The game will begin with a number of cutscenes, before you finally reach the ground and start your mission. During the Codec call with Major Tom, you learn that all weapons, equipment and food are to be procured on site, since that’s the nature of the mission. Your first objective will be to secure your backpack, which got caught in a tree on your way down to the ground. Upon finally being able to move, head over to the fallen log that has some space underneath it, and hold the X button to go prone. This will allow you to crawl underneath the fallen log to get past it.

Dremuchij South¶

As soon as you get past the fallen log, the tree ahead will have some vines on it, indicating you can climb it. While next to the tree, press the action button (Triangle) to instantly climb it, with Snake getting on the branch. Carefully walk over to where your backpack is hanging, then press the action button again to drop down and snatch the backpack. Snake will hit the ground and trigger another Codec call, which will be a longer one that goes over some things. One important thing talked about here is Stamina.

You’ll also meet some others that you’ll have contact with over the radio, like Para-Medic (she will also be your saving frequency, which is 140.96) and The Boss. Your mission is to retrieve Dr. Sokolov, location in an abandoned factory to the north of your current position. Once all of the talking is finally over, you’re free to move again. You should now have access to your backpack, including your camouflage. Holding R2 will bring up your weapons sub-menu, while L2 is for other equipment and items.

With all of that out of the way, let’s collect some items in Dremuchij South. Return to the beginning, where you first landed and face the fallen log. In the patch of grass to the right of it, you should find Frog B (Tree Frog, Map Marker), although you might need to go prone to see it; you can use your knife to kill it. To the immediate left of the fallen log is a tree that has Mushroom C at the bottom of it (Siberian Ink Cap, Map Marker). Go to the left to see what looks like another downed tree and if you go into first-person view (R1), you should see something on the rock/stump.

This is Mushroom A (Russian Oyster, Map Marker), so snag it and then head over to the eastern side to find a path leading up. Be very careful up here, as there is a bird and they will fly away if you make too much noise. If you see something moving in the grass, stop and go into first-person view to try and find it. For birds, equip your gun (Mk22, in this case) and aim at the bird. Shoot it and the bird will become an item (since the Mk22 is a tranquilizer, you will capture it alive); this one is Bird D (Magpie, Map Marker).

There’s also a LF Med up here, so loot it and then look at the rock to your west. It might be a little hard to tell, but there’s a green frog doll here, which is one of the game’s main collectibles (Kerotan 1; Map Marker). Right next to the Kerotan will be the new collectible for Delta, Ga-Ko 1 (Map Marker). Shoot them both (listen to the noise), then return to the area past the fallen log from earlier. As soon as you are on the other side of the log, look in the grass to see a snake crawling around. Shoot it with your tranq gun, or knife it, to get Snake H (Reticulated Python). Go to the tree you climbed to retrieve your gear, then look up and to the left. It’s difficult to see, because of the colors, but there is some fruit hanging from the trees above.

Shoot it down to get some D Med, and more importantly, Fruit B (Russian False Mango). There should be another snake crawling around near the climbable tree, so get it for Snake G (Giant Anaconda). You won’t find anything else in this area, so exit to the north.

Dremuchij Swampland¶

Follow the trail here until you get to the open area, with is a swamp. Be careful while traversing the swamp, as you will gradually sink and it’s possible to die if you go too low. The place is crawling with Gavials, crocodiles that will attack you if you get too close, but they will leave you alone otherwise. Unfortunately, you need one of these if you wish to collect everything, so shoot one with your tranq gun to put it asleep first. Once it’s snoozing, move in close (but not too close it wakes up), with your knife equipped, go into first-person and press L3 to stab it.

It should only take one or two stabs to kill the Indian Gavial (can’t capture it), yielding some items for you. If you didn’t get Bird D in the previous area, some will be flying around here and land on the tree on the little island in the center of the swamp (watch for the Gavials). There is also a Hornet’s Nest on the same tree, so you can shoot it down from a distance, then loot the goods after a few seconds have passed (you’ll also get an Ointment from this). On the western side of this little swamp will be an item box that gives you some extra suppressor for your Mk22.

Find the trail on the northern end and follow it along to a tree. Look on this tree to find more hanging fruit, so shoot it down to collect Fruit C (Golova Map Marker). Looking at your map, you will see a little spot on your right, so look over there to find Kerotan 2 (Map Marker) sitting on the rocks. Shoot it, confirm the noise, then get ready to encounter your first enemies in the game.

Dremuchij North¶

As soon as you enter the area, there will be a cutscene showing some enemy soldiers, then you will receive an explanation about camouflage. When you regain control, immediately change your camouflage to Leaf and face paint to Woodland, then go prone in the grass. Wait for the one guard to come patrolling your current position, then pop him in the head with your tranq gun to put him to sleep. Look to the east to find a slightly hidden area, where you should locate the SVD, a sniper rifle (Map Marker).

Return to the main area and go north, keeping to the ground, as the other enemy will be patrolling in the northern area. If you get the jump on him, do so and put him to sleep, allowing you to do a little more exploring. Don’t venture to the east of where the second guard was, as there will be two more. In a patch of grass prior to meeting the second soldier, you likely saw some birds fly away when passing through it. If you can sneak up and get to them, that’ll net you Bird E (Sunda Whistling-Thrush Map Marker). If you didn’t get Fruit C on the previous screen, then the tree right above Bird E will have some more.

The hollow log by where the first guard was has some Bug Juice, while another hollow tree near the second guard has a Grenade. Also by the second guard is a tree that has Fruit A (Yabloko Maloko, Map Marker) on it; the fruit is red, so it’s easier to see. With that out of the way, go back a little bit and take the path to the right, which has another climbable tree. Ignore that and sneak into the grass to get the jump on a nearby guard. Look out for the other guard not too far towards the northern exit and put him to sleep, too.

This clears up the area now (guards will eventually wake up, so you can always shoot them again to extend their sleeping period), so it’s time to find one more item. By the second set of guards, there will be a tree stump that is standing upright that has Kerotan 3 (Map Marker) on it. Not too far from the Kerotan, there is a hollow log on the ground you can crawl through, which will have some Thermal Goggles (Map Marker) in it. These are nice to have, as they will allow to see animals and other things. In fact, if you were having trouble getting Bird E above, use the Thermal Googles to see them more clearly. You’re done here, so take the northern exit to reach Dolinovodno/Rassvet.