S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review

Stalker is a name that was previously spoken only in niche circles, often alongside Eurojank games. This was not wrong per se, as a small team from Ukraine created the trilogy of games in the series. It wasn’t a cult classic or anything of that sort, but the people who played it fell in love with the world and the game’s atmosphere. Which is why when the developers of the game resurfaced with the trailer for a dedicated sequel a few years ago, fans of the series were hyped. Alongside being very cautious, as the developers had gotten some massive funding and were making quite the promises. But despite the NFT scare mid-development, the game was released on the 20th of November 2024 to massive acclaim. And for good reason, nearly every promise was fulfilled, save for optimization.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a difficult game to describe to anyone who hasn’t played the original. Mostly in part due to the game mechanics and how they interact with the world. For in Stalker, you aren’t the hero or some destined one meant to save the world. You are a survivor, a nobody, and while the latter one changes as we get near the game’s end. The sense of foreboding still lingers and that is what in my eyes makes Stalker 2 such a good sequel. It built upon what made the series so memorable, all the while fixing the myriad of issues the original series had.

Chief amongst them being the graphics, and boy what an upgrade they have seen. The new game is fully developed on the Unreal Engine with all of its bells and whistles. Leading to one of the most hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric Russian survival games of all time. Now it feels like the trees will merge with the vegetation and slowly destroy your sense of direction. Radioactive storms feel like true forces of nature and the improved lighting with low contrast show bright blue bolts of lightning moments before we hear them. And the less said of the anomalies the better, for the game breathes new life into Boris and Arkady Strugatsky’s “The Zone”.

Combat wise the game is a bit easier as compared to the original, but still manages to retain the feeling of having your expensive gun jam right as you were about to deal the final blow. The new changes include the upgraded artifact system which allows you to equip several artifacts from the Zone. At the cost of constant radiation and sanity, both of which can easily be dealt with a bottle of vodka. Story on the other hand is a completely different matter as it starts with you going into the zone to find answers. Resulting in four very unique end-game choices, as the narrative is completely non-linear.

All and all Stalker 2 is a phenomenal game for fans of the old series and players wanting to try something new. But do keep in mind that despite the massive funding and usage of Unreal Engine the game is still Eurojank at heart. This means bugs and other game-breaking issues are to be expected. But with the release of the Day One patch, many of these have been addressed. So do give the game a try if you wish to experience a pleasant roadside picnic in the Heart of Chornobyl.

Greg Ricci
Greg Ricci
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