S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

CoP gets everything that the previous two did right, and adds a little more. Almost all of the glaring gameplay issues from the previous installments are gone or at the very least have been lessened by new features. My only disappointment with this is that there isn't quite as many shoot outs like before since most of the enemies will be mutants (depending on how you play :) ). A tip for you newcomers to this game: Sometimes you will see you got an achievement. Those achievements aren't just for show; they give special benefits that help you! Check your in game PDA for details on them.

Although I believe the vanilla experience to be a decent one, which deserves at least one playthrough, what holds this game back from excellence is its lack of polish. I would strongly suggest the MISERY 2 mod for an intense, immersive, and even frightening experience. This mod basically accentuates the game's survival aspect and enhances the atmosphere. Unlike SoC, your behavior here won't have as much of an impact on the ending, but certain choices do matter, thus it's possible to experience a variety of consequences throughout the game. SoC is more story driven, while CoP provides you with a simple purpose and gives you the freedom to traverse its 3 big maps how you please. Play nothing less than the master difficulty if you want the most realistic experience. Unlike other games, the hardest difficulty here doesn't just make you easier to kill; everyone becomes fragile. I simply love this game and can't recommend it enough to other post-apocalypse survival enthusiasts. There are zombies, too. Now get out of here, stalker, and for god's sake, remember to throw a bolt.

When I try to discuss the matter of "atmosphere" in games, I can not help but bring up the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series. I recall spending hours exploring the surface world expecting an emission at any moment, and the excitement of delving into old bunkers not knowing what lies in waiting in the dark. On many occasions I recall leaping in my seat as I was set upon by some grotesque horror, which earned me more than a few odd looks from anyone nearby. It proved to be a very satisfying experience, one which I can certainly recommend!

STALKER: Call of Pripyat is probably the best of the STALKER trilogy, in part becauase it is the most polished out of the box, and is completely playable without mods, compared to Shadow of Chernobyl or Clear Sky. CoP probably has one of the best atmospheres in any game I've ever played; the Zone feels alive, and at times, it feels like the Zone itself is the real enemy of the game, rather than the bandits and mutants that call the Zone home. Call of Pripyat is not a twitch shooter like Call of Duty; you can only carry 50 kilos of equipment, meaning you will likely only ever carry two guns, a few spare magazines, food to keep from getting hungry, and first aid kits and bandages to tend to your wounds, stop bleeding, and treating radiation. Call of Pripyat is an excellent game, and if you love shooters, survival games, and an excellent game in general, it's hard to go wrong with CoP. You can spend hours wandering the Zone for loot, artifacts, and more. Do not pass this under-rated but excellent game up.