies to bunch up; e.g. patrols often have 5+ enemies walking in a line, but when they stop and rest or change direction they'll often bunch up really close and a grenade in the middle will do the trick.
Alternatively, on your first exit out of the Interchange to Slatten Dale, there'll be a group of enemies in the tunnel close to the entrance. A grenade into this group - even if they've already spotted you - can also knock them all out in one go for this achievement.
Upgrade a firearm to pristine condition
Upgrade a firearm to pristine condition
To upgrade your weapons you first need the Gunsmith skill - for which you'll need the "Master Crafting Manual" and at least 7 skill points. See the linked Gamespot guide for where to find it.
Make sure to collect all Gun Oil and Scrap as you're exploring, so that you then have the mats to craft the upgrades once you've got the skill.
Its worth upgrading the revolver, to make getting Target Practice easier.
Use the Signal Redirector to unlock 5 doors
Use the Signal Redirector to unlock 5 doors
First, get the Signal Redirector for Reverse the Polarity.
Find and learn 10 recipes
Find and learn 10 recipes
Find 5 audio recordings
Find 5 audio recordings
Learn 12 skills
Learn 12 skills
Gain access to the Oberon site
Gain access to the Oberon site
Completely destroy a robot
Completely destroy a robot
Consume a Cornish pasty, English tea, and a slice of cake in 30s
Consume a Cornish pasty, English tea, and a slice of cake in 30s
This is easiest done in the village.
A pasty and a slice of cake can be bought from Iris in the bakery
Then in the Village Hall opposite there's a tea - note the tea looks like a big green metal tin of tea on one of the tables near the entrance (i.e. not a cup of tea). Alternatively you can barter with Alf in the pub for one.
Once you've got all three in your inventory you can consume them one after the other and the achievement will pop immediately.
Escape the Quarantine Zone with the Voice on the Telephone
Escape the Quarantine Zone with the Voice on the Telephone
Get 6 kills with the MK.VI Revolver without reloading
Get 6 kills with the MK.VI Revolver without reloading
This is a common revolver that can be found in loot in various places, but once you find it keep hold of it for this achievement.
Aim for headshots and take your time - they don't need to be consecutive kills, just consecutive shots from this weapon.
NB for more damage per shot, see Make do and mend and consider upgrading your revolver to max level first.
Find and destroy 10 Garden Gnomes
Find and destroy 10 Garden Gnomes
Gnomes are sitting around the place outdoors all around Wyndham Village. There are at least 14 in total and you just need to destroy 10 of them for this achievement. You can spot them as you wander round, or filter on the interactive map to see where they are.
Kill 10 enemies with a thrown weapon
Kill 10 enemies with a thrown weapon
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Dr Holder
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Dr Holder
Power up a deactivated robot
Power up a deactivated robot
After removing a battery to deactivate a robot for Unplugged, you can put it back in to unlock this achievement. Be ready to get shot at again though!
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Joyce Tanner
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Joyce Tanner
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Captain Sims
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Captain Sims
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Mother Jago
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Mother Jago
Redirect a thrown grenade with the cricket bat
Redirect a thrown grenade with the cricket bat
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Dr Garrow
Escape the Quarantine Zone with Dr Garrow
Escape the Quarantine Zone in under 5 hours
Escape the Quarantine Zone in under 5 hours
Escape the Quarantine Zone without answering the telephone
Escape the Quarantine Zone without answering the telephone
Find 10 comics
Find 10 comics