After a long and troubled development, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally here. This review in progress explores the game's strengths and weaknesses, from its challenging gameplay and immersive atmosphere to its technical issues and balancing problems.
A Long and Difficult Journey
STALKER 2's development has been plagued by delays, financial difficulties, and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Originally announced in 2010, the game faced multiple setbacks before finally launching in November 2024.
Challenging Gameplay
STALKER 2 is not your typical shooter. The protagonist, Skif, is a vulnerable stalker facing a hostile world filled with mutants, bandits, anomalies, and radiation. The game is notoriously difficult, with even the lowest difficulty setting presenting a significant challenge.
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The injury system, stamina-based inventory, and equipment durability mechanics add to the complexity, but arguably make the game overly punishing. The in-game economy also needs balancing, with repair costs sometimes exceeding an item's value.
Immersive Atmosphere and Technical Performance
The Zone itself is the highlight of STALKER 2. The game's visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5, are stunning, and the sound design creates a truly immersive post-apocalyptic experience. However, repetitive NPC appearances and some pop-in detract from the visual fidelity.
Performance is generally acceptable on high-end PCs, but some stuttering can occur. The game also suffers from bugs, some of which can impede progress. GSC Game World is actively working on patches, but players should expect ongoing updates post-launch.
(In Progress)
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl captures the essence of the STALKER series, but its unbalanced design and technical issues hold it back. While the immersive atmosphere and challenging gameplay are appealing, waiting for further patches and optimizations might be advisable.
