S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1886 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,528 out of 1886
  2. Mixed: 208 out of 1886
  3. Negative: 150 out of 1886
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  1. EricR.
    Sep 6, 2007
    10
    This is probably one of the most amazing and extreme first person shooters i have ever played, yes it has its bugs and coding issues but once you patch the game and get everything up to speed, the game had me playing for hours and hours. so many different things and possibilitys you can explore and proceed in many different ways. Just has me playing and playing just because of the several This is probably one of the most amazing and extreme first person shooters i have ever played, yes it has its bugs and coding issues but once you patch the game and get everything up to speed, the game had me playing for hours and hours. so many different things and possibilitys you can explore and proceed in many different ways. Just has me playing and playing just because of the several ways you can play through it, and many different and interesting endings and gameplay route within it. Its sort of like Deus ex and BioShock , so if your a fan of the Dues ex or BioShock i highly recommend this game. With the types of game play thats implemented in this game you'll just be blown away by the story and and environmental surrounding of this hostile world of Chernobyl!… Expand
  2. AnonymousMC
    Sep 8, 2007
    10
    If your system can run this game with max settings, then you have to get this game. It is the best and most immersive PC game I have ever played, the level of detail in the graphics is nothing short of amazing, especially the landscapes. This game is fantastic and you have to do it justice by putting it on a worth PC. No problems with bugs etc... just make sure you patch it to versionIf your system can run this game with max settings, then you have to get this game. It is the best and most immersive PC game I have ever played, the level of detail in the graphics is nothing short of amazing, especially the landscapes. This game is fantastic and you have to do it justice by putting it on a worth PC. No problems with bugs etc... just make sure you patch it to version 1.0004. 10/10.… Expand
  3. NickN
    Jan 2, 2010
    10
    This is a stunning game. I've been playing Stalker for two years and still can't find any game which would deliver a similar experience in the atmosphere. Although, these were the various mods (Russian version of the game) that enriched the game immensely, I got hooked on the original game and still can't shake off its charm.
  4. MarkedOne
    Mar 3, 2007
    10
    This game is very impressive and atmospheric. AI behaves in very intelligent way - think CoD2 where soldiers after battle sit around the fire, playing guitar, telling jokes and drinking vodka. You can talk to every stalker, ask him about rumors, try to trade or ask for a quest. Gameplay is about doing quests, roaming around the Chernobyl zone, avoiding deadly "anomalies" and radiactive This game is very impressive and atmospheric. AI behaves in very intelligent way - think CoD2 where soldiers after battle sit around the fire, playing guitar, telling jokes and drinking vodka. You can talk to every stalker, ask him about rumors, try to trade or ask for a quest. Gameplay is about doing quests, roaming around the Chernobyl zone, avoiding deadly "anomalies" and radiactive area and battling with bandits, military, mutants and aggressive wildlife. Zone represent area around Chernobyl with forests, plains, city of Pripyat, nuclear plant itself, small willages, roads and soviet Ukraine cars and trains wrecks. The game is mostly FPS but RPG elements are very strong. You have an inventory and doll for different types of gear. Every weapon have it's stats and durability. Every character have a name, inventory and an opinion about you. There is a player reputation system. If you help a dying stalker with a medikit he will become your friend. If you come close to neutral stalkers with weapon drawn they will warn you and if you don't listen, they will open fire and become hostile. You can use zone artifacts to improve your stats. Inventory is limited to weight you can carry. There are many quests in game - main quest line and side quests, many of them are time-limited. Models and textures are a bit outdated but light and shadows are very impressive. System requirements are somewhat high but it's not a big problem. I'd say they are close to F.E.A.R. requirements - slightly higher though. You can also use lower graphics settings on old video cards. After two days of gameplay I experienced a few minor AI and graphics glitches and only one CTD. Game is pretty stable and it lets you use Alt+Tab with no problems. Summary - if you want to imagine what is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. looks like... it's like F.E.A.R. meets Oblivion in living world of very realistic Chernobyl area. P.S. There IS eating and anti-radiation vodka drinkin in game. If character don't eat very long it will starve to death.… Expand
  5. ChandraP.
    Jun 19, 2007
    10
    It's a great game with with greatest gunfights ever.
  6. Korin
    Aug 9, 2007
    10
    Excessive respawn is addressed in patch 1.0003. Don't be.....
