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

This is not even close to a perfect game. It's rather obtuse with the story; there's a few "fake" endings and a couple "real" ones, and getting the real one feels like side missions until it all comes together. Some sequences are hard hard, as in, I tend to play games on the second easiest difficulty, as I left the part of my life where challenge itself was a driving factor of fun, and now I'm really just here for story and gameplay; even on the easier difficulties, as you sit in god-tier armor, guns that fit your exact playstyle, enough medkits to open a hospital yourself, there are parts of the end where you need to fight during the daytime with your back to a wall and something bulletproof in front of you to have a good chance of winning that gunfight. The story is delivered mostly through fetch quests, and you're running the whole time, because you usually don't need to go back, invalidating the merit of fast travel between hubs. All that complaining to say, I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5 if I could, but I can't so I'm rounding up instead of down, because it's worth it. This and both of its sequels are games that you play through and think at times, "Ugh, what a slog." When you finish them however, you feel like something is missing from your life, like finishing a good book. Its pieces are a mess, but when assembled, form a wonderful art piece, and you understand the obsession so many people have with this series.

+ The first of the series that sets a good base for the rest of the series plot-wise. + Game has iconic voice acting and "script writing" (whether intentional or not) that continues to ensure that it's always going to be a well-loved game. + Relatively realistic gun play. + Nice and atmospheric. + Modding community is very active and continues to support the game long after the developers have moved onto develop newer games. - Glitchy.

The Map is huge and the shooting and exploring is realistic and immersive.

The game is not for terminators who are used to killing everyone in games while chewing a sandwich, for them this game is pain and destruction of all the usual canons ))

This game offers horror, jump scares (unscripted), fps and alot of story and places that I experienced breathtaking and really caught the desolate and gloomy feeling. I like the stalker series because it offers something different than the regular type of mainstream games out there. However to get the best out of shadow of chernobyl you need to update it with the shadow of chernobyl starter pack, that improves the game in terms of game technical aspects and makes it simply work better. The starter pack can be found here: https://www.moddb.com/mods/starter-pack/downloads If you wan to experience something different, you should give the stalker series a shot.