Gameplay

Most games fall into well defined genres, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R is an exception to the rule. It can’t really be classified as an RPG, even though it offers many of the genre’s attributes, and it can’t be called a pure FPS either, seeing as it has those RPG elements. While this isn’t anything new per say (Deus Ex for example), GSC Game World dared to try and mix two genres, creating the unique experience that is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Starting with the FPS part of the game, with the exception of the Tom Clancy games, most of the shooters I’ve played in recent memory have been far from lifelike. However, this wasn’t the case with S.T.A.L.K.E.R, which came as a bit of a surprise to be honest, given that it opted for a more realistic style of shooting. Within the first few minutes, gamers will realize that pointing a gun at an enemy and holding the trigger isn’t ever going to get them a kill. In fact, GSC Game World forces the player to be mindful of each gun’s characteristics, as well as use short bursts of firepower to achieve the accuracy required for survival in the game’s Zone. While I’ll agree that none of this is anything revolutionary, not many FPSs play like GSC Game World’s shooter, which makes it slightly unique (and trust me; that’s a good thing).

As for the RPG part of the game, don’t expect anything ground-breaking because you won’t find it. There aren’t any classes or various skills to play with, though the game does allow the player to manage a few basic elements, such as clothing, food and such. While it isn’t an Oblivion, it does have its merits, seeing as it diversifies the gameplay, adding another aspect on top of the shooting, which I appreciated greatly. Actually, come to think of it, the mix of RPG and FPS create the “survival” aspect of the game feel real. Surviving in the Zone which is filled with radiation, mercenaries, mutants and military is something I hadn’t experienced in any game before. And of course, how can one forget the fact that the Zone is gigantic, open world that will take players hours to explore.

Unfortunately, S.T.A.L.K.E.R does have its faults, which end up ruining some of the appeal. For starters, the PDA that one has to use throughout the entire game has a pathetic interface, meaning you can never find out the information that you want. In addition, even though the Zone is quite large, it does feel slightly “boxed in” because of diverse obstacles like barbed fences. But worse than the somewhat claustrophobic feeling of the Zone, is that you won’t end up exploring much of it since there isn’t any incentive to do so. More often than not, you loose ammo and health over nothing…

 

Quicktime VR Movies - (requires Quicktime)

Right Click on image, save as to desktop

Right Click on image, save as to desktop

Right Click on image, save as to desktop

Right Click on image, save as to desktop

 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Real Time Lighting Effects

 

Impressions

Overall, S.T.A.L.K.E.R left a positive impression on me, even though initially, I disliked the game quite a bit. On the surface, GSC Game World’s title doesn’t deliver everything that had been originally shown so many years ago, like vehicles and a more in-depth RPG aspect. In addition, not only are the graphics far from gorgeous, but the 3D engine that renders them is quite poor to be frank. Crashes and bugs are a typical sighting when playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R, which is quite sad, especially when one remembers that this game has been in development for more than six years.

But as I persevered, the game began to grow on me and soon enough, I couldn’t get enough of it. The sound effects are a real treat for the ears, as is the demanding gameplay, though for newcomers to the FPS genre, the steep learning curve can be annoying. But best of all is the atmosphere that the game creates, immersing you into a post apocalyptic Chernobyl. All in all, even though this game has taken its sweet’ole time coming out onto PC, now that it’s finally here, its set the bar high for games hoping to merge RPG and FPS elements. There are many mistakes, but thankfully, they don’t end up ruining the enjoyment to be had from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Read the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Journals

 

Gameplay	17/20	A lot of the originally planned features were cut down the line, but what remains is still a solid, very realistic shooter based in a post-apocalyptic world.
Graphics	16/20	Some of the textures looks delicious and at times the game looks photorealistic. The characters and animations are lacking though, and the performance far from perfect.
Sound	17/20	The sound effects are top notch – you can feel the Zone around yourself with a good audio setup. There is not a lot of music in the game, but most of the time that helps with immersion.
Value	16/20	The game is not short, and there are plenty of side quests. The game is still very linear though and it if wasn’t for the solid online play you would only get 20 odd hours out of it.
Preference	16/20	Killing enemies takes more skill than you might be used to, but with practice anything is possible. Not many RPG elements can be found in the game either, so you could consider this sort of a Deus Ex lite.
Overall	82/100	The long years of development hurt Stalker in the long run. The engine is showing its age in parts, but for the most part it still does well. The game is still very buggy as well, but underneath it all there is a jewel hidden. It may be toxic from the radiation, but it’s still a jewel.

What do these awards mean?