STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the highly anticipated sequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chornobyl from 2007, has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans and critics.

After a long and challenging development period that included a decade of delays, a pandemic, and a devastating war between Russia and Ukraine, GSC Game World is now close to releasing its game. The game combines a haunting atmosphere, survival mechanics, and hardcore shooting gameplay. 

From the initial feedback and previews from Western reviewers who had the opportunity to play several hours of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, it's clear that the game retains the spirit of the original while offering fresh perspectives in design and presentation.

Locations and Atmosphere: A Post-apocalyptic Wasteland Full of Life

At the heart of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone—a dangerous yet beautiful open world filled with radiation, hazardous anomalies, mutated creatures, and hostile human factions. 

The game's world is vast and entirely handcrafted, with developers avoiding procedural generation in favor of meticulously designed locations, each filled with its own story and challenges awaiting players. 

STALKER 2 presents a surprisingly captivating blend of horror and apocalyptic serenity.

Jez Corden

Like its predecessors, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is heavily inspired by the sci-fi novella "Roadside Picnic" from the 1970s, but the game's Chornobyl Zone feels more alive. Quiet moments, such as sitting by a campfire with other NPCs playing guitars or telling tales, contrast with the threat of surrounding radiation and hostile factions, creating a surreal balance between danger and tranquility.

The chorus of eerie, unnatural cries pierces the ghostly nuclear fog, creating phantoms of the radioactive creatures with ray-traced imprints

Jez Corden

Brutal Combat and Survival Mechanics

One of the defining features of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is its harsh and relentless combat system. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 further emphasizes this realism in presentation, forcing players to plan every encounter. Weapons can jam, ammo is scarce, and enemies, including humans and mutants, are ruthless in this regard. As Rick Lane from Eurogamer notes:

The opening of STALKER 2 is a more polished experience than the previous games... but the Zone hasn't lost its hostility.

Rick Lane

Combat in STALKER 2 is not run-and-gun like many modern shooters. Instead, it's an intense and strategic experience. Players must carefully manage their resources, using bandages to stop bleeding or food to quell hunger.  Even the Zone itself can kill, as Dave Aubrey from The Loadout points out:

The Zone contains hostile human enemies and mutated monsters, but those problems can be solved with bullets. Anomalies and radioactive patches of land pose other dangers.

Dave Aubrey

Freedom of Choice and Gameplay Features S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

One of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's standout features is the freedom of action and consequences it offers players. From the moment you are let loose into the open world, you are free to explore the Zone, take up additional quests, and decide how to approach each situation. The story is non-linear, with branching dialogues and multiple outcomes based on player choices. As Destin Legarie from IGN notes:

There are moments when NPCs might abruptly end a quest without a reward because you looted their deceased friend's body.

Destin Legarie

This freedom extends to combat encounters as well. Players can choose whether to face enemies head-on, use stealth, or even lure them into deadly anomalies. Decisions matter, and the world responds to the player's actions. 

In one instance, I decided to investigate a landmark on a whim and found a quest objective I was looking for. Emerging elements give STALKER 2 a dynamic and living world where each playthrough can be unique.

Rick Lane

A World Built on Exploration and Immersion

Exploration in STALKER 2 is driven by curiosity and necessity. The map is vast, but without transportation or fast travel, players are forced to move on foot, adding to the sense of isolation.

The game encourages players to thoroughly explore every nook and cranny, often rewarding them with valuable resources or hidden stories that reveal the world's lore or characters. As GSC's CEO Evgen Grigorovich explained in an interview:

In STALKER 2, you don't have transportation or a way to move faster; you only have your feet. You can run, but you have a limited stamina reserve.

Evgen Grigorovich

Survival is not just about combat but also managing resources such as food, medical supplies, and ammunition. Players are constantly on edge, balancing the need to explore with the dangers lurking around every corner. As Andrew Brown from GamesRadar notes:

There's a constant pressure to survive, whether dismantling every found weapon for ammo or performing odd jobs for a small profit.

Andrew Brown

Phil Hornshaw shared his experience of using the environment to solve a particular situation. When he saw a pack of mutated boars, he decided to lure them into an anomaly by firing shots into the air. After which, the anomaly simply tore them apart.

