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
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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

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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.
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  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.
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