10 Things That We Loved About STALKER 2, 5 That We Hated

Tright here’s quite a bit to like about S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2: Coronary heart of Chornobyl, with GSC Recreation World’s mammoth open world horror shooter touting every part from best-in-class visuals and top-notch horror ambiance to an enormous and expansive map to discover and extra. On the identical time, nonetheless, it’s additionally a blatantly divisive recreation, because of each points intentional and unintentional, with important technical deficiencies and a intentionally daunting strategy to problem. Right here, then, we’re going to speak in regards to the issues we like most about S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2, and a few of the issues that we dislike.

THINGS THAT WE LIKED

LARGE AND VARIED OPEN WORLD

A big, nicely crafted open world is at all times an enormous attract in any recreation, and S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 positively delivers in that space. At over 60 sq. kilometers, its Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is totally huge, made much more spectacular by the beautiful number of environments that it boasts. What really units it aside, nonetheless, is the painstaking degree of element that that phrase touts all through its entirety- which, contemplating its dimension, makes it significantly spectacular.

THE CHALLENGE

This particularly is among the recreation’s defining traits, and whereas S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2’s strategy to issue is likely to be exactly what makes it downright unplayable to some, for us, it’s what units it aside. The Zone is crawling with hazard, and round each step is one thing new and terrifying and unknowable that’s making an attempt to kill you. You’ll die a lot in S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2, which additionally makes it a lot extra rewarding whenever you slowly study, develop, and change into a greater survivor all by yourself.

THE ATMOSPHERE

That is wat has at all times set the S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. collection aside, and boy does Coronary heart of Chornobyl ship with its ambiance in spades. Emotions of fixed hazard, imminent loss of life, and pervasive isolation seep via each inch of the Exclusion Zone, and whether or not you’re creeping via darkish and overgrown woods in the course of a storm or silently making your approach via a claustrophobic cave, the sport by no means misses the mark with how extremely atmospheric it feels.

SURVIVAL HORROR ELEMENTS

S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2’s heavy emphasis on survival horror mechanics (and its survival mechanics) contribute considerably to how horrifying it’s. Ammo conservation is vital, as is stock administration, whereas having to handle issues similar to your starvation, any radiation results, the situation of your weapons and kit, and extra additionally makes issues that rather more hectic. Whereas none of those components add an excessive amount of precise issue per se, they’re further layers of friction for gamers to deal with- and friction is strictly what the Zone in its entirety is constructed round, in any case.

REWARDING EXPLORATION

Due to the fixed feeling of dread and the punishing issue, going out to discover the huge world of S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 at all times feels prefer it’s fraught with dangers, however whenever you do exit and discover, the sport has a knack of constantly rewarding you for it. Clearly, nothing ever comes straightforward, however from the gear and assets that you just discover to the cash that you just get from finishing aspect quests, the rewards that you just get are typically substantial sufficient to make exploration really feel worthwhile.

EMERGENT GAMEPLAY

From older examples like Skyrim and Fallout 3 to newer ones like Breath of the Wild and Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s been confirmed on quite a lot of events through the years {that a} recreation that manages to ship precise, well-crafted emergent gameplay goes to get pleasure from an extremely lengthy shelf life, and we think about S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 goes to fall in that group as nicely. A large number of techniques are continuously working collectively to show the sport’s open world right into a extremely reactive playspace, and an equally unpredictable one. Utilizing these techniques your benefit in inventive methods is simply as a lot of a blast as it’s to look at these techniques react to your individual actions in methods you completely couldn’t have seen coming.

IMMERSIVE SIM ELEMENTS

S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2’s systemic nature means it additionally permits gamers to sort out conditions in quite a lot of other ways as a rule. GSC Recreation World has proudly touted the sport’s immersive sim components for a while now, and the sport completely does deserve reward on this division. From fixing quests in inventive methods (together with these that you could be not assume could be possible- like, say killing a quest-giver) to approaching fight encounters in probably the most experimental method potential, S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 normally lets gamers do what they need whereas taking all of it under consideration and reacting (and altering itself) appropriately.

CHOICE-AND-CONSEQUENCE MECHANICS

It’s not simply the moment-to-moment gameplay that emphasizes participant selection. No, like its predecessor, S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 makes use of narrative choice-and-consequence mechanics as nicely. Clearly, you shouldn’t go in anticipating one thing on the extent of, say, The Witcher 3 or Baldur’s Gate 3 on this division, however the selection mechanics listed below are strong sufficient on their very own nonetheless. Various occasions, you’ll be requested to make selections that may legitimately offer you pause, and it’s at all times fascinating to look at the methods by which your selections influence the story.

TENSE COMBAT

That is about as removed from a run-and-gun recreation because it presumably could possibly be, however it concocts an exhilarating fight system nonetheless. Each single shot that lands has the potential to be lethal, each for you and your enemies, which implies being sluggish, methodical, and tactical is sort of a necessity. Taking cowl, altering up positions, and punctiliously choosing off enemies is at all times a thrill, and nothing fairly beats the adrenaline of creating it via a firefight alive.

GORGEOUS VISUALS

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to name this top-of-the-line wanting video games now we have ever performed. S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 is a staggeringly massive expertise, however regardless of its dimension, the attractive artwork design and unprecedented degree of visible constancy it touts merely can’t be praised sufficient. After all, it does have its tough edges, however by and huge, the sport is drop-dead attractive. Talking of its tough edges although…

THINGS THAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

THE TECHNICAL ISSUES

We completely love S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2, however even its most ardent followers will let you know that technically, the sport is a little bit of a sizzling mess. Minor points like texture pop in or damaged lighting, extra important ones like glitched audio or inconsistent AI, essential ones like crashing or progress blocking bugs- S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 has all of that and extra, and that’s regardless of a few hefty patches. Hopefully, GSC Recreation World will be capable of handle the sport’s largest points as rapidly as potential.

MUTANT ENEMIES

Fight in S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 is usually a tense and thrilling affair, however at occasions, it may be a little bit of a nuisance. Particularly, taking up mutants tends to be very irritating. Just about all mutant enemies transfer rapidly and erratically, which makes hitting them an absolute nightmare. Greater than precise problem, the sport artificially will increase its issue with these encounters completely by being intentionally sloppy and annoying.

SLOW TRAVERSAL

Not everybody may have an issue with this (particularly given how well-done the exploration normally is), however some positively will. Traversal in S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 is at all times fairly sluggish and ponderous. The one strategy to get from level A to B is to stroll, with no automobiles being obtainable as an possibility, and strolling turns into much more of a drag (actually) in case you occur to be over-encumbered (which isn’t that unusual of an prevalence). Add to that the truth that the one quick journey methodology is meant for use occasionally (and isn’t free), and traversal can change into doubtlessly much more of a headache.

INCONSISTENT WRITING

Very like its predecessors, S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 boasts intriguing lore and powerful world-building, however the writing so far as the precise, speedy story is worried is usually just a little spotty. By and huge, the story is well-told, particularly for current collection followers (although it does take fairly some time to get going), however from sluggish preliminary pacing to clunky dialogue and interactions, the writing isn’t at all times placing its finest foot ahead.

POTENTIALLY TOO DAUNTING

S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 makes zero concessions in its makes an attempt to deliver its distinctive and singular imaginative and prescient to write down. For our cash, that’s completely one of many recreation’s largest strengths, and an enormous a part of what provides its very distinct identification. That stated, we’d need to be fools to not acknowledge that for a lot of, that uncompromising nature goes to make S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2 troublesome to get into- particularly for these fully unfamiliar with the collection.