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

If you're looking for a game where "taking a walk" potentially means encountering psychic anomalies, mutants, hungry folks, and stalkers who probably want your last can of beans, then S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is your game. It's like extreme camping where you forgot the tent, food, and sanity at home. Is it worth venturing into the Zone? Absolutely. Even if it's just to brag about surviving to tell the tale. And if you find that last can of dog food, save it for me. You never know when radiation might work up an appetite. And remember, stalker: in the Zone, it's not paranoia if everything really is trying to kill you. Now, who's ready for an adventure?

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a game that, in my opinion, is all too rare in this form. GSC Game World has managed to create an incredibly atmospheric combination of survival, horror and end time in a fascinating environment. Despite all the shooter weaknesses, the wooden dialogues, the incredibly annoying anomalies over time and some dubious technical problems, I fell in love with this zone. You won't find that much freedom and mystery anywhere else. Added to this is a story that takes its time to get it going, but then surprises with cool factions and robust characters. This excursion to Chernobyl requires patience and stamina, but rewards you with spectacular views, fierce battles and an expressive end time.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a worthy successor of the original in every regard, good and bad. The vision is the same: an uncompromising game that will often frustrate you, but also offers a unique experience that can hardly be found anywhere else. It's the classic example where the total is more than the mere sum of its parts. Bugs and balance issues are still very much an issue, but they shouldn't stand in your way of playing, especially if you're willing to wait a while for developers and modders to fix them. If you enjoy open world games and shooters and don't mind a challenge, there's no reason for you to pass up on this game.

STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl is a difficult, immersive and often frustrating game. Few compromises have been made, making the gameplay as brutal as the universe in which it takes place. Progress is slow and painful, especially with the many bugs present, while death can be as sudden as it is unfair. It requires a solid dose of patience, but it has to be said that exploring the area is well worth it, with all its dangers and mysteries that we try to unravel. The tools and interactions at our disposal are far too limited. This reduces gameplay and options to the bare minimum, sometimes destroying the immersion the game has worked so hard to build.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a good video game that I think fans of the saga will enjoy. That said, he still has many things to polish that do not take away from the fact that the things he does well, he does very well. Its universe, its setting and its non-linear narrative are the highlights of a delivery that has a lot to improve from its performance.