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

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers us a powerful adventure of radioactive terror. A first-person horror sim with survival elements in which we will have to learn to survive and improve our equipment to reach the end of its complex plot. Monsters, anomalies and enemy factions join the arid terrain and dangerous emissions to turn the proposal into a unique experience in which learning and intuition are as important as exploration and quick thinking when advancing.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl masterfully combines multiple genres to deliver an unmissable and entirely open world horror experience. Touting unparalleled emergent gameplay, stellar atmosphere, a captivating story, and gorgeous visuals, this is easily one of the best games available on Xbox Series X/S, even with the technical issues that hamper it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers an unmatched, immersive journey through the hauntingly atmospheric Zone, with engaging exploration, gripping non-linear storytelling, and intense survival-focused combat. However, its ambition is weighed down by technical flaws and performance issues. Happy hunting, stalker!

It's everything you would expect from a remake of STALKER. It's everything good about the original, modernized and more ambitious. And despite enduring a total war in their country, they've managed to pull off a truly great game. Probably a unique case in the industry.

Not a sudden war nor fifteen years in development stopped the people at GSC Game World from showing their potential once again: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl delivers on almost all fronts, giving us a cruel and immersive world in which we can all get lost. We already know we won't have to wait too long for multiplayer and mod support, but let's also hope we won't have to wait another fifteen years for another game like this.

At its current state, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is practically crippled by tons of bugs and technical issues. Do we care? Absolutely not! S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a majestic return to the brutal and unforgiving world of Chernobyl; it’s deep, complex, insanely atmospheric, and exactly what a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fan would want from a sequel. It’s a miracle that GCS Game World managed to release the game in the first place given the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the technical issues are something that will be eventually ironed out. What matters is the strong core gameplay, stunning visuals, and exceptional setting and atmosphere. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is not a game for the typical first-person shooter fan; you have to feel it, absorb it, and live it. Happy hunting Stalker.

After a tumultuous dev cycle, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shines despite some rough edges.

It is a unique experience that isn’t comfortable, but never tries to be. It encourages exploration, contemplation and, when required, swift brutality in equal measure and most of all it is a game that believes in its world so wholeheartedly it is impossible to avoid being drawn in. I won’t say I loved every minute of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, some of those minutes I was an absolute nervous wreck, but I will say that I am incredibly glad I got to experience it.

It’s a game that constructs a glorious playground, in which you can always find entertainment that suits your mood. It’s bleak, but never forbidding.

There’s no doubt that this is one of the most immersive, grittiest, most brutal of games, for multiple reasons. However, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl goes and shoots itself in the foot on a few too many occasions. Bugs and glitches are to be expected for an open world game that attempts so much, but only with some polish and refinement will S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shine as a masterpiece of open-world survival horror.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an independent game, in the truest meaning of the term, and, beyond the hook of its mysteries, you may be drawn to it by virtue of being tired of other things.

An inspired mix of first person shooter, role-playing game, and survival horror that offers up one of the most compelling, and interactive, open world environments this generation.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is one of the most haunting and atmospheric survival games of this generation. Small bugs and AI issues here and there mean that it is a little rough around the edges but the game’s world, atmosphere, and combat are breathtaking. Stalker 2 holds nothing back and forces you to play by its rules and is all the more refreshing because of it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a flawed but fascinating game. It is unresolved but full of atmosphere. Although lacking in many aspects, it is rich in survival elements that will delight the most hardcore fans. In short, it is a unique game—for better or worse.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique experience within post-apocalyptic games. Unfortunately, everything falls apart due to a myriad of bugs and technical problems. We are hopeful, because beneath the radiation lies a game with enormous potential, but at the moment it is not advisable to enter the Zone.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl feels like a two-sided coin. On the one hand it offers one of the best open world experiences to be found in an FPS, but on the other it has significant technical problems. We still recommend playing it and not being put off by some of the obstacles, because it is an experience worth trying.

Stalker 2‘s bugs and issues are numerous and severe, but it stands as a testament to how great the game buried underneath them is that it still manages to shine.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl stays true to the series, offering a challenging experience filled with moral dilemmas, tough decision-making, and demanding but rewarding gameplay. However, the game's current state might pose a hurdle for some players due to some issues at the moment. While some initial bugs have been addressed, further improvements are expected in the future.

There’s a wonderful game tucked away underneath S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 impenetrable surface. When riding high on the ability to go 15 minutes without dying and surviving back-to-back enemy encounters, it works as developer GSC Game World likely intended. At a time when gamers are more willing than ever to play games that challenge them to be more deliberate about their actions, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will undoubtedly find its audience for years to come as its predecessor did. For fans of the source material — there’s an added layer of artful frustration that mirrors the nihilistic world set forth by the authors...With the inevitable mod scene, expansions, and patches that come along will only improve the solid foundation here. But as it stands now, the vanilla version of the game is more frustrating than it should be, oftentimes not by design, but by the lack of polish that pervades its world.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique experience in the modern video game landscape that deserves to be commended. GSC Game World's FPS offers total immersion in a fascinating post-apocalyptic universe, a survivalist vision that is (too) rare in video games and an unparalleled atmosphere. Unfortunately, it also suffers from several problems that prevent it from achieving excellence, starting with its technical delay, its improvable AI and its story that struggles to assert itself. Stalker 2 will appeal above all to fans of the genre who will be able to ignore all its mistakes.

Although Stalker 2 presents us with an excellent atmosphere in a world where there is a lot to do and explore, technically the game is a mess. The title suffers from many bugs and glitches, looks graphically outdated and the AI is not too good. Despite its long development time, the game is a diamond in the rough, which will get better over time, but it is a shame that the game did not release in better condition. Underneath the criticisms, however, is an exciting game that is nevertheless worth playing.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is great when it's not mired in sameness and technical flaws. In the moments when the game is working as it should, I found great narratives, had fun fighting soldiers and monsters and enjoyed exploring the regions of the Exclusion Zone. If played calmly and after major corrections, STALKER 2 can be a very satisfying experience, but at the moment it has become one of the most stressful gaming experiences of my life.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is one of the greatest disappointments of 2024. A technical mess combined with poor gameplay and a very hard to follow story.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an achievement for so many reasons. As well as being the little game that could, given the team’s real-world challenges, the game doubles down on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. way, delivering a sublimely realised sense of place with the Zone. Unfortunately, so much of the console experience is rendered so disappointingly undercooked.

Stalker 2 is not a complete disaster. But the game is much closer to that than it is to a good game. Especially the worse balancing and the poor, faulty AI lead to a high interference to some nice mechanics and typical elements from the predecessors. I you are a die hard fan of the Stalker series it's probably worth taking a look. But if not, there is a very high chance you might regret a purchase.

It has constructed a fascinatingly hostile and deliberately unstable environment. But the lack of strong characterisation, the clumsy interface and the sheer anarchy of the world are obstacles to truly enjoying being in the zone.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is lucky to have seen the light of day. The trade-off is one of the rockiest launches since Cyberpunk 2077. The game is already a very specific acquired taste, but compounded with the hopelessly unplayable state, it cannot be recommended...yet. Maybe one day after the developers' home is free from the global strife, they can take the time to salvage what could be a pretty cool game. Until then, stay safe, stalkers.

Stalker 2 is certainly not a bad game. However, it is one that was released far too early and with clear flaws within its game design.

Rather than a world that feels dispassionate toward your presence, as though you’re any other wasteland wanderer, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s allegiance to hardship for the sake of hardship comes off as antagonistic.