Take Tarkov for What It Is

(Intro)

For a lot of people, myself included, playing Tarkov these days has been much more than just the going On's that we’re so accustomed to. It isn’t so much about questing, grinding to level up, getting max traders or fighting other players with end game gear. For some, those elements are still fresh and new enough that they feel rewarding and inviting to fully engage with and commit to, however long it takes to reach your own personal goals. But for many others, the current gameplay loop even under the guise of a hardcore wipe, is proving to be somewhat of a slog. Which is why so many of us hope and pray that the 1.0 version of this game will be different enough that it feels new. In the meantime, I’ve recently been spending some time during my raids just appreciating the game for what it is. Despite all the problems, the drama, the BS and baggage that is associated with Tarkov, I’ve tried to put all of that to the side and just find the fun that this game can still provide even after thousands of hours. And there is still a surprising number of things that I still enjoy and appreciate in this game, which is something I encourage everyone to also try; just find the fun in this game, even if there isn’t much left to enjoy.

(Early game is some of the most fun)

As much as we all love to run about with max level traders and the ability to kit up our PMC with whatever guns and armors we want, there has always been a unique charm to the early game that so many players truly enjoyed. It’s a time where the playing field is leveled once more, and everyone (for the most part) is on equal footing. Granted, the unheard edition has shifted that balance somewhat, but the scrappy fights of the first couple of days is such an iconic part of Tarkov, if you could capture that moment, put it into a bottle and preserve that experience for as long as possible, most players would enjoy that version of the game. And while this current hardcore wipe has tried to do just that, there were some choices made that don’t entirely reflect that mentality. To be fair however, the goal of extending the early game has certainly been achieved. It’s only now that most traders can even be leveled up to their second and third loyalty levels. When it comes to the early game, you need to have your wits about you; every raid matters so much, as it sets up the potential for how the rest of your wipe is going to go. Sure, you can always fix it later if you have a rough start, but you need to be creative with how you approach so many different circumstances. You need to ask yourself questions, is this fight worth it? Do I try to get this other quest done even though it’s out of the way? It’s a shame the game doesn’t offer more solutions with unique or interesting barters at the start. A heavier emphasis on working with the traders through the barter system would at least feel as though the items you are collecting can have an extra purpose if the hideout isn’t in the cards, or you have extras of something no longer needed. Again, we’re more talking within the context of a traditional wipe; this hardcore experience has been unique and provided its own fair share of challenges, but normally, we’re just so used to the rate race that is leveling up and getting more gear on the dealers. Which is what makes the early game so interesting; it’s so much more about use what you have or find. Items have so much more value that it becomes a risk to take them in with you. Scopes and high tier armors can carry you through the early game if you are lucky enough to find and use one. There’s a reason why so many always come back and say the early game has some of the best moments in EFT; because it’s about how you use what you have access to and not just whether you have it available. And moments in Tarkov are not uncommon; they can happen pretty much at any point.

(EFTs ‘moments’ are the best)

It’s hard to describe exactly what I mean when I refer to ‘moments’ in this game. If I had to give a rough definition, it would be something along the lines of, an event, opportunity, or experience that creates somewhat of a core memory for the player once it happens. It can be wiping an entire lobby of players, finally completing a quest you were stuck on, working with a PMC or scav you stumbled across during a raid, or simply stopping and appreciating the scenery and environment that is always front and center. Even to this day, I still find opportunities to just appreciate the game for what it is; despite the noise and everything else negative around it. Because after thousands of hours, it might be a bit dull, but I certainly don’t hate EFT. The core thirty second gameplay loop still out classes so many others, even if many of the other gameplay experiences hadn’t seen a dramatic change until this hardcore wipe. I mean I have a folder of about five hundred screenshots of different scenes in this game. From sunshine to rain. Daylight to nighttime, it’s something I have always enjoyed doing; taking screenshots of the world because this game can be so pretty under the right circumstances. Finding the fun in EFT can be hard after so much investment; and yet people are still able to find their own versions of fun with this game. It’s one of the reasons I still praise Tarkov for allowing that level of creative freedom in different areas.

(Making off meta weapons)

I’ve always been an advocate of going against the grain when it comes to building weapons and kits. The level of creativity you can have when building weapons in this game has still not been replicated by any other shooter out there. Sure, it’s easy to always just use the best option available to you whatever that might be. Especially if you’re someone who enjoys fighting other players; giving yourself the best statistical advantage possible is probably important to you. But going against the grain and just using stuff that you either have laying around or going out of your way to avoid the best has been important to me. The hope is that with 1.0, you won’t always have the best at your disposal, or easily accessible. So, getting used to using what you have is becoming more important as time goes on. That applies to weapons as well. For each weapon, there has always been an emphasis on best in slot, but with thousands of attachments in the game, it’s a shame to not take advantage of them every now and again. With weapons such as the M4 or pretty much any of the AKs, variety is what makes those platforms so compelling. I wish every weapon had the same level of attachment variety as those, but that’s just not in the cards sadly. You can really create some cool stuff and see how it competes, and to me, that has been some of the most fun I’ve had with the game in the last few years.

(Enjoying the progression)

This game is all about progression. Leveling up your PMC, you reputation with the traders. Hell, even leveling up your scav if you feel so inclined. And while the process of working through the game hasn’t changed much up until this hardcore wipe, many players still find the process of progression palatable even after all these years. Completing quests feels good; leveling up feels good. Working towards the end game quests and getting things like Lightkeeper unlocked feels especially good when you do it for the first time. Anyone who has played this game hits a point early on when you just get sucked into the process, and many simply enjoy working through the game at their own pace. It can still be fun years later, even when you’ve done the tasks dozens of times. It’s not about being first, it’s not about having an edge over other players. It’s about the journey; not so much the destination. And that can still be fun, no matter how many times you might have completed them.

(Adding restrictions/extra challenges)

And for those who have gotten burned out by the monotony of the game, there are plenty of ways to spice things up and keep the game fun and interesting. For years, many partook in personal hardcore challenges, adding much more complexity and restrictions across the game, making it even more grueling than it can already be. It's certainly not for everyone, and this wipe has funnily enough proven that to many. But for those who are up for the challenge, it reminds you why this game is so fun at times; makes you appreciate when you are able to just play normally and how your life matters way more than you think it does. Losing a quest item when you have been stuck for days or weeks always sucks. Losing not only that item, but the entire kit you were wearing while getting it with no chance of it returning to you sucks that much more.

(Outro)

Tarkov has been around for a long time. Many have been playing since almost the beginning, and after so many years the game can start to lose some steam. And in those circumstances, reflecting on why Tarkov is a fun game even if it was never meant to be fun, is important in reminding yourself why you started playing this game in the first place. It’s weird, obtuse, goes against pretty much every conventional rule and standard set by the first-person shooter genre, and one of the most satisfying reward curves to this day for a modern game. Despite all the problems with it, the direction going all over the place, and the lack of a clear vision for a few years now, there is still plenty of fun and enjoyment to be had with Tarkov. You just have to find your own version of it. Thank you very much for taking the time out of your day to watch this video. Let me know down in the comment section below your thoughts on what makes this game so fun, where you find your enjoyment within EFT and be sure to subscribe for more videos about problem solving the mid-life crisis equivalent of playing a single video game for far too long. I hope to see you in future ones.