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

Not only are the graphics top-notch, (better than Oblivions graphics) but the gameplay, AI, and atmosphere are all top-notch.It's also the creepiest and scariest fps I've ever played since Condemned, Half-Life 2 and Doom 3.

It's not Oblivion with guns.Nor is it a Doom 3 or Halo type game.It is open-ended and free-roaming,.. but instead of one HUGE map you have about 10 or so Battlefield 2 map size areas linked together, with loading screens inbetween. It has day & night cycles,.. rain,.. strong winds (complete with leaves and dust blowing around. The grass even reacts to the wind realisticly.It's got full dynamic lighting(if your videocard can support that) where everything,.. including the grass casts shadows from any and all lightg sources.)

The atmosphere reminds me of the run-down and abandoned areas of Half-Life 2,.. complete with weird monsters and enemy humans with very very good AI.
There are two separate factions you can choose between to join,.. or you can ignore them and stick to the main quest,.. and there are also many side quests."Stashes" are hidden supplies tucked away in containers in hidden areas all over the game, hidden by other NPCs for you to raid and then deposit your own extra supplies you may need later.

Guns can get worn out with excessive use and jam.Scopes can be attached to rifles.There are different types of ammo for each gun that will penetrate different materials.There is food, and after a while your character will get hungry.There is vodka to help reduce the effects of radiation poisoning just in case you don't have any anti-radiation meds on you.There are even energy drinks that will instantly refill your fatiguemeter from sprinting a lot.

When you are shot, you bleed.So not only are there medkits, but there are also bandages to put on your wounds.Each gun has it's own stats such as damage, accuracy, handling, and range.The gun accuracy is semi-realistic.Sort of like Battlefield 2,.. but better.There is reagular FPS view with the gun to the right of the screen,.. and there is "ironsights" view activated when you right-click for better aiming.

Dead bodies remain for an extremely long time.You can even drag them around.Some creatures will even eat and drag the bodies around.When you've gone through a map and killed everything,.. more enemies will return when or if you come back so that an area is never empty and boring.

There are hundreds of anomolies (hazard spots) scattered all over the game that can shock you, cause you to implode, irradiate you, or burn you alive.There are also artifacts with different powers and side effects you can eqip for some extra help.(some will reduce your damage from bullets or creatures, shock, increase your sprinting time, or reduce radiation in your body.

The story is mainly told through text entries in you PDA and character conversations. So it's up to you to keep up with the story.Often side missions will respawn,.. but it's up to you if you want to do them anyway.It's really easy to earn lots of money,.. and most of the guns, ammo, and supplies you need can be scavanged off of the dead bodies of your enemies (or friends),.. so there's not a lot to use money for.

This isn't a linear game where you always know what to do and you always have the upper-hand.It's up to you to connect the dots and figure out how to survive.It's a game for people who like to explore,..and want combat that is more serious.You can't go around like in GTA blowing everything up. You have to actually develop the skill to handle the guns and to take cover, as well as knowing when to avoid combat or retreat.

It isn't compatible with Vista yet. (but a patch may soon fix that.)

You really need a PC that meets the recommended specs so you can turn all the graphics up and enjoy it to it's fullest. (duh. True for any PC game.)

I currently have an AMD dual core 4200, Geforce 7950 with 512 mb ram, 2 gb of DDR ram, and XP sp2 and I can play the game with graphics on maximum and have perfect performance.










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