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

I’m sorry, I’m not able to describe this game. I can’t explain what really make me love this game so much. The atmosphere is wonderful. Living in the zone and breathing the radiation filled air of Chernobyl is an unique game experience. In the internet it is possible to find some game mods to smooth the few game “asperities”. Wonderful game.

This is a u cut gem that should be played by everyone at least once. Back when it was released, technical limitations and ridicoulous development (seriously, some one should make a documentary about making of STALKER) held it back from being perfect. Nowadays tho, with community patches this game is a must play. There are no other games like this - a blend of FPS, Open World survival and atmospheric horror. Add in some slight RPG elements, several ending based on your actions and epic setting - you have to play this. For me personally, SHOC will always be one of the games that shaped me as a person.

The late 2000s were a depressing era for video games. Everything was a generic shooter with a bleak brown realism filter over everything and on the surface S.T.A.L.K.E.R appears no different. It's only through a miraculous combination of small things coming together that it works. You're dropped into a harsh environment with your only direction coming from a surly, greedy, fat old guy. Others have come to the same place for various reasons. They'll reward you if you help them out but mostly keep to themselves. Most dialogue exchanges are brief. Bandits will try to kill you and loot your corpse if you keep to the beaten path. Environmental hazards and hideous mutants are waiting for you if you decide otherwise. Few games can instill such a sense of isolation and paranoia despite feeling so populated and alive. NPCs all have their own agenda, which they carry out in the background, your own input having little effect. The gameplay has a great sense of progression too. It's a shooter, but you're stuck with pistols and the worst shotguns ever for quite a while. The minute you finally get your hands on an AK-74 is pure bliss. As is the moment you get a scope and start sniping. Human enemies are hitscan aimbots up close, so being able to reliably hit them from a distance is a godsend. The game does go wrong in a few places, namely the pointless survival mechanics. Enemies drop resources, especially food, all the time, no matter the difficulty. The hunger stuff just seems to be an excuse to force you to carry more stuff for your weight limit. Some levels like the Dark Valley are thoroughly tedious. And of course, there are object positioning bugs everywhere. But, man. That feel you get when you brave all the dangers of the Zone, all the demons inside and outside your head, go to the bar and trade in your hobo clothes for stormtrooper armor and your hillbilly shotgun for an assault rifle? That's worth at least $20.

I swear this is one of the best stories I've experienced. this game is tons of fun. it is so worth it.

Significant content was removed from the current release.