  7. JustinF.
    Feb 8, 2008
    10
    S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl is a wonderful FPS/RPG. It has stunning graphics (MUST HAVE A BITCHIN' COMPUTER) and the soundtrack is very well composed. NPC's are very helpful, but turn bland if you ask too many questions. Other than small lag spots in certain maps, this game is amazing. Immerse yourself in this post-apocalyptic game and I promise your palms will be S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl is a wonderful FPS/RPG. It has stunning graphics (MUST HAVE A BITCHIN' COMPUTER) and the soundtrack is very well composed. NPC's are very helpful, but turn bland if you ask too many questions. Other than small lag spots in certain maps, this game is amazing. Immerse yourself in this post-apocalyptic game and I promise your palms will be sweating before you can say Pripyat.… Expand
  8. GAMEDEFENDER
    Sep 7, 2008
    10
    For the love of God, stop comparing this game to Oblivion and FEAR!!!
    FEAR sucked, it only had cheap scares, and Oblivion is only good with a couple thousand mods running at once!!!
    STALKER is based on real life. And it captures that feeling well. If you think that you can't handle STALKER, then maybe you should all just crawl back to your cribs where you belong. As fr me? I give    For the love of God, stop comparing this game to Oblivion and FEAR!!!
    FEAR sucked, it only had cheap scares, and Oblivion is only good with a couple thousand mods running at once!!!
    STALKER is based on real life. And it captures that feeling well. If you think that you can't handle STALKER, then maybe you should all just crawl back to your cribs where you belong.

    As fr me? I give it a 10 just to shove it in these babies' faces. And it deserves the 10, too.    … Expand
  9. LoganM
    Apr 9, 2009
    10
    GREAT!!!!! The only problem with me are a few bugs in the quests but this is becuse they wanted it to be almsot fully in english. If some of the characters speeches we still in russian there would be no bugs. The one phrase they left in russian is to me important. when the guy says but down ur gun its in Russian!!!! good thing I already knew waht it mean.
  10. AnonymousMC
    Aug 5, 2009
    10
    Yes it does have outdated graphics by todays standards and yes it has its bugs. But this is one of the most immersive and breathtaking game worlds I have ever played in: The detail payed to background and information about the zone, to the dark, dank labs which are sure to give the most hardened gamer a jittery trigger finger. I'm currently playing through it for a third time! And itYes it does have outdated graphics by todays standards and yes it has its bugs. But this is one of the most immersive and breathtaking game worlds I have ever played in: The detail payed to background and information about the zone, to the dark, dank labs which are sure to give the most hardened gamer a jittery trigger finger. I'm currently playing through it for a third time! And it seems to me its gotten even more scary... I would recommend this game to gamers whod dont just rely on graphics but who enjoy a good story and atmospheric games.… Expand
  11. CatalinU
    Jan 13, 2010
    10
    Probably the best FPS in the world :) For me it had a very high degree of re-playability. Finished it over 5 times till now. The game play is very realistic, specially the ballistic system for weapons. Unbelievable multiplayer action!!! Definitely a MUST PLAY game!!!
  12. Bobbys
    Jan 15, 2010
    10
    This is one of the best games i have played in a long time. By the time you are done with it you want more. Combat and story are superb. It is great just to sit around a campfire listening to the guitar in a post apocalyptic environment.. You never want to come back. Great job GSC
  13. ZachK.
    Oct 4, 2007
    10
    This game is great! The game is huge and lots of various armours and weapons.
  14. KylebK.
    Mar 23, 2007
    10
    This is a great game and a huge persistent world with realtime weather and day change. There are awesome enemies it just takes a while to progress. If you like free roaming exploration and a storyline that isn't just fed to you with a kickass atmosphere get this game. you will get lost in it. Think HL2 meets Fallout 2 meets F.E.A.R. meets Oblivion, with better graphics. better have This is a great game and a huge persistent world with realtime weather and day change. There are awesome enemies it just takes a while to progress. If you like free roaming exploration and a storyline that isn't just fed to you with a kickass atmosphere get this game. you will get lost in it. Think HL2 meets Fallout 2 meets F.E.A.R. meets Oblivion, with better graphics. better have at least a radeon X800 or Geforce 7900 GS with a decent processor though.… Expand