The game offers plenty of immersive-sim details, allowing players to tackle situations in different ways, often leading to various consequences.

Challenges of the Exclusion Zone

While S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 rewards explorers, it is not a game that will hold your hand. The environment is filled with traps and anomalies that can kill you in seconds if you're not careful. These threats, along with the constant radiation threat, force players to be cautious and carefully plan their routes. 

In his review, Andrew writes that he often found himself dying while trying to pass through a particular scene in the game. But the reload screen after each death did not evoke anger but rather interest and the need for rational understanding of his actions to survive the current scenario. 

He either failed to heal in time or lost his vigilance and fell victim to an enemy he hadn't accounted for. Such moments gave him an understanding of Skif's weakness, the main character, and the need to carefully think through his actions to survive. The player must "submit" to the Zone and play by its rules.

You can try to utilize the environment to your advantage by luring foes into an anomaly or tricking them into thinking you're helping them from a better vantage point."

Destin Legarie

Anomalies in the game are a crucial part of both its atmosphere and gameplay. These unpredictable distortions of reality can be deadly but also hold valuable artifacts that can grant powerful abilities. However, acquiring them is often a hazardous task, as Morgan Park of PC Gamer discovered.

Nearly 20 minutes into the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 demo, a gravity-distorting anomaly turned my insides into outsides.

Morgan Park

Striking Post-apocalyptic Landscapes and Game World Design

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is built on the Unreal Engine 5, and the game's visual style reflects the power of this technology. The post-apocalyptic Chornobyl landscape is recreated in stunning detail, from its lush green fields to its abandoned buildings. Dynamic weather effects and lighting further enhance the eerie and atmospheric world.

From the stunningly bleak environmental design to the more grounded, tangible combat, it's a significant step forward from anything GSC has previously created.

Rick Lane

The game's sound design also plays a crucial role in immersing players in its world. A muted post-rock atmosphere creates an eerie soundtrack, and the sounds of mutants lurking in the shadows keep players constantly on edge. 

A soundtrack of muted post-rock atmosphere... cuts through the fog, creating the perfect audiovisual experience to match the Zone's oppressive atmosphere.

Jez Corden

Potential Launch Issues

Despite mostly positive feedback, some reviewers have expressed concerns about the stability of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 at launch. In earlier builds, there were occasional glitches, such as enemies getting stuck or issues with quest markers.

Given the reputation of the original trilogy for sometimes being a bit "buggy," some reviewers fear that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 might face similar issues. 

Connor Makar points out some of the game's technical shortcomings that occasionally remind of Bethesda projects. Specifically, he mentions an issue in one quest where the character he rescued got "stuck in combat mode." 

In another instance, during a quick sale of weapons, the game crashed for him. However, Connor can completely forgive certain technical issues of the game, considering the studio is developing the game under war conditions, often remotely. Developers have promised to address the issues, but it's essential to understand that their presence in the early days of the game is likely inevitable.

Some of the issues I encountered were relatively minor... but others were more annoying.

Andrew Brown

However, GSC Game World has expressed its commitment to polishing the game and fixing any bugs before launch. Given the passion the development team has shown in creating the game, there's hope that any residual issues will be resolved in post-launch updates.

A Potential Game of the Year Worth Your Attention

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is shaping up to be one of the most unique and challenging open-world FPS games of 2024. With brutal combat, an immersive atmosphere, and deep survival mechanics, it offers a gaming experience that stands out from the mainstream. The Zone is a terrifying and mysterious place but also full of wonders and possibilities for those who dare venture into its depths.

For fans of the original games, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 appears to be a faithful continuation of the franchise's legacy while inviting new players into a world of danger and discovery. Overall, reviewers are sympathetic and rate the gameplay of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 well, which made a significant leap forward compared to previous games in the series while retaining its uniqueness.

STALKER 2 is not just a game; it is a testament to the resilience and creativity of its developers and a reminder of the power of video games to transport us to worlds both beautiful and terrifying.

Jez Corden

STALKER 2 is scheduled to be released on November 20, 2024, so the wait is almost over. In addition, expect an upcoming exclusive from bo3.gg regarding S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, as well as interviews with the developers.