As an old-timer gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must admit that the hype surrounding Stalker 2 has been hard to ignore. Having missed out on the original, I was eager to dive into its sequel as soon as it was announced.
Despite not having played the original Stalker (or S.T.A.L.K.E.R, if you prefer a more informal tone), I’ve heard such rave reviews about it that I’ve been eagerly awaiting news of its sequel since its announcement.
Following a half-hour playthrough of the initial part of GSC Game World’s horror shooter/immersive sim, I am confident that it has the potential to become a surprise sensation in 2024.
Welcome to Chornobyl
From the get-go, it’s evident that a significant amount of skill has been poured into crafting Stalker 2 as an exceptionally beautiful game, although not in the traditional sense.
Its digital rendition of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone isn’t meant to inspire with moments of beauty, nor is it meant to offer stunning vistas. It’s designed to make you feel alone, ill at ease, and on edge.
In this rephrasing, I’ve aimed to maintain the original intent while making it more conversational and easier to understand:
At the start of the game, Skif (the main character) is given the mission to secretly enter The Zone to link up with a contact. Following this, he needs to position a scanner in various spots. A detonation serves as a distraction, causing the forces to move elsewhere. Despite encountering no adversaries initially, the tense environment persistently gives you the feeling that you’re being watched.
The best-laid plans
Of course, things don’t usually go as planned, do they? Since your connection is out, you’ll have to navigate deeper into the area to activate the detectors.
In an unexpected turn of events, a flash of light catches your eye from the corner, repeating strangely. Soon after, you hear footsteps echoing nearby, and then a hooded figure materializes. This isn’t a major battle or a planned event, but rather a heart-pounding moment amidst many such moments.
At some stage, an unseen power started pelting objects towards me, leaving me with no other option than to flee. Shortly after, I positioned the scanner in its ultimate spot, but soon enough, a sniper appeared and opened fire on some of the adversaries surrounding me before my mission concluded.
After being thoroughly captivated, I found myself eagerly anticipating the next chapter of Skif’s story following the suspenseful finale, without giving away any spoilers.
Additionally, it’s important to mention that the game offers an enjoyable experience when played with an Xbox controller, even though its roots are in being a PC-centric series initially. This should bring joy to those who plan to play it via Game Pass later in the year.
Final Thoughts
From being an intriguing title to becoming one of my most eagerly awaited games this year, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has certainly piqued my interest. Even though I’m not well-versed in the series, it seems like a perfect moment to immerse myself in a chilling, disquieting open-world shooter experience.
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2024-08-27 16:43