This guide details the "Just Like the Good Old Days" main mission in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The mission's prerequisites depend on choices made in the "Wishful Thinking" mission, leading to either "To the Last Drop of Blood" or "Law and Order" as preceding quests. Both conclude with an escape from SIRCAA.
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Talk to Professor Lodochka
Proceed to the mission marker on Wild Island, locating Professor Lodochka at Quite's Camp. A priority objective will emerge: eliminating mercenaries in the area. These enemies will be clearly marked on your map. Strong equipment is recommended, as further encounters await. After eliminating all marked mercenaries, a new marker will direct you to Lodochka. An optional objective, "Activate the Ventilation System," will become available.
Activate the Ventilation System
Consult your map for the location of a fuse. After retrieving the fuse, a new marker will appear, guiding you to the engineering rooms. Be prepared for an invisible enemy within. Navigate the shelter's passageways to the engine room. Use the fuse to restore power to the ventilation system. This optional objective simplifies the remainder of the mission, though it offers no unique reward.
Find the Signal Source
Before proceeding, consider acquiring better weapons. The next objective marker leads to a cave entrance near the water. Navigate the caverns westward, descending and maneuvering through obstacles. Locate a broken pipe to reach higher cave levels. Follow the marker to a large, cone-shaped spire. The emitter is located at the marked point next to the spire. An invisible enemy may ambush you on your way out. Return to Professor Lodochka to complete the mission, unlocking "Hornet's Nest" as the subsequent main mission.