  15. JohnD.
    Mar 30, 2007
    10
    You know what? I didn't hope a lot for this title..for me this is just another shooter when it was hype frequently 5 years ago...but when I first got my hand into it..it just came into life..what I mean is it's like you're really a stalker.. you have a almost dark life.. your best friend would be your flashlight and gun.. you see people from far.. and when you see the You know what? I didn't hope a lot for this title..for me this is just another shooter when it was hype frequently 5 years ago...but when I first got my hand into it..it just came into life..what I mean is it's like you're really a stalker.. you have a almost dark life.. your best friend would be your flashlight and gun.. you see people from far.. and when you see the world.. it was like so beautiful for a nuclear plant..everything was so beautiful..a world that was torn apart..it's like seeing FALLOUT game again with the first person view.. and it was so scary yet interesting to travel alone in the night.. when you spot another stalker and you're in dark..just like stalker..you always want to see what he do..and everything..while you remain in dark is somewhat.. i feel lack of some first person shooter nowaday.. it is true that game like FEAR will chill you out to the bone but FEAR lack something call freedom.. I mean you can watch your enemy from a hidden spot and then think what to do..and then take out one by one or distract them is somewhat real.. to tell you in simple way,, I don't even hope something from this game..yet I ended founding something that have equality from the FALLOUT game..not the gameplay..not the story or anything else but the mood and atmosphere ..… Expand
  16. Jan
    Apr 13, 2007
    10
    Well since I wasn't really hyped before I played this game i was able to enjoy it a lot. For me this looks like an unusual big and much more exiting project than most other games. The few bugs will be fixed soon, maybe an addon in sight? I don't know but could immage one. The graphics are already pretty nice and will get a real boost with the next pc. Sound and Music create a Well since I wasn't really hyped before I played this game i was able to enjoy it a lot. For me this looks like an unusual big and much more exiting project than most other games. The few bugs will be fixed soon, maybe an addon in sight? I don't know but could immage one. The graphics are already pretty nice and will get a real boost with the next pc. Sound and Music create a good atmosphere. Generally this game just feels "true" and believable and creates a nice atmosphere. Well already had a lot of fun with this game and will have a lot more in future i guess. So 10/10… Expand
  17. Denys
    Mar 6, 2008
    10
    I'm proud of this game! I'm proud to be Ukrainian as the creators of Stalker are! Remarkable game, worth the story to be continued....
  18. DanilS.
    May 9, 2008
    10
    The best shooter ever.
  19. CorporalAmez
    Jun 1, 2008
    10
    The most atmospheric games I have ever laid my eyes on, is the basic way to put it. You never expect anything to happen more than twice when playing the game. Very scary at times as well, to make it scarier try to play the game with the brightness toned down as if night time. The only minor problem for me was the lack of some realism, such as shooting point blank at a target in the headThe most atmospheric games I have ever laid my eyes on, is the basic way to put it. You never expect anything to happen more than twice when playing the game. Very scary at times as well, to make it scarier try to play the game with the brightness toned down as if night time. The only minor problem for me was the lack of some realism, such as shooting point blank at a target in the head with the obokan it misses. Also it takes a unfair number of shots to kill a certain monster or person. Don't get me wrong I really loved this game, and I can't wait to buy Clear Sky! This is a true MYST BUY game! For 20 bucks? This is more bang for the buck without sacrificing the game play at all!… Expand
  20. DaveR
    Jul 10, 2008
    10
    This is a great game in my opinion. Love the atmosphere and the gameplay is extremely addictive. My only gripes are that the ending is lame and there should be more expansive levels. Better bonuses to the exo-suits would be a good idea too. I really hope they make a sequel for this.
  21. BenHewitt
    Aug 20, 2008
    10
    This game gave me heavy deja vu of when i was young and playing doom2, scared sh1tless because i was being hunted by grunting pink demons. I have not played a game in a long time that really rattles the nerves by atmosphere and noises alone. This is a great game.
  22. Mat
    Feb 11, 2009
    10
    I loved this game possibly rhe best shooter you can get from Morristons at 5.00 quid .Every single detail about Chernobyl is immense like how they captured the Pripyat town exact!.I dont have much to say except at any price this game is worth it and is possibly the best first person shooter i have ever played.
  23. oddA
    Aug 10, 2009
    10
    This game is simply beautyful. Not the colors and stuff, but the gameplay! The difficulty of this game is mixed with the little feeling that you CAN win! The weapons are realistic and awesome! This is one of the games where EVERY single enemy has the ability to kill you with a single headshot, so you wont be left unchallenged. If you are/want to become a great gamer, try this game. If you This game is simply beautyful. Not the colors and stuff, but the gameplay! The difficulty of this game is mixed with the little feeling that you CAN win! The weapons are realistic and awesome! This is one of the games where EVERY single enemy has the ability to kill you with a single headshot, so you wont be left unchallenged. If you are/want to become a great gamer, try this game. If you succeed you can call yourself a real gamer. But bevare, enemies will try to flank you, sometimes you must fight a whole army (10-20 people) and you will die ALOT. But you should try it out, it's pretty damn fun. The 6th best FPS i have played. (Bioshock, System shock, SS2, Doom and Deus Ex are higher if you wondered).… Expand
  24. WesM
    Jan 14, 2010
    10
    S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is definitely not a game for everybody. It can be brutally difficult, even on the normal setting. It doesn't hold your hand or cut you a break at the beginning--there's not much of a tutorial, early weapons are inaccurate and weak, and you'll die a lot. But that's part of the charm of it all. It's a rough world out there, and it's not meant to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is definitely not a game for everybody. It can be brutally difficult, even on the normal setting. It doesn't hold your hand or cut you a break at the beginning--there's not much of a tutorial, early weapons are inaccurate and weak, and you'll die a lot. But that's part of the charm of it all. It's a rough world out there, and it's not meant to be easy to survive. Whereas games like Fallout 3 make the post-apocalyptic world seem almost harmless, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. brings out what you'd expect it to be like. You're no super-human, you're a regular person, a bullet to the head will kill you just like it'll kill anyone else, and those people will try to kill you in return just to survive.… Expand
  25. NickM.
    Nov 12, 2007
    10
    My favorite game. It is intense and interesting wherever you go, what ever you do. im not even a big PC gamer, but holy crap. now i would not tell everyone to go buy the game, as i can see how some may not like it. Its smaller area then promised, its bugs and flaws, plus a lack of polish are annoying. but to most people, the non linear game play, great AI, and the realism put into every My favorite game. It is intense and interesting wherever you go, what ever you do. im not even a big PC gamer, but holy crap. now i would not tell everyone to go buy the game, as i can see how some may not like it. Its smaller area then promised, its bugs and flaws, plus a lack of polish are annoying. but to most people, the non linear game play, great AI, and the realism put into every creature will soon make you forget its flaws. there is always something to do, main storyline, side missions, arena, or even just raid any old bandit camp, everything is awsome.… Expand
  26. AlexGenius
    Dec 20, 2007
    10
    ?? - ??????, ????????? ? ?? ???? ???, ??? ?? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ???????! ??????????? ???????? ??????? ? ????? ????? ?????????? ?????????-??????, ??????? (??????? ?????? ?? ????, ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ?? (!) - ?????????, ????? ??????,) ???????, ??? ???? ??? - ??????? ????, ????????, ? ???? ???????, ???? ????????? ????? ?? ? ??????, ? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ?????????? - ??????, ????????? ? ?? ???? ???, ??? ?? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ???????! ??????????? ???????? ??????? ? ????? ????? ?????????? ?????????-??????, ??????? (??????? ?????? ?? ????, ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ?? (!) - ?????????, ????? ??????,) ???????, ??? ???? ??? - ??????? ????, ????????, ? ???? ???????, ???? ????????? ????? ?? ? ??????, ? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?? gameplay! ??? ? ???????, ?????(deer) ?? - mister T and nothing more...
    ? ????, ??? ?? ??????? ????????, ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????, ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ???????(, ?? ????????????) - 8,5    … Expand
