On April 26, 1986 at 1.23am, reactor 4 of the VL Lenin Memