S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1131 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 951 out of 1131
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 1131
  3. Negative: 59 out of 1131
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  1. Fastpoose
    Sep 9, 2015
    3
    Have tried for years, yes years to get into this game. The setting is right up my alley...but unfortunately it ends there.

    Glitchy first person combat. Supposedly sand box, but very limited from the start. Can't get to areas, spend ages trying to get to crash sites but can't get there obviously with out doing other stuff first. Boring also. I know many people loved this game but    Have tried for years, yes years to get into this game. The setting is right up my alley...but unfortunately it ends there.

    Glitchy first person combat. Supposedly sand box, but very limited from the start. Can't get to areas, spend ages trying to get to crash sites but can't get there obviously with out doing other stuff first. Boring also. I know many people loved this game but unfortunately the first 10 hours are so bad that I gave up.

    I really really wanted to like this but couldn't.    … Expand
  2. Sargatorn
    Jul 16, 2015
    0
    i don't have any positive thing to say about this game,, so i wont say all the negative things either, only thing i will say is, "if u are an fallout fan/cs fan/oblivion(skyrim), diablo,, aso aso. don't try this game,, confusing"
    i played for under 5 min,, just didn't like the "feel" of it. very different from other similar games.
  3. JonnysBeard
    Mar 25, 2015
    5
    I do like the STALKER series but TBH even with all the mods that add replay value it hasn't aged well.

    Performance isn't that great but a modern PC should run it fine. Parallax and lighting settings seem to work only when they feel like it. IF you can get it to run maxed out it looks rather pretty. Combat is unnecessarily hard: NPCs have laser like accuracy but your gun will always    I do like the STALKER series but TBH even with all the mods that add replay value it hasn't aged well.

    Performance isn't that great but a modern PC should run it fine. Parallax and lighting settings seem to work only when they feel like it. IF you can get it to run maxed out it looks rather pretty.

    Combat is unnecessarily hard: NPCs have laser like accuracy but your gun will always spread all over the place no matter how long you wait for it to aim. Melee attackers can phase through walls if you're hidden behind one but technically in range. Higher difficulty settings are clearly untested (if at all).
    Standing on a tiny rock keeps you save from all melee attacks.

    Animations and scripts feel very mechanical and break the immersion more than just once.

    While the overall setting and story in STALKER is pretty enjoyable you have to play stupid in this one if you have played the prequels. The 'plot twists' feel like "everybody in the zone knows that, why did I have to do all this crap?" - Only because the devs don't allow you to ask the right questions.

    Exploration finally rewards you (stashes are NOT empty until you get their coordinates from NPCs) but the 3 big maps only have so many few points of interests. Most of these you'll visit by going through the quest line leaving you with nothing else to explore. Indoor and underground areas are VERY rare even compared to the prequels.

    STALKER had all the right ideas and COP was a step in the right direction but it came little to late and the lack of polish shines through everywhere. I'd rather recommend SOC or CS (with or without their respective Complete-mod) and only touching this one if you're really hungry for more.    … Expand
  4. pesho_one
    Jan 31, 2015
    6
    This game feels cheap. No only old, but also with low production values. I usually won't mind this, but the main problem is that it wasn't able to get me hooked, even after 5 hours into it. And I do appreciate a solitude atmosphere in a game.
    The thing is, I am not really tempted to start it up and continue. And while I am sure, that if I do, I'll be moderately enjoyed, I will look    This game feels cheap. No only old, but also with low production values. I usually won't mind this, but the main problem is that it wasn't able to get me hooked, even after 5 hours into it. And I do appreciate a solitude atmosphere in a game.
    The thing is, I am not really tempted to start it up and continue. And while I am sure, that if I do, I'll be moderately enjoyed, I will look elsewhere for a better gaming experience.    … Expand
  5. Aeryx
    Dec 17, 2014
    10
    STALKER CoP in my opinion is brilliant because it does one thing really well--- be itself. Being the third in a series, it has very little traces of dumbing down or attempting to appeal to a broader audience BS (just imagine if Skyrim had that preserved magic). After 8 hours of gunfigting, looting, hiding, running, scouting, planning and trading, I am now in solid agreement of the verySTALKER CoP in my opinion is brilliant because it does one thing really well--- be itself. Being the third in a series, it has very little traces of dumbing down or attempting to appeal to a broader audience BS (just imagine if Skyrim had that preserved magic). After 8 hours of gunfigting, looting, hiding, running, scouting, planning and trading, I am now in solid agreement of the very high user rating here in metacritic. The real magic here is how it very much preserved and improved all the things that made the original such a respected game. The RPG and gunplay elements are superb. The atmosphere, though not as good as the first, is tense with more mutants. The repair of items really creates a feeling of exhaustion and attrition and the inventory and item system has been improved. It also retained the weapon upgrade system of the second game which is really nice and it improves attachment with the player's guns. Compared to most games, this one is quite realistic--- bullet drop, recoil, accuracy, caliber and ammunition type are all things to factor in when taking shots. So if you try to snipe with pistols, the game will have a way of saying that it's a stoopid idea. Merchants are now more picky and will not just buy significantly damaged items. This makes raising money harder and increases the feeling of poverty and desparation! Artifact gathering is just like the second game and is quite intense as it forces you to work hard for them--- so keep that detector active. Stashes are now harder to find and the addition of a helmet is brilliant as it allows for more upgrades and a separate slot for obtaining night vision capabilities. The 2 'any weapon' slots are an improvement over the primary/sidearm system of the first two games. It's been six years now and after having played so many games, the only phrase I have in mind is this--- "preserved brilliance of execution". I hope the fourth game, if it will ever come someday, will be the sequel fans deserve, just as this accomplished masterpiece is.… Expand
  6. wtfskilz
    Dec 5, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the first DX11 games, Realistic unseen survival game with free world horror environments. Graphics ahead of its time, one of the first games to utilize tessellation.
    Game so fun you have to beat it more than once.
    Massive fan base that makes countless fun mods that include: Improved Graphics, Textures, animations, sound effects, new maps, monsters, items, weapons and the implement of online play.
    Story: you are an undercover military officer investigating the disappearance of multiple helicopters you are disguised as a stalker with just two weeks supply.
    The game drops you in a very difficult environment supply, trade and combat skills are key to survival, it may be very important sometimes to scout your area and must be careful when traveling at night so you don’t stumble upon mutated beast or radiated anomalies. High risk high reward is always a fun aspect for a game, this one shares that aspect when collecting artifacts in anomaly areas or when collecting loot during faction battles, before someone else does, while trying to not to become another by standard as bullets fly over your head.
    This game is one of my favorites it’s a must buy for any Survival game fan that enjoys challenges in beautiful landscapes of horror    … Expand
  7. markodon
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    I know about the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series for some time, but have only recently got around to playing them. I started with the first title, Shadow of Chernobyl, and although it was atmospheric, I didn't like some of the mechanics. So, I decided to try Call of Pripyat. This one grabbed me right from the beginning and didn't let go right until the ending, which left me wanting more. Being a fanI know about the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series for some time, but have only recently got around to playing them. I started with the first title, Shadow of Chernobyl, and although it was atmospheric, I didn't like some of the mechanics. So, I decided to try Call of Pripyat. This one grabbed me right from the beginning and didn't let go right until the ending, which left me wanting more. Being a fan of bleak, post-apocalyptic scenarios a la Fallout, I have to say this game is the ultimate post-apocalyptic experience. The environments (Atmosfear 3 visual mod highly recommended, along with the absolute texture mods), the setting (welcome to the Zone, stalker), the large open world (divided into 3 large areas) full of mysterious and terrifying elements, the horrific creatures roaming around, just great! Gameplay is a mix of FPS mechanics and RPG elements (speech decisions, inventory, equipment upgrade, modifiers, etc.) and it pretty much takes the best from both worlds. The AI is smart and different tactics are required for different enemies. Weapons are of great variety and feel (and sound) very realistic. Supplies and ammo aren't exactly scarce since there is a presence of trades and money isn't hard to come by with all the "stalking" involved, but carry weight is limited meaning you will have to prioritizes with your guns and ammo. This game is simply one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had in the almost 20 years of paying video games.
    The reason for taking a point away is an underwhelming ending, which came abruptly and didn't make much sense. However, the game presents you with the option to remain in the Zone after the ending in case you didn't finish all of your quests. In any case, it is a pity that the last map, the city of Chernobyl itself, wasn't better utilized as it is simply amazing. Therefore, I can't call SOC a perfect game, but it is damn near-perfect. Highly recommended!    … Expand
  8. Purgatory1
    Sep 21, 2014
    7
    Note that this review is for CoP with the latest Complete Mod v1.0.2 and the 3GB fix.

    - Fantastic and tense atmosphere - Pretty bad AI: path finding of monsters is horrible, all enemies behave very predictable and sometimes don't attack you even though they stare at you - Mediocre story: story doesn't develop very well during the course of the game and the ending is somehow    Note that this review is for CoP with the latest Complete Mod v1.0.2 and the 3GB fix.

    - Fantastic and tense atmosphere
    - Pretty bad AI: path finding of monsters is horrible, all enemies behave very predictable and sometimes don't attack you even though they stare at you
    - Mediocre story: story doesn't develop very well during the course of the game and the ending is somehow disappointing. I was very confused about the game ending all of the sudden and I guess the first thing that came to my mind was "so that's it???" Plus you won't even get a render scene at the end, just some pictures ...
    - Mediocre gameplay: some mechanics are just useless. Why do you have to eat at all, why even add such a feature which serves no purpose and if you do add it then why don't you have to drink? There's some sort of fast travelling implemented but it's most of the time faster to just walk/run to your destination instead of finding someone to take you there. You can't sell damaged weapons and repairing them costs more than the weapons are worth. I could list a lot more but long story short - the gameplay is sometimes clunky.

    Overall a good game, very close to a mediocre rating (less than 7) though. The atmosphere and scenery is what pushes the rating to 7 / 10 for me.    … Expand
  9. WuShu101
    Sep 9, 2014
    6
    Found game play to be very interesting, made you feel like a solo stalker with only your own agenda. Missions were cool, seems like some of the missions disappear in the game and you can't solve them. Pripyat was a big disappointment, some of the missions, that seemed like very important plot points, you were not able to pick back up. They seem like they ran out of story after you getFound game play to be very interesting, made you feel like a solo stalker with only your own agenda. Missions were cool, seems like some of the missions disappear in the game and you can't solve them. Pripyat was a big disappointment, some of the missions, that seemed like very important plot points, you were not able to pick back up. They seem like they ran out of story after you get to pripyat, like 3 missions with the colonel's men and you're forced to "Get to Da' Choppa'". and there's no going back.. kinda lame... overall It was a good game, I've played through it twice now, and I still feel pripyat was waaay rushed and alittle Underwhelming, Which effects this games' overall playability. Graphics are nice, nothing to write home about. cloud effects and sky effects almost Make this game. Beautiful. Sounds are alittle muted, gunshots sound like they were recorded in an room with all of the walls insulated. Character dialogue sometimes switches from English to Russian, without warning. Not all dialogue is translated if you choose Russian language with subtitles'. Nice single player RPG you never really get lost in it, this was the second STALKER game I've played, I hated SOC(sorry), and I found it to be way more satisfying than the first one.… Expand
  10. rogermorse
    Aug 24, 2014
    8
    B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. :) played with "complete mod". I didn't play Clear Sky as I always heard it was quite bad. This call of pripyat is a bit different from the first stalker shadow of chernobyl. Rapid transport makes things easier. Atmosphere is as thick as in the first...emissions are really scary the first times. Story, though, not so elaborate. The first was more mysterious, and thingB.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. :) played with "complete mod". I didn't play Clear Sky as I always heard it was quite bad. This call of pripyat is a bit different from the first stalker shadow of chernobyl. Rapid transport makes things easier. Atmosphere is as thick as in the first...emissions are really scary the first times. Story, though, not so elaborate. The first was more mysterious, and thing with the wishgranter and the whole exploration until you get to Chernobyl was perfect. Here the Pripyat town could have been more immersive and complete, as it is the last map you reach. More similar to the real one...only a few empty buildings, instead. No swimming pool, no ferris wheel....but the game remains one of those games you feel bad completing it. 32 hours to do more or less everything. 85/100.… Expand
  11. exmordis
    Apr 21, 2014
    10
    Atmospheric would be an understatement for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series of video games. You aren't just immersed into the games, you live in the world. 10/10
  12. llamayarmybar
    Mar 21, 2014
    9
    Call of Pripyat is a labor of love. It shows the devotion that the original team had along with their ability to narrow down and remove all the things that didn't work quite as well in the first two titles. Areas are varied, sprawling, free roaming large maps that forgo the back and forth to different loading areas like we saw in the original and this overall helped keep the progressionCall of Pripyat is a labor of love. It shows the devotion that the original team had along with their ability to narrow down and remove all the things that didn't work quite as well in the first two titles. Areas are varied, sprawling, free roaming large maps that forgo the back and forth to different loading areas like we saw in the original and this overall helped keep the progression much more focused. The combat is much more fluid and I would even say "less" cumbersome than ever before. Most if not all guns are a real treat to both utilize and simply look at on screen. However I do get the feeling that asset-wise its not too far removed from its predecessors visually and most by now would admit that the engine was beginning to look a bit dated. This is remedied by Tesselation and some new shaders accompanied by Directx11 capabilities. Its all very subtle, but along with the God rays and equally subtle SSAO effects the game looks quite lovely. I expect its visuals will age much slower than most videogames from the same era as time goes on too. The mechanics have been overhauled a bit, mixing the things that worked well in its predecessors in exchange for leaving out all the failed mechanics we only saw in those first two titles and its a nice controlled blending of old and new that really bring out how unique the final installment was. The atmosphere is positively "alive." Wild animals are far more dangerous as well as fellow mercenaries, stalkers, and bandits. The AI is much more proficient making them actually quite challenging to fight in most scenarios. However, with all the good comes the many, many, glitches, game halting quirks, oddities, and niggling annoyances. Your opponents have a very hard time doing anything about you, an assault rifle, a scope, and possessing the knowledge to be several hundreds of meters away before pulling the trigger. Meaning you can essentially exploit the AI to a hilarious degree. Certain gunfights can be completely ruined if you have the right gear and its not until a rather long tedious escort mission sometime later in the game, that I would actually call Call of Pripyat "challenging." Even on master difficulty, taking out enemies is not ridiculously hard whatsoever and it seems as though a lot of reviews from certain professional review sites claim the "X-ray vision" of AI opponents which I've yet to ever experience. Glitch wise, their is still a lot of them and I'm surprised that the engine of the game itself wasn't brought up as the worst glitch of all. Call Of Pripyat is permanently gimped by its own performance. Noticeably so- you can turn off the wonderful glittery graphics in the game and still end up with a stuttering mess as the engine attempts to load sections of the level you're in. Something that wouldn't have ever happened if the game had used an entirely different engine by this point, which I understand, is not something this developer would've ever done. Its noticeably bad on some of larger areas later in the game, but its not "game-breaking" its just "immersion-breaking." Other claims about Directx11 and Directx10 being near equal in terms of visuals is mostly true. We are talking about one lacking thing in DX10: Tesselation. Something that even I have a difficult time spotting the differences in visually speaking. All in all its a great game with a good follow up to the story, great combat, varied missions and only one really difficult section about 3/4ths of the way through. If you're a STALKER fan or enjoyed Metro 2033, you'll likely enjoy Call of Pripyat.… Expand
  13. The1stDoctor
    Feb 3, 2014
    9
    Absolutely awesome. The game is well laid out and very exciting. The game mechanics are great and the enemy's are too. The pricing for artifacts are mind blowing i mean 11,000 rubles for a common stone flower?!?. The only thing that i wish they would change would be the blowouts. They are kinda boring but with a few mods they can be made to look awesome
  14. Dethstar
    Jan 7, 2014
    9
    One of the best games I have played in around 30 years of gaming. I couldn't give it a 10 as it does start to limit your choices so you pursue the story as the plot develops but I love this game. Even years later it has an atmospheric feel and an immersion which I have hardly ever seen in any other game. Where todays games sometimes claim to be "free roam" but are patently limited CoPOne of the best games I have played in around 30 years of gaming. I couldn't give it a 10 as it does start to limit your choices so you pursue the story as the plot develops but I love this game. Even years later it has an atmospheric feel and an immersion which I have hardly ever seen in any other game. Where todays games sometimes claim to be "free roam" but are patently limited CoP allowed you to roam more freely and "live" in the characters world. An amazing game in a brilliantly constructed world space. If there is one series I would like to see back it is this. An updated and even more open world game in the zone would be sure fire winner.… Expand
  15. Belus
    Nov 15, 2013
    6
    Call of Pripyat is technically the best of the Stalker games, but it suffers from some of the same flaws as the others did: you still have to pretty much empty your clip into the face of your enemies to kill them, making any and all combat highly unrealistic, no matter how cool the guns look. Unlike in SoC you can fix your broken weapons thankfully and even customize them, but where areCall of Pripyat is technically the best of the Stalker games, but it suffers from some of the same flaws as the others did: you still have to pretty much empty your clip into the face of your enemies to kill them, making any and all combat highly unrealistic, no matter how cool the guns look. Unlike in SoC you can fix your broken weapons thankfully and even customize them, but where are the large underground locations we saw in Shadow of Chernobyl? Where is the atmosphere of SoC?

    The game is ok, but nothing special.    … Expand
  16. Outlier
    Oct 2, 2013
    0
    Got this from the STEAM store and have been unable to make it do anything. This is not my first time at the rodeo and yes, my machine is up to par. The STEAM forum is covered with complaints of the same problem. I bought this based on its metacritic score, and I am very much regretting it.
  17. Thraxel
    Aug 31, 2013
    9
    The game has dated graphics for the time it was made but that does not take away from the story, gameplay, or any other of the games functions. I played the game for 150+ the story just sucks you in and wont let you go! BitComposer did very well with this title with adding certain elements to the core gameplay from Clear Sky such as the armor and weapon modifications. STALKER Call ofThe game has dated graphics for the time it was made but that does not take away from the story, gameplay, or any other of the games functions. I played the game for 150+ the story just sucks you in and wont let you go! BitComposer did very well with this title with adding certain elements to the core gameplay from Clear Sky such as the armor and weapon modifications. STALKER Call of Pripyat has a pretty extensive mod selection too which include graphical enhancements that bring the game to modern generation graphics. Call of Pripyat is also a good starter game with the series. It's not so hard that you will rage (Shadow of Chernobyl) and not extensively buggy (Clear Sky) but i'd recommend that if you cannot figure out the controls and need to be pampered for a tutorial then find a guide online instead of bashing the game for a lack of tutorial. I give this a game a 9/10 for the graphics and sometimes extremely hard gameplay (Pripyat tunnell).… Expand
  18. Creardo
    Aug 12, 2013
    8
    Completely addicting, a masterpiece. There are really few things that i would add or change to a sequel of this franchise. Any flaw of Call of Pripyat is easily outshined by the way things work in this game.
  19. CaptainThom
    Jul 29, 2013
    8
    Call of Pripyat has amazing atmosphere and an intriguing premise and story. The graphics have aged fairly well and you can get it cheaply on steam. Do it.
  20. TheReaper1221
    Jun 16, 2013
    9
    A very interesting story line, with a very creative setting. Game play is good fun. There are many weapons you can choose from, with in detail customization for them. I didn't go too deep into the side missions, so the game was on the short side for an RPG (about 18 hours). The reason i didn't give it a 10 is due to the bad animations, and especially poor voice acting, which is a realA very interesting story line, with a very creative setting. Game play is good fun. There are many weapons you can choose from, with in detail customization for them. I didn't go too deep into the side missions, so the game was on the short side for an RPG (about 18 hours). The reason i didn't give it a 10 is due to the bad animations, and especially poor voice acting, which is a real immersion killer. Other than that, a great game.… Expand
  21. Wargeek8
    Jun 16, 2013
    8
    I thought the game was fun, if a bit too short for my taste. The music is well done but similar to the other Stalker games. The setting is dark and interesting but most of the characters are boring. The monsters are unique and while there are zombies they are also unique in that they can still use their guns with deadly accuracy. You realistically need food and water and you need to limitI thought the game was fun, if a bit too short for my taste. The music is well done but similar to the other Stalker games. The setting is dark and interesting but most of the characters are boring. The monsters are unique and while there are zombies they are also unique in that they can still use their guns with deadly accuracy. You realistically need food and water and you need to limit radiation and stem bleeding wounds to survive and you can only carry up to 60 lbs of weight so you actually have to micromanage your inventory and make sure you do not pick up too many bullets. Sometimes small skirmishes break out between the local inhabitants and I cannot tell whether the developers did it intentionally or if it just randomly occurred (which is cool). Unfortunately you do not spend enough time in the very creepy, and also amazingly wondrous city of Pripyat which is a real shame. Other than that it is a decent game and a really gone one for people who like to play realistic and complex survivor games.… Expand
  22. ale-nerd
    Jun 9, 2013
    10
    As a guy, who live in Ukraine or the country where Chernobyl is, I am excited about this game. The unique atmosphere that is transferred to other players and the engine of the game allowed us to enjoy this game at maximum. There are some miserable bugs that I close my eyes on, because this game stays as the one of my favorite games that I played.
    However, the only thing I really didn't    As a guy, who live in Ukraine or the country where Chernobyl is, I am excited about this game. The unique atmosphere that is transferred to other players and the engine of the game allowed us to enjoy this game at maximum. There are some miserable bugs that I close my eyes on, because this game stays as the one of my favorite games that I played.
    However, the only thing I really didn't like is the narrow amount of weapons in the original stalker. Still, this problem was solved for me, when installed couple of global modes on the game.
    Stalker is not just the game that allows you to change or add the weapons. It allows you to change the global way of playing, so that you don't have play the game when it gets annoyed.    … Expand
  23. Diablo92
    May 17, 2013
    4
    Got the other two stalkers but not this one. Just watched one of the videos and from the looks, its the same exact thing, just different missions and maybe mapping.. I feel sick of waisting my money, the game is pretty depressing.. a good ways from being my type of game, when you jump you already lost half your stamina witch means you can only jump one more time before you will have toGot the other two stalkers but not this one. Just watched one of the videos and from the looks, its the same exact thing, just different missions and maybe mapping.. I feel sick of waisting my money, the game is pretty depressing.. a good ways from being my type of game, when you jump you already lost half your stamina witch means you can only jump one more time before you will have to wait for stamina to refill.. when you reach max weight limit your not able to move at all? somethin with the missions just don't seem right, seems bugged. 4/10 GFX look cool, items and weapons and inventory are cool, friendly's are cool.… Expand
  24. GolovA
    Apr 16, 2013
    10
    I don't just give this game a 10 because i like to give zeroes and tens in general. I give it a ten because i am playing it for the past several months, and that's including the fact that i have started all over six times.
    Any game that keeps me playing it for over a hundred hours is definitely a ten for me. Even Fallout 3 didn't keep me in for so long So, why is that?
    The    I don't just give this game a 10 because i like to give zeroes and tens in general. I give it a ten because i am playing it for the past several months, and that's including the fact that i have started all over six times.
    Any game that keeps me playing it for over a hundred hours is definitely a ten for me. Even Fallout 3 didn't keep me in for so long So, why is that?
    The atmosphere! I played hundreds of games, and no game can claim a better, and more realistic atmosphere than the STALKER Series. When you play it you ARE the Stalker, you ARE in Chernobyl, and you ARE surviving. Simple as that.
    I use SGM Sigerous Mod for Call of Pripyat and simply cannot stop playing.
    10/10!    … Expand
  25. Libertarianism
    Mar 21, 2013
    5
    I could handle the outdated graphics but the poor anti-aliasing and endless tearing that I witnessed made this game almost unbearable to play through. I never play RPG's but this is not what I expected my first Stalker experience to be, there is a very hard learning curve and it felt like there was too much RPG and too little action. I doubt I'll revisit this game, fighting mutants was aI could handle the outdated graphics but the poor anti-aliasing and endless tearing that I witnessed made this game almost unbearable to play through. I never play RPG's but this is not what I expected my first Stalker experience to be, there is a very hard learning curve and it felt like there was too much RPG and too little action. I doubt I'll revisit this game, fighting mutants was a chore for me and I didn't understand the emissions since there wasn't much to do while you waited them out although I wish there were. What I did like about Stalker: CoP was the post apocalyptic atmosphere and various weapon customization options, I felt that part was realistic and I found it neat but the graphical errors and tough game-play made me bring this down to a 5. I don't regret playing it though because I did enjoy the atmosphere and gun-play. To be fair, I'm not sure if the issues were coming from my graphics card or the game, I used an EVGA GTX 460 SE.… Expand
  26. Darkhalzen
    Feb 21, 2013
    2
    As a longtime player of games such as fallout and elder scrolls, i give this game a 2 out of 10 only for the vast map exploration and small features like weapon and armor customization and artifact mods. I played through the story a bit and here is where my review goes south. There was a lack of beginners tutorial on how to play the game. I explored many locations which seemed empty of anyAs a longtime player of games such as fallout and elder scrolls, i give this game a 2 out of 10 only for the vast map exploration and small features like weapon and armor customization and artifact mods. I played through the story a bit and here is where my review goes south. There was a lack of beginners tutorial on how to play the game. I explored many locations which seemed empty of any life to kill and loot, human or monster. There is no quick traveling except from specific nps's who may be a far walk from where you are at many points. Also the lack of character stats and skills is disappointing as in most arpgs nowadays that is a must have for multi play experience. I have heard rumor that Bethesda is taking rights to the stalker games and i will be happy as they will turn this god awful, fallout knock off around into a good game. 2 out of 10… Expand
  27. JRAtk94
    Jan 2, 2013
    8
    This is my first ever review on Metacritic. Having used the website for years, I've never actually written a review until now.
    Reason being is that this game is truely unique and I believe that people should at least try a STALKER game at some point in their lives.
    I love this game, even in spite of it's flaws. I personally think that it's the best of the 3 STALKER games, due to the    This is my first ever review on Metacritic. Having used the website for years, I've never actually written a review until now.
    Reason being is that this game is truely unique and I believe that people should at least try a STALKER game at some point in their lives.
    I love this game, even in spite of it's flaws. I personally think that it's the best of the 3 STALKER games, due to the level of polish that the previous games never quite reached (Especially Clear Sky, which I think is the least significant title in the series) as well as it's increased graphic abilities - DX11 support etc.

    I spend hours at a time on this game, roaming Chernobyl, just to explore the World. To be quite honest, I've barely touched the main story. I've just spend the most part of my time on the game exploring the World and completing various side-quests for money - there is simply so much to find in Chernobyl. As well as this, the curious as rewarded rather generously - during your travels, you will come across little treasure troves known as "Stashes". These "Stashes" provide you with a range of resources. Sometimes, you'll find a couple of cans of food. Other times, you may discover a new rifle for your arsenal. These stashes are a great addition to the game, and add a bit of reward for people like me, who simply like to explore.

    Now, I have to admit that I play a modded version of the game, known as "Misery", which enhances the game in a number of ways, but the Vanilla experience is still stellar. However, I would recommend the "Misery" mod to anyone with a reasonably powerful PC looking for a second play-through, as it changes the mechanics of the game in a number of ways, whilst completely reinventing other areas - graphics, sound effects etc.

    Unfortunately, there are a few issues that can disrupt your playing experience, and there are a few design choices that will scare away some players altogether.
    Firstly, in contrast to the "classic" RPG trend, there is no level system, ie, you do not earn experience and you do not level up. Similarly, there are no aspects such as "Perks" or "Skills" like those found in other RPG games. Some people will not like this at all. Personally, I find it enthralling and more realistic that your competence in this wasteland is down to your equipment and expertise - rather than being able to tank your way through the game loaded with perks and skills. Similarly, there is no issue with level scaling, as there is no leveling system. (You won't find yourself killing everything with one punch like in other RPGs, where you could be a level 50 character battling with level 10 enemies).

    On the more technical side, there are a few problems with the Vanilla game's optimization - it is awful. To remedy this, you can use any of the many overhaul mods on the Internet, such as the "Misery" mod I mentioned earlier. Others include "Call of Pripyat Complete". All of the mods that I have tested have yielded better graphics, whilst also maintaining a high frame-rate than the Vanilla game.
    Another issue is that the game is sometimes very reluctant to operate on 32-bit PCs with less than 4gb of RAM - But there are mods on the Internet that fix this. The overhaul mods aforementioned also bypass this problem.
    I have no problem here, as my PC is a 64-bit PC with 8gb of RAM.

    Aside from it's technical issues, which can be overcome with patience and the right mods, this game is something that any RPG fan should try out at some point. I'll probably never finish this game, as it is just too damn fun to just walk around finding stashes and killing mutants. If you're a fan of "apocalypse" RPGs, such as Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas, I would strongly recommend this game.    … Expand
  28. GamerFromHell
    Dec 14, 2012
    10
    Again, this S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game is better played with mods that take care of a lot of bugs and improvements. Then it's a fantastic game, even a little bit better than STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl. The setting, characters and graphics once again create an outstanding atmosphere that'll get you as close to a post-apocalyptic zone as your computer screen possibly can.
  29. suneater
    Dec 13, 2012
    8
    Best in the series. This has the best main plot with a Fallout 3-style ending that changes depending on your actions in game. Very atmospheric with plenty of side quests that reward exploration and help flesh out the lore of the locations. Has a lot of depth with gun play and survival mechanics, requiring you to eat food while in the field and keep yourself bandaged up to avoid bleedingBest in the series. This has the best main plot with a Fallout 3-style ending that changes depending on your actions in game. Very atmospheric with plenty of side quests that reward exploration and help flesh out the lore of the locations. Has a lot of depth with gun play and survival mechanics, requiring you to eat food while in the field and keep yourself bandaged up to avoid bleeding out. Call of Pripyat stands on its own feet and doesn't require any previous experience with the series; a must play for any FPS fans.… Expand
  30. dumle
    Nov 23, 2012
    7
    Stalker Call of Pripyat do have some problems. The combat feels a bit clunky, especially against other humans. The quest-log is less than perfect and you sometimes find yourself in situations where you dont know what you are supposed to do to advance. The game is not really beginner friendly, it feels a bit stiff animation wise and the visuals are not the best. Overall the game feels aStalker Call of Pripyat do have some problems. The combat feels a bit clunky, especially against other humans. The quest-log is less than perfect and you sometimes find yourself in situations where you dont know what you are supposed to do to advance. The game is not really beginner friendly, it feels a bit stiff animation wise and the visuals are not the best. Overall the game feels a little bit like it is unfinished. Less so than its predecessor but the feeling is still there. The game does make up for most of its short coming though by being extremely atmospheric. This game is at its best when you are exploring an anomaly or sneaking through a mutant lair. And when the game is at its best few games can beat it. Sadly there is also all the running from point A to point B, all the time spent figuring out how stuff works by using google, all the time spent managing your inventory. A game like this need to have some ups and down but the ups could be a little more frequent and the downs could be a little less frequent. I don't want to sound to negative since i had great time playing this game. And if you are looking for a little bit different shooter with atmosphere so thick that you could slice it with a butter knife then Stalker Call of Pripyat may be the shooter for you.… Expand
  31. Scritty
    Oct 9, 2012
    8
    The best of the bunch. PLayed it ona PC built before the game came out (E6800 3Ghz dual core and 280 GTX card, both predate this game by years) plays smoothly and flawlessly. Average fps at 1920x1080 is 72 minimum was 51 highest was 104. If the game is an issue for your PC - then it's your PC at fault not the game. PLays very well on my PC which as I said has technology that predatesThe best of the bunch. PLayed it ona PC built before the game came out (E6800 3Ghz dual core and 280 GTX card, both predate this game by years) plays smoothly and flawlessly. Average fps at 1920x1080 is 72 minimum was 51 highest was 104. If the game is an issue for your PC - then it's your PC at fault not the game. PLays very well on my PC which as I said has technology that predates this game by years (CPU is 2007, GFX is 2008 - game is 2010) deeper than most FPS and a bargain if you can find it for $10 or less on steam or wherever. Good game, atmospheric, quite deep - interesting and good subject matter… Expand
  32. JimCorbett
    Aug 27, 2012
    6
    The best of the series, but it is still full of bugs and glitches that destroy gameplay. The dynamic lighting will kill your FPS down to about 5, so forget having that enabled. FPS will also drop when you wade through water or see your own blood spurt from your chest when you get shot during a gunfight. The graphics are okay, the ground is quite bland and repetitive. Key quest charactersThe best of the series, but it is still full of bugs and glitches that destroy gameplay. The dynamic lighting will kill your FPS down to about 5, so forget having that enabled. FPS will also drop when you wade through water or see your own blood spurt from your chest when you get shot during a gunfight. The graphics are okay, the ground is quite bland and repetitive. Key quest characters will often die before you have a chance to reach them or do anything about their untimely fate. The voice acting is very bad and the sound of the characters will sometimes get very slow during a cutscene so you will be unable to hear what is going on, once again the lack of subtitles is very sad. It's just overall a poorly optimized, very average game.… Expand
  33. OneVoice
    Aug 2, 2012
    7
    This is a good game, but not as good as it could have been. I haven't yet played the earlier two STALKER games, but this game was good enough to convince me to play both of those as well. The combination of FPS and RPG gameplay is done very well. I'm not of fan of standard FPS games, to me they are usually too repetitive and shallow to keep my interest for very long, but this combinationThis is a good game, but not as good as it could have been. I haven't yet played the earlier two STALKER games, but this game was good enough to convince me to play both of those as well. The combination of FPS and RPG gameplay is done very well. I'm not of fan of standard FPS games, to me they are usually too repetitive and shallow to keep my interest for very long, but this combination of gameplay styles and a well designed atmosphere kept my interest very well. However, the main storyline in this game I found to be lacking, though it had the potential to be something much greater. Some of the mini-stories in side missions were more interesting to me than the main story arc. I also felt there could have been more interesting storylines developed around the several factions that reside in the Zone. I also wish the RPG elements had been improved upon. Experience points and level ups would have given me more incentive to explore areas of the map I didn't need to go to for specific missions, but as it stands I would rather just avoid coming into contact with unnecessary enemies since all I'd do is loose ammo and gain nothing as a result. I also wish the characters had been more complex and interesting, I had no real vested interest in any of the characters (even my own character was kind of a boring personality). Despite these areas that could have used improvement, I found the game to be very fun. Not a game I'll play more than once, but a game that was very enjoyable one time through.… Expand
  34. criticwannabe
    Jul 31, 2012
    5
    The game is interesting... Pretty good. But I really don't like it it is another mediocre game. The graphics are. The music is okay. It's very fun. But It's not creative. And there is NO Replay value.
  35. toddwatts
    Jul 11, 2012
    10
    Incredible game, never player anything like it, highly recommend. Brings the best out of both the previous games, whereas keeping its individuality, moving forwards with the interface and immersion, without allowing a single bug to ruin the moment, this game can simply go on forever, long missions with secret caches and different ways to approach the mission, unlike the other STALKER game.Incredible game, never player anything like it, highly recommend. Brings the best out of both the previous games, whereas keeping its individuality, moving forwards with the interface and immersion, without allowing a single bug to ruin the moment, this game can simply go on forever, long missions with secret caches and different ways to approach the mission, unlike the other STALKER game. When some people simply shrug this off as an expansion, they are so very very wrong.… Expand
  36. boomshanka
    May 18, 2012
    9
    What a great game. This title takes the very best from the previous games and adds just enough new stuff to make it feel fresh and new. Although not as horror-based as Shadow of Chernobyl the atmosphere is still as appealing as ever when you're out in the open, alone in pitch black darkness with only the strange howling and noises accompanying you as you hunt the areas for treasure. BeingWhat a great game. This title takes the very best from the previous games and adds just enough new stuff to make it feel fresh and new. Although not as horror-based as Shadow of Chernobyl the atmosphere is still as appealing as ever when you're out in the open, alone in pitch black darkness with only the strange howling and noises accompanying you as you hunt the areas for treasure. Being a big fan of gameplay over everything else I can't really think of anything wrong with this game, at least not enough to ruin the experience. There were a couple of times where I got stuck in a mission where I had to do something completely unrelated in order to solve it and maybe the main story is a bit short but that will not in any way take away the fact that this game is good. if you liked SOC you are going to love Call of Pripyat… Expand
  37. Krown90
    Apr 13, 2012
    9
    I really love this game.. I finished it about 3 times (the last time with extreme difficulty).. This game is very realistic and fantastic!! The enemy AI is really smart and advanced. I hope with all my heart that Stalker 2 becomes a reality.
  38. emptyshell88
    Apr 8, 2012
    10
    S.T.A.L.K.E.R Call Of Pripyat is, simply put, one of the best open world FPS games there is. Everything about the game is great, the atmosphere, the progression, the item collecting. Not only that but the game is scary, really scary, but that does not mean that every time you leave a safe area you are going to be peeing yourself, it means that when the game needs to be scary it can be. CoPS.T.A.L.K.E.R Call Of Pripyat is, simply put, one of the best open world FPS games there is. Everything about the game is great, the atmosphere, the progression, the item collecting. Not only that but the game is scary, really scary, but that does not mean that every time you leave a safe area you are going to be peeing yourself, it means that when the game needs to be scary it can be. CoP also has many elements of an RPG. There is a great inventory system, lots of weapons and armor, lots of modifications for those weapons and armors, and so much more. Simply put CoP is one of the best games on the market.… Expand
  39. DarKMaTTeR
    Dec 30, 2011
    9
    I've had a special relationship with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles from the beginning. They all have technical short-comings and have the obvious effects of an insufficient budget: the game isn't polished enough and loses pace as you get closer to the end. But, at the same time, they offer a unique experience that no other game I know of can deliver: survival in a hostile world. Sure, lots ofI've had a special relationship with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles from the beginning. They all have technical short-comings and have the obvious effects of an insufficient budget: the game isn't polished enough and loses pace as you get closer to the end. But, at the same time, they offer a unique experience that no other game I know of can deliver: survival in a hostile world. Sure, lots of games put you in hostile, stressing worlds, but they always look out for you. STALKER doesn't, causing you to really submerge into its world. You can roam away from safety in a rainy night and and accidentally walk into powerful mutants without the visibility to fight them if you want. You have to learn not to. You have to pack your own weapons and supplies every time you leave your safehouse, because the world is not guaranteed to provide. And all of this happens in a open world. Wait until the moment you find yourself tagging along a random sandbox-style patrol, because you're out of ammo and you can hear the mutants running in the bushes near you. This is survival.… Expand
  40. Kelu
    Dec 25, 2011
    8
    The most polished, thought-out installment of the series, and it shows pretty much everywhere. Though the world seems smaller than in SoC or CS (only three main maps), but it's packed with interesting locations, and the Zone seems more alive than ever. On the downside, if you farm the artifacts, you can get pretty buff in the first zone of the game, equipped with the best weaponry andThe most polished, thought-out installment of the series, and it shows pretty much everywhere. Though the world seems smaller than in SoC or CS (only three main maps), but it's packed with interesting locations, and the Zone seems more alive than ever. On the downside, if you farm the artifacts, you can get pretty buff in the first zone of the game, equipped with the best weaponry and armour, which smashes the difficulty in the head. And the game doesn't have quite as many locations which scare you **** like SoC - remember those laboratories? Of course you do, if you played that game, but in CoP there's only one.… Expand
  41. Clocktopus
    Dec 23, 2011
    7
    Really don't know what to think of this game. The world is massive and vast and the layout is interesting. Graphics are alright, they get the job done. The thing that bothers me with this game is that it doesn't seem polished, shooting mechanics are stupid as bullets act as arrows dropping once they reach a point distance making long range combat near impossible. The game feels too darkReally don't know what to think of this game. The world is massive and vast and the layout is interesting. Graphics are alright, they get the job done. The thing that bothers me with this game is that it doesn't seem polished, shooting mechanics are stupid as bullets act as arrows dropping once they reach a point distance making long range combat near impossible. The game feels too dark and stingy, which yes fits the atmosphere but just gets depressing to look at after a while. Player models are recycled endlessly, I've ran into the same two Stalkers at least ten times. You're given a main quest but there's so many extra quests that I feel kind of overwhelmed, I'm worried I'll miss something if I progress without doing these. As opposed to Bethesda games that usually pull this off well, the open world and it's many side quests are a bit intimidating to anyone who doesn't enjoy such a long, long game. The game demands a lot of time from the player, so if you're not prepared to use up hours of your time to scour the zone then this game is not for you.

    I got this game on sale, and I'm reasonably happy with it, the atmosphere is fantastic and the joys of using your maintained and updated fire arms that you upgraded yourself is also another slight joy in this game. However the amount of **** you can do is so vast it's almost intimidating, the story is not interesting or driving in anyway as it's hard to root for your character when he's got as much personality as a tin of paint. Other characters are the same, so it's also difficult to try and symphasize with people who ask for your help. At the beginning of the game a bandit tells me he needs this artifact as his friend is dying, I without a second thought denied his offer and killed him and his little buddies. The game is not story driven in any way shape or form, it's driven simply by the players curiousity: What sort of artifacts can I find and sell, what sort of loot can I buy with this money? How should I upgrade my guns? This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it'd be nice if I felt some want to continue playing this game to the end.

    Keep in mind I'm scratching the very surface of this game with 5 hours played in total but I'd love to know if it improves significantly. In short, STALKER Call of Pripyat is a gloomy looking post apocalyptic master piece but falls short in terms of story and characters but makes up for it in accurate representations of real guns and it's hours of gameplay. You will definitely get your moneys worth with this game but it's not for the faint of heart, as well as not being without it's faults. (Get's a 7 so far, but some personal citation is needed)    … Expand
  42. Nostalgium
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Compared to Shadow of Chernobyl, this actually feels like a real breathing world, with intelligent A.I. This game makes SoC look like an uninspired mess, with uninspired quests.

    The ambience is way better, the quests are way better, the AI is way better. No more annoying loading zones and fences that limit your movement in the area. I definitively recommend this for anyone who is willing    Compared to Shadow of Chernobyl, this actually feels like a real breathing world, with intelligent A.I. This game makes SoC look like an uninspired mess, with uninspired quests.

    The ambience is way better, the quests are way better, the AI is way better. No more annoying loading zones and fences that limit your movement in the area. I definitively recommend this for anyone who is willing to be completely imerged into the game, unlike Shadow of Chernobyl, which I didn't like at all.    … Expand
  43. XRAIN
    Oct 12, 2011
    10
    What could be more interesting real life place to make a video game about? Area of Tsernobyl of course! It's such a shame, that there barely even is games about it, but at least it's still more than fresh place to make a game about. Call of Pripyat is the third Stalker game in the series, which I had never played before. The story isin't really anything amazing. You are have to find outWhat could be more interesting real life place to make a video game about? Area of Tsernobyl of course! It's such a shame, that there barely even is games about it, but at least it's still more than fresh place to make a game about. Call of Pripyat is the third Stalker game in the series, which I had never played before. The story isin't really anything amazing. You are have to find out why helicopters have crashed to Tsernobyl, which is now filled with people hoping to become rich by finding rare artifacts. You don't need to have played previous games. You can roam around freely the exciting areas of the game, though you are limited to go only few places during the start of the game. The atmosphere of the game is outstanding. It looks like you're in a abandonded area filled with radiation, and feels like it. Unfortunely stalkers talk with '' Yo bro wuzz up?! '' style, which breaks the atmosphere a little. NPC don't also some times attack mutants, which are trying to attack you. The game has simulation feel too. You need to eat food or you will starve to death. You need to heal yourself from wounds, though it only needs use button and nothing else to fix the wounds. If not counting the easiest difficulty, you will die really easily, forcing you to think when you should fight or not. The graphics of the game isin't that good now days, but even my crappy computer was able to run it fine with some settings set to maximum. The gameplay is great, the sound design is almost as good, the game takes increadible amount of time to complete (33 hours, I had spent time doing some side quests too) and I found myself playing it a lot of time even after it, what I usually don't do. I recommend it from the bottom of my heart, if you don't want to play arcade shooters.… Expand
  44. RainbowDash
    Sep 12, 2011
    10
    My favorite game of all time. with complete mod of course, Anyway: This game is FANTASTIC, It's just so immersive, it combines fps and rpg beautifully without ruining one aspect or the other, It's a sandbox game, Meaning there is no storyline set in stone and I can't really find a category to put it in, I'll go into detail: 1) The immersion, WOW, There are times you actually feel like yourMy favorite game of all time. with complete mod of course, Anyway: This game is FANTASTIC, It's just so immersive, it combines fps and rpg beautifully without ruining one aspect or the other, It's a sandbox game, Meaning there is no storyline set in stone and I can't really find a category to put it in, I'll go into detail: 1) The immersion, WOW, There are times you actually feel like your there in the zone, When it comes to reviving a dying stalker it makes you feel so happy, and when someone you like it cut down by enemy bullets, its so gut-wrenchingly painful, When your out in the dark and can hear mutants, You just get so panicky, The atmosphere is horrific in a good way, Really gets to you, The things such as needing food and rest and to repair weapons and the weight of your weapons is also great . 2) The sandbox style, Again brilliant, It gives players the choice of either following the story or just going about there daily business in the zone. 3) The RPG/FPS, The game elegantly blends both RPG and FPS games with such things as your Inventory and trading with intense gunfights, The bad parts; The only bad thing I can think of to quote Ramus is: Seeing 6 of the exact same character model standing around makes you feel you have entered a cloning facility, True however there is mods for that, But still it's pretty lame sometimes but the masked models aren't too bad from groups like freedom and duty because of their "uniforms"

    Anyway: 10/10 THE perfect game, It's games like this which developers need to look towards ^^    … Expand
  45. Artistpawel
    Sep 6, 2011
    9
    The first S.T.A.L.K.E.R game, Shadow of Chernobyl, is a ten in my books. Call of Pripyet is a solid addition to the series after the flaky Clear Sky came out. What gives Call of Pripyet the legs to stand along side the original is the improved gameplay and continually surprising atmosphere. My only gripe with this installment is the story does not hit as hard as the original (keeping inThe first S.T.A.L.K.E.R game, Shadow of Chernobyl, is a ten in my books. Call of Pripyet is a solid addition to the series after the flaky Clear Sky came out. What gives Call of Pripyet the legs to stand along side the original is the improved gameplay and continually surprising atmosphere. My only gripe with this installment is the story does not hit as hard as the original (keeping in mind that you get the proper ending with the C-Conciousness business). Pripyet also feels short as if there were parts missing or some side quests taken out. I loved Call of Pripyet and felt back at home in the zone, but in all honesty this game could have been an expansion instead of a stand alone addition to the series. I have very high hopes for the next installment because Call of Pripyet seems to be going down the right track.… Expand
  46. Kurt
    Aug 2, 2011
    9
    Over the years I have played through all the STALKER games. This one is by far the best. The best atmospheric PC experience one can have. GSC has built on the other two games and created an experience, not just a game. One can say that a little passion; will go a long way for a developer. The level design is great; its nice to see a more open ZONE and a move away from the more linearOver the years I have played through all the STALKER games. This one is by far the best. The best atmospheric PC experience one can have. GSC has built on the other two games and created an experience, not just a game. One can say that a little passion; will go a long way for a developer. The level design is great; its nice to see a more open ZONE and a move away from the more linear experience of the first two games. The story is good, sometimes its nice to have a more strait foreword story like COP. This game is by far one of the least known gems in video gaming today. I cannot wait for the next game in the series.… Expand
  47. numbody
    Jul 15, 2011
    9
    Call of Pripyat's oozing with atmosphere, the bullet physics are some of the best in any FPS out there (the nuances in bullet trajectories is really apparent once you start customizing your firearms), and the dialogue is entertaining and completely believable while still being informative. Also, it's fun to explore the myriad mysteries the expansive and nicely detailed Zone has to offer.Call of Pripyat's oozing with atmosphere, the bullet physics are some of the best in any FPS out there (the nuances in bullet trajectories is really apparent once you start customizing your firearms), and the dialogue is entertaining and completely believable while still being informative. Also, it's fun to explore the myriad mysteries the expansive and nicely detailed Zone has to offer. When your roll all that up, you get one of the most immersive and exhilarating gaming experiences out there.

    P.S. Folk shouldn't compare this game to others like CoD and Crysis, 'cause it's got its own unique thing going.    … Expand
  48. VentureGaming
    Jul 14, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It will usually take 15 hours if you just plow through the game (No exploring or gathering better equipment), but will become increasingly difficult later if you do so. The game was meant for exploring a lot of areas and gathering better weapons and suits. Although the area is still based off from Shadow of Chernobyl, there's new stuff to find and many more missions and side quests to go on. I found the ending to be sort of disappointing, as there seems to be only one ending (On what I find).

    **A BIT OF SPOILERS ABOUT THE DISAPPOINTING FIGHT AT THE END**
    As soon as you're into the center of the zone, you don't even have to move. Just shoot at the enemy with a special weapon repeatedly. The game will end when he is done with. For some odd reason though, you can also travel through some warps, and fighter another bunch of Monolith soldiers. The boss will start traveling around the area, and then eventually the ground at a random location. Even if he is at a place where you cannot reach, shooting randomly causes him to die off anyway. Either way you go, taking the long and hard way to defeat him doesn't change the ending, neither did you need to take the long way at all. The extra work doesn't really pay off, and it wasn't really needed. Overall, the game was okay for me, and it was really a challenge when I was lacking equipment. But I think that made it much more fun in the long run.    … Expand
  49. Thampsan
    Jul 3, 2011
    9
    Remember the original STALKER? It was a little buggy, made you walk long distances and often murdered you unexpectedly. Remember the terror of getting irradiated and running into your first invisible creature?
    Call of Pripyat brings all of that back and improves on it, everything is tighter, smoother and less buggy - that is not to say, without it flaws, but now with flaws you can forgive.    Remember the original STALKER? It was a little buggy, made you walk long distances and often murdered you unexpectedly. Remember the terror of getting irradiated and running into your first invisible creature?
    Call of Pripyat brings all of that back and improves on it, everything is tighter, smoother and less buggy - that is not to say, without it flaws, but now with flaws you can forgive. Don't expect amazing graphics, you aren't playing Crysis 1 (or 2), secondly you should expect the occasional bug and glitch - sometimes you may get snippets of dialogue that should have been translated from the original Russian. But if you can forgive the game these minor faults you will have a great time.

    What's been improved since the first game? Factions, firearms, missions, everything is back and it's all better. Your guns still deteriorate so you have to keep them repaired if you don't want unexpected jams, however you can now upgrade your weapons with enough cash and parts, but each gun and armour has an upgrade tree which depending on the mods chosen lock off other parts of the tree. You might spec for reliability in a weapon so you have to repair it less, but to do so you might trade off some accuracy or recoil, or maybe ammo/clip size. You are still affected by your carrying capacity but some armour mods allow you to up that, it all comes together perfectly. The atmosphere is still tense and moody, and get ready to run for cover when a pulse even happens, enemies are still deadly (especially the human foes) and the game has a good difficulty curve. If you go into this game looking for another triple A title like FEAR or Crysis, you will be disappointed this game doesn't have the spit and polish that either game has. But what it does have is a robust upgrade tree, RPG elements, excellent atmosphere, a compelling storyline and a fascinating open world with a myriad of ways to tackle problems. It's not flawless, but it makes up for that by being challenging and fun.    … Expand
  50. darkballz_pl
    May 15, 2011
    10
    Best S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game for now and one of the best RPG's. Buggs, if there any exist, are really hard to find ( i didn't find even one ). With good piece of hardware, this game is mead for eyes and ears. Best buy for its price and absolute must-have.
  51. Wildfire8
    May 10, 2011
    10
    A modern masterpiece. This game will go down beside Ocarina of Time as a must on every gamers top 5 games of all time list. The atmosphere is second to none. You don't play STALKER, you experience STALKER. The graphics and enviroments are impecible. The shooting is gritty, realistic, and unforgiving. Guns and ammo have weight, restriciting what you can carry. Guns actually have recoil,A modern masterpiece. This game will go down beside Ocarina of Time as a must on every gamers top 5 games of all time list. The atmosphere is second to none. You don't play STALKER, you experience STALKER. The graphics and enviroments are impecible. The shooting is gritty, realistic, and unforgiving. Guns and ammo have weight, restriciting what you can carry. Guns actually have recoil, giving them a powerful feel. Quests are varied. The game is long. One instance you will be part of a sneaky expedition to kill some rival army members. The next, you are exploring a cave and hiding from mutants. Next, you might be just strolling through the streets of Pripyat, not knowing what's coming. It is an unique experience and a pinnacle of gaming.… Expand
  52. Ramus
    May 1, 2011
    6
    A sandbox FPS is an ambitious undertaking, one that games like Far Cry 2, although graphically awsome, never quite managed. So here's a game that can tryuly be called free roaming. STALKER has all the elements of an RPG rolled into an FPS, inventory, trade, repairing items and so on. It also has another element very rarely found in games - atmosphere. Wierd mutant creatures hiss and growlA sandbox FPS is an ambitious undertaking, one that games like Far Cry 2, although graphically awsome, never quite managed. So here's a game that can tryuly be called free roaming. STALKER has all the elements of an RPG rolled into an FPS, inventory, trade, repairing items and so on. It also has another element very rarely found in games - atmosphere. Wierd mutant creatures hiss and growl before leaping at your face.
    So on paper it all sounds very good. Yet STALKER is let down by outdated code and outdated graphics. Both of which really should not be an issue whether a game is great or not. But having a jerky screen update in an FPS which requires you to be extremely accurate with your aiming is gaming suicide. Seeing 6 of the exact same character model standing around makes you feel you have entered a cloning facility. The textures look like they were made 10 years ago. I also find it odd that when the NPCs are away from you they speak in Russian yet when you interact with them they speak in English?? Either one or the other please. The missions are hardly ever clear and, indeed, part of the game seems to be figuring out what it is you are supposed to be doing. For many people, there just isn't that many hours in a day to spend wandering around aimlessly.
    Some good ideas are in STALKER but unfortunately the game is let down by the execution.    … Expand
  53. captainbirdseye
    Apr 24, 2011
    10
    Having played both Fallount 3 & Falllout New Vegas and Oblivion to the end, with Stalker CoP being an addition recommended by a close friend, I had certain assumptions based on the new RPG/FPS/Action Adventure Genre. Bottom line is - CoP feels more reaslistic. FLNV is occasionally almost cartoonesque with Fisto the robot and whilst gives it more scope for immersion, the immediate lack ofHaving played both Fallount 3 & Falllout New Vegas and Oblivion to the end, with Stalker CoP being an addition recommended by a close friend, I had certain assumptions based on the new RPG/FPS/Action Adventure Genre. Bottom line is - CoP feels more reaslistic. FLNV is occasionally almost cartoonesque with Fisto the robot and whilst gives it more scope for immersion, the immediate lack of safety you feel in CoP was something of a suprise. The lack of any intorductory training session such as in the case of FL3 may appear to detract from the suspense, but I found it added to it. Whilst the initial frequency of weapons on the bodies of dead stalkers made me initially think that trading would be easy, the Deus Ex syle inventory means you have to keep a careful watch on what weapons you pick up. Whilst I would normally decry the lack of "safe" trading areas, where you can perform skill related tasks, the CoP character development is soley dependent on equipment. Consequently, it feels more fluid. Oblivion is let down by a lack of, not realism, but believablity. The towns are huge, yet only seem to have 50 inhabitants. FLNV has a diverse rage of NPC's, but the points-led gameplay allows an experience gamer to screw his/her way to senioritiy too easily - e.g. I killled mister House at level 8. From a saturday morning enjoyability perspective, I appreciated both FLNV and Oblivion more that CoP, however, the excruciating realism imparted by CoP far outweighs these shortcomings. I WAS ACTUALLY AFRAID whilst playing the game -- SPOILER ALERT - I carefully and methodically went through the whole of the Jupiter complex and nothing but dogs came at me --- SPOILER OVER. In short, CoP is a super game, which encompasses RPG and FPS very well. What CoP does well is present a reasonable picture of no-mans-land where people are with you or against you. Unlike (to a lesser extent) FLNV or Oblivion or indeed far cry2, where virtually everyone is against you outside of the "safe areas". The absence of scripted encounters with those who are either neutral or friendly, does much for the feeling that you one amongst many chancers, just trying to make a buck. That is not to say it is without fault. The varying value and apparent importance of artifacts addds an unnecessary mystical quality, which jams against the very well researched arsenal of conventional weapons at you disposal. FLNV and OB feel much more like a civilisation (even a spardely populated one) and some of their charm was non shooting related activity. In short, OB and FLNV allow you to play the gentleman almost throughout,, CoP demands an unflinching ability to shoot **** and make sure you have ammo. In many respects the enitre system of CoP is like a zombie-infested version of Operation Flashpoint and anyone who has played that game, knows how much preparation is important.
    Pros. The atmosphere, the feeling of loneliness and desperation is excellently executing even if the english translation leaves much to be desired. The fellow stalkers lend a sense of realism that you are one of many.
    Cons. The lack of any deined rpg promotion makes you unsure whether you should be progressing to a certain stage. The obscure artifact system doesn't gel well with the story.    … Expand
  54. KhorneFlakes
    Apr 13, 2011
    10
    Highly recommend it to RPG fans, and even shooter fans, if i can use three words to describe Stalker, they would be: Atmospheric, addicting, and scary. The action is great, but what really captivates me is the atmosphere of the zone, and the various enemies you encounter. What i mostly love is the AI of the mutants and enemies, more unpredictable, more challenging than most other RPG gamesHighly recommend it to RPG fans, and even shooter fans, if i can use three words to describe Stalker, they would be: Atmospheric, addicting, and scary. The action is great, but what really captivates me is the atmosphere of the zone, and the various enemies you encounter. What i mostly love is the AI of the mutants and enemies, more unpredictable, more challenging than most other RPG games and shooters, though fire fights can be few and far between, that's really what keeps them interesting IMO. Although I wish the game world had more underground to it, and I wish more of the buildings were explorable. Also wish the game had a bit more interactivity to it, ending was, eh...but still good game.… Expand
  55. Jealousy
    Mar 17, 2011
    9
    The third episode is far the best one ! I loved it, progression is very good, upgradable weapons, you can now sleep in many places, you have to manage the food, going to the zone in the night is very dangerous. The new labs are very creppy ! And the monster are still dangerous. There is no more faction war, but you can choose to help the duty or the liberty at some time.
  56. sprooop
    Feb 5, 2011
    10
    AMAZING game, I will not waste time saying the things other reviews have already said so I'll just start off saying: the caches are cooler, you can upgrade/repair equipment, amazing open world, and I am once again proud of GSC for not giving in to the "release DLC everywhere for all of our games" craze other developers seem to have jumped on. Only thing that could have possible improvedAMAZING game, I will not waste time saying the things other reviews have already said so I'll just start off saying: the caches are cooler, you can upgrade/repair equipment, amazing open world, and I am once again proud of GSC for not giving in to the "release DLC everywhere for all of our games" craze other developers seem to have jumped on. Only thing that could have possible improved this game, would be a lot more sidequests in pripyat (which in my opinion has the best atmosphere in any area of all the stalker games so far)… Expand
  57. Falling_Hammer
    Feb 4, 2011
    10
    About a year ago I bought a game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat. I knew that it was a great game (since I played CS and SoC) but to be this good I didn't think it would be. Sure it's got some drawbacks (Atmosphere is not as good as it's predecessors, no factions) but these are only minor, and everything else (Weapons, graphics, audio, characters,...) is just perfect. But, if that isAbout a year ago I bought a game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat. I knew that it was a great game (since I played CS and SoC) but to be this good I didn't think it would be. Sure it's got some drawbacks (Atmosphere is not as good as it's predecessors, no factions) but these are only minor, and everything else (Weapons, graphics, audio, characters,...) is just perfect. But, if that is not enough for You than you can just download some of the mods for the game and make your game beyond perfectness. Have no doubts, this is a perfect game. (your first words will be: "Holy Sh??")… Expand
  58. ExtincT
    Dec 30, 2010
    8
    STALKER:CoP was an enjoyable sequel to STALKER:SOC and even though many people say that this is how the first STALKER should have been, I must disagree with that statement. CoP has indeed less bugs, more balanced gunfights etc but at the same time I feel that it has lost much of what made STALKER the game series it is. I enjoy the large scale open maps but what I don't enjoy is that theSTALKER:CoP was an enjoyable sequel to STALKER:SOC and even though many people say that this is how the first STALKER should have been, I must disagree with that statement. CoP has indeed less bugs, more balanced gunfights etc but at the same time I feel that it has lost much of what made STALKER the game series it is. I enjoy the large scale open maps but what I don't enjoy is that the big area has not been used properly. No stalkers roaming around, no stashes to be found (except the ones you get on your PDA), Scavenging has been reduced. It feels empty and it's sad since CoP has such a great atmosphere and environments that could have gotten better wild some more life into it. But Shadow of Chernobyl stays, for me, at the top and Clear Sky stays second on the list of STALKER games but CoP is still a worthy sequel and if you are a STALKER you shall not leave CoP un-played!… Expand
  59. apaeth
    Nov 14, 2010
    8
    This game is better than average and provides many more hours of entertainment than the standard FPS.

    Pros: Polished game play compared to S.O.C. Once you get it setup properly there are very few if any bugs. Plenty of side missions that provide good rewards. Decent combat and tactical missions but much less of it than in S.O.C. Cons: The Armor: You have three choices for the first    This game is better than average and provides many more hours of entertainment than the standard FPS.

    Pros:

    Polished game play compared to S.O.C. Once you get it setup properly there are very few if any bugs. Plenty of side missions that provide good rewards.

    Decent combat and tactical missions but much less of it than in S.O.C.


    Cons:

    The Armor: You have three choices for the first 50% to 60% of the game; crappy armor, slightly better than crappy or the best armor in the game. This could have been balanced out with more options.

    The Zone can get kind of monotonous after a while.

    There is a lot of empty space on the map - it may seem large but exploring does not have much of a payoff other than medical supplies and lower to mid- tier weapons for the most part.

    The weapon grades for resale - it sucks picking up a weapon and not being able to get anything for it unless you repair it to 100% and than only make 10% off the deal. Overall it was worth the money I paid for it and all of the cons can be fixed with mods if you are inclines. I actually gave it a 7.5 but rounded it up for prosperity.    … Expand
  60. MirceaC
    Oct 9, 2010
    10
    The first game, "Shadow of Chernobyl", was truly amazing. It brought something new and different to this kind of genre. Even though the second game, "Clear Sky", can be considered a step backwards to the series, it never got boring to play and actually it was better than the previous game in some areas. But "Call of Pripyat" is beyond perfection. OK, maybe 'perfection' isn't the rightThe first game, "Shadow of Chernobyl", was truly amazing. It brought something new and different to this kind of genre. Even though the second game, "Clear Sky", can be considered a step backwards to the series, it never got boring to play and actually it was better than the previous game in some areas. But "Call of Pripyat" is beyond perfection. OK, maybe 'perfection' isn't the right word, but it's definitely the best S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game to date. Every single aspect of the game was revised and improved. Now there is no reason why I (or you) shouldn't play this game for weeks and love it.… Expand
  61. Nakiam
    Mar 16, 2010
    10
    So as i look, to my right i see games like, Uncharted, Uncharted 2, Killzone 2, Modern Warefare 2, Call of Duty 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Assassin's Creed 1&2 MSG 4, Batman Asylum and a lot of other great games. Well my fellow gamers God Of War 3 Blows away the compitition with Superior Graphics, Storyline and a No nonsense Badazz God Kratos destroying everythign in his path. I'm So as i look, to my right i see games like, Uncharted, Uncharted 2, Killzone 2, Modern Warefare 2, Call of Duty 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Assassin's Creed 1&2 MSG 4, Batman Asylum and a lot of other great games. Well my fellow gamers God Of War 3 Blows away the compitition with Superior Graphics, Storyline and a No nonsense Badazz God Kratos destroying everythign in his path. I'm telling you now that anyone who gives this game anything less than a 10 is an idiot. It's the best of everything a true Gamer would like in a game and the very best for this Generation. So my local Gamestop opens at 10am and i got there at 9:50am and there was a line out the door (about 30 people) I guess they all called out sick from work like i did lol. Of course I pre ordered the Ultimate Edition and If you didnt well, You're an idiot because Pandora's Box looks awesome and is bigger than I thpught it would be.(great place to keep my God of War collection:) Remember If you're thinking of getting this game you're an Idiot! If you're running out the door, tripping on that banana peel and end up in the hospital on the way to Gamestop you're an half idiot. If you make it there get the game and then go have Lunch afterwards before heading home to play, you're a Moran!. If you make it there in one piece , get the game, and come straight home and Play the Greatest Game to this point in time, well you're a Genius:) Hey just to let you in on a little secret! Even Fanboys were on line to pick up a Ps3 and the game lmao. Never thought I'd see the day. I'd like to give a Shoutout to Telegraph who scored Bayonatta above this Game lmao. (look for them on Metacritic reviews at the bottom) where they belong in the basement. Seemed they had to close there comment thread because real gamers caught on to their Bias and called them out! Guess they couldnt handle the pressure. The pressure of seeing GOW take flight and they didn' t have a boarding pass!… Expand
  62. CL
    Jan 26, 2010
    10
    No other game series has ever caused me to continuously talk about it for weeks on end. My friends are now getting so used to hearing me talk about STALKER that they automatically assume anything random sounding coming out of my mouth as STALKER related. Call of Pripyat is no difference, and brings the atmospheric survival horror fps up another level. Look forward to when the mod No other game series has ever caused me to continuously talk about it for weeks on end. My friends are now getting so used to hearing me talk about STALKER that they automatically assume anything random sounding coming out of my mouth as STALKER related. Call of Pripyat is no difference, and brings the atmospheric survival horror fps up another level. Look forward to when the mod community gets a hold of CoP.… Expand
  63. KrayzieB.o.n.e.
    Jan 14, 2010
    9
    STALKER Call of Pripyat is a very detailed and atmospheric welcome to the STALKER series. The game play has made a 180 degree turn back in favor of STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl game play where exploration and item management are key. Lots of side quest that have purpose instead of go get this or go eliminate that. The games graphics are amazing and the game itself installs and runs without STALKER Call of Pripyat is a very detailed and atmospheric welcome to the STALKER series. The game play has made a 180 degree turn back in favor of STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl game play where exploration and item management are key. Lots of side quest that have purpose instead of go get this or go eliminate that. The games graphics are amazing and the game itself installs and runs without all the bugs and patches of previous versions. The amount of gun fights has been turned down in this version but playing on a high difficultly level will make each encounter seem brutal. Also the NPC A.I. is incredible they search for artifacts, raid dead corpses, and make great combat decisions against.… Expand
  64. JordanK
    Jan 10, 2010
    10
    Absolutely the best of the STALKER games. It combines the best portions of the original and the ill-fated prequel, and brings with them almost none of the issues. While not as revolutionary as the original, it does take it a significant step forward not only in terms of story, gameplay, but also in atmosphere. The expansive levels are packed with secret caches and various nooks and Absolutely the best of the STALKER games. It combines the best portions of the original and the ill-fated prequel, and brings with them almost none of the issues. While not as revolutionary as the original, it does take it a significant step forward not only in terms of story, gameplay, but also in atmosphere. The expansive levels are packed with secret caches and various nooks and crannies to explore, and the game goes to great lengths to encourage sandbox game-play. While not without it's flaws - actual gunfights are few and far between, and the ending is, while better paced then Clear Sky's finale, a gigantic, unexpected ramp up in terms of difficulty, but if anything it's a fitting end for the first sequel to ShoC - and the multiple endings will give the game plenty of replayability compared to ShoC and CS, if the following free-play mode doesn't that is!… Expand
  65. Ari
    Dec 25, 2009
    9
    A very impressive addition to the STALKER franchise, this is what Shadows of Chernobyl ought to have been right off the bat. Call of Pripyat manages to take all the best parts of Shadows of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and third-party modifications like Oblivion Lost, and fuses them into a highly enjoyable experience. The new quest system is much better thought out than in previous games; A very impressive addition to the STALKER franchise, this is what Shadows of Chernobyl ought to have been right off the bat. Call of Pripyat manages to take all the best parts of Shadows of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and third-party modifications like Oblivion Lost, and fuses them into a highly enjoyable experience. The new quest system is much better thought out than in previous games; instead of simple fetch quests or kill X or Y Stalker missions, you're treated to actually interesting scripted events, memorable characters, and unique settings. If you're a fan of the STALKER series, this is not a game to pass up, and while newcomers might be slightly baffled as to the plot (It contains many throwbacks to the previous titles in the seires), the gameplay is streamlined in a way that can appeal to a much broader audience than the other titles in the series. Highly recommended.… Expand
  66. ChrisB
    Dec 17, 2009
    9
    This game is extremely realistic feeling and atmospheric just like all the other stalker games. STALKER Call of Pripyat surprised me, i expected another bug filled constantly crashing game but what i got instead is a highly polished and exciting game
  67. ZeeKat
    Dec 10, 2009
    9
    Most polished and complete of Stalker series. Didn't encounter a game breaking glitch or a crash to desktop a once during my whole walkthrough (that's new!). It's also nicely balanced, much easier than previous games and without annoying spikes in difficulty - pacing is just right this time. Game's oriented more on exploration than on endless combat with waves of Most polished and complete of Stalker series. Didn't encounter a game breaking glitch or a crash to desktop a once during my whole walkthrough (that's new!). It's also nicely balanced, much easier than previous games and without annoying spikes in difficulty - pacing is just right this time. Game's oriented more on exploration than on endless combat with waves of enemies, which is accented by maps design - they feel more open than SOCCS ones. Parts with forced linearity and grindy battles almost doesn't exist. Game's not revolutionary by any means (it's rather an expansion of a franchise), but still a very good product with series' annoyances ironed out - strongly recommended stuff, provides hours of great, atmospheric fun without frustration. I'd give a 10 points, but I subtract one for rehashing old material ("new" bloodsucker animation and "new" monsters were in early alpha builds etc.) and borrowing most improvements from modders :>… Expand
  68. AdrianoM
    Nov 18, 2009
    9
    Very atmospheric. I love the sounds/effects. Good Inventory system. ...and this time I can play from the start to the ending without bugs.
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Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best PC Game of 2010
24
#24 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Absolute Games
    54
    GSC’s third attempt at creating a post-apocalyptic world reinforced my belief that PR is the only thing this company does best.
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  2. Cynamite
    70
    Great atmosphere, but the game looks outdated and has some flaws.
    Read full review
  3. Gamers.at
    86
    Call of Pripyat may not look as stunning as CoD:MW2 or Crysis, but it's still a very atmospheric, seizing and refreshingly different shooter... just like its predecessors that is. So if you consider yourself a fan of the series: Got get Call of Pripyat! It's definitely the best part of the saga.
    Read full review
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