  27. KyleB.
    Mar 23, 2007
    10
    After playing it a good 8+ hours now I have to say I'm hugely satisfied. The great initial concept of the game is created with fun and interesting game play. The missions are fun quests and the level design is almost too good to be true. On the easiest settings I'm frequently loved and subjected to lengthy loads of fun. I've encountered many compelling story After playing it a good 8+ hours now I have to say I'm hugely satisfied. The great initial concept of the game is created with fun and interesting game play. The missions are fun quests and the level design is almost too good to be true. On the easiest settings I'm frequently loved and subjected to lengthy loads of fun. I've encountered many compelling story lines--surprisingly the Chernobyl meltdown is hardly even mentioned. The "anomalies" are all just very vast and each one is exciting every time . Little flickering distortions in the air that you have to avoid or take damage. Some are kind of fiery, some kind of windy--you just walk around them automatically after 10 minutes. The quest system is just amazing. I'm constantly informed I just failed a quest that I greatly enjoyed. There's no sense of whether I'm advancing the main storyline or just doing odd jobs. (Starting the game as a character with amnesia doesn't' help). The game this reminds me of more than any is "Postal 2: Share the Pain" Yeah, everybody loved that game too. Big sprawling zones with huge fun times, factions of NPCs that are either enemy or friend depending how you treat them, and endless, very tactical firefights against other paramilitary types. And the thing that's really make me happy is that 99.9% of the enemies so far have been vast and fascinating. I've faced many scary mutants and a bunch of Resident Evil zombie dogs. Every other baddie is a large difference of my character. I don't know what the hell these guys have been working on all these years, but it was worth the wait like I was hoping. Finally, on a even more positive note, STALKER was inspired by the science fiction short story "Roadside Picnic" which I began reading along with playing the game. Ironically I find myself eager to play the $50 game and read the free story simultaneously. It's really cool!… Expand
  28. Ethan
    Mar 25, 2007
    10
    I think this game deserves a 9, but I gave it a ten to balance out Kyleb's double vote of 3. For those of you who have been following the game for years, you will be slightly disappointed. The game involves a lot more standard 1 vs army fps gameplay than I expected, and the Zone isn't as dynamic and alive as I had thought. Every AI does have its own agenda, and the AI is very I think this game deserves a 9, but I gave it a ten to balance out Kyleb's double vote of 3. For those of you who have been following the game for years, you will be slightly disappointed. The game involves a lot more standard 1 vs army fps gameplay than I expected, and the Zone isn't as dynamic and alive as I had thought. Every AI does have its own agenda, and the AI is very good. Unfortunately, the main quests do involve spawned enemies. However, if you've never heard of Stalker before, you have nothing to be sour about. The game does chug a bit, and as of March 23rd it is very hard to find a good server for net play. There are few dedicated servers, and you can expect multiplayer to be too laggy to enjoy. Hopefully this will be fixed soon. All of the other good things to be said about the game can be read elsewhere. I think it was definitely worth my 40 dollars.… Expand
  29. KennethM.
    Mar 26, 2007
    10
    The most immersive atmospheric and terrifying game I have ever played Some minor flaws, a couple of questionable ommisions, but over all, the best fpsrpg ever.
  30. DelvinS.
    Mar 27, 2007
    10
    I've only played a few hours of this. It is moderately hard, so be conservative in just going for the first missions right away. Honestly, this game is the most unnerving game in its realism, you actually almost FEEL you are breathing this sickly radioactive air walking around this devastated and infected area dizzied by blows from enemies. I have to say this is the first game that I I've only played a few hours of this. It is moderately hard, so be conservative in just going for the first missions right away. Honestly, this game is the most unnerving game in its realism, you actually almost FEEL you are breathing this sickly radioactive air walking around this devastated and infected area dizzied by blows from enemies. I have to say this is the first game that I am actually affected by this intensely. It'll probably take JERICHO, but this is one scary experience. There is so much sensory play and creepiness that it takes a special person to appreciate it. Like I said, only a few hours and I'm scared to play it. I love it. The storyline's a bit vague, but hey.. that's what WE have imaginations for. I don't have to know yet. I believe there's probably one way that gives you the best ending. Either way, the realism is beautifully implemented in the organic engine this game uses. You'll notice on repeat missions (which you'll have a few), that the weather's changed or monsters, etc are there. Not as much obvious scripting, it's really mindblowing. I don't mind the press ESC save function. I think the graphics are great even for today. The smoothness helps everything seem living and breathing. All is fairly detailed, it's just the landscape is not 'pretty. I keep getting paranoid to leave camp after dark for what lies out there. I haven't even touched multiplayer yet. More fun. This game rules, BUY IT.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PC Game of 2007
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
8
#8 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. PC Zone UK
    85
    As a brave experiment in all-action shootery, STALKER has certainly succeeded, though with its dearth of personality and many peculiar foibles, you can't help but wish that the publishers had granted GSC some extra time to polish their creation. Oh, hang on a minute... [Apr 2007, p.56]
  2. Eurogamer
    80
    It's a warped behemoth from the Ukraine, and one of the scariest games on the PC. Stalker will remind you of all kinds of prior games, and yet it will also defy your expectations. Like the mythological Chernobyl zone it is based upon, this game is a treacherous, darkly beautiful terrain. Not everyone is going to enjoy venturing into the zone, but some of those who do will find what they've been looking for.
    Read full review
  3. Computer and Video Games
    80
    Littered with a variety of anomalies which can cause the unwary to explode and other delightful stuff, mutant doggies, deserted buildings, weather effects, real-time day/night cycles etc. etc. - it creates a deliciously unique atmosphere.
    Read full review
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