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

The third and last instalment goes back to revisiting some cult locations of the first game and the signature klicking of the Geiger counter is your constant companion along the way. An incredibly 'alive' game and very worthwile to play, much for the same strenghts as the previous instalments.

Not as atmospheric as the SoC Stalker, but still has its moments. Bad gun sounds, some are extremely loud, bordering on ear-damaging, some are barely discernible. Graphics have aged well (end of 2020).

OK, I played all three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games and like them all. I still think SoC is the best, bt CoP is a worthy ending of this trilogy. And it did something few other games ever managed: Almost gave me nightmares. OK, I hope I am not giving away much by way of spoilers, but as you probably know, once you finish the main story, the game remains open for free play. The final act of the main storyline in my case was an epic gunbattle in the middle of Pripyat, in the dead of the night. Once we "won", the NPC team was evacuated by helicopter, and I was offered the choice of either joining them (ending the game) or staying behind. Naturally, I chose the latter. So the NPCs board the chopper, the chopper leaves, its sound fades... and there I was, in the middle of a pitch dark Pripyat, completely alone, surrounded only by the corpses left behind by the battle. And it was the eeriest experience imaginable. So much so, I sensed almost a physical sense of relief when I finally made it back to a building that, much to my relief, was not abandoned but had NPC humans in it. Finally... light, voices, signs of life. Sheesh, get a grip of yourself! It's just a silly computer game! Yes, that's how atmospheric these games really are. As a footnote, not long after I finished CoP, I came across a picture on the Internet: A photo of the Yanov railway station, which is currently used as a warehouse. I recognized it immediately, because it looks just like in the game.

As flawed as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R games are as a whole, they all carry a distinctive feel and atmosphere, each and every single one of them, including Clear Sky, it's in my book an incredible game, I’ve always had problem persisting through them and actually playing them from start to finish, but with Call of Pripyat it's clear to me that a lot has changed in me and the way I relate to this games, and it's been for the better. Looking at this games with different eyes, I can now say there's truly nothing like them, they deserve all the praise they get, plus thanks to modding and the community behind it, there's still new and fresh discussion going around this games, I loved them all, but Pripyat it's the one that's widely regarded as the best of the trilogy, either way, this is one of those games you need to sit down, persist, and play, there's really nothing like it out there. I love it because of it's "primitivity" but I love it more because it can push through it and appeal with it's individuality. Truly an amazing game, and something every person that feels passionate about gaming needs to play.

Improved gameplay, new map, new story and characters. We start from a different point of view as you are soldier. You are in a different part of the Zone, just after the end of Shadow of Chernobyl. This game makes you feel what it is to be a stalker in the Zone, to trust no one or to have friends. You can make choices that will influence the story. Some places look very similar to actual places, it makes everything more realistic, as if the stalker universe wasn't far from our. An awesome and unique post-apocaliptic experience. I wish for another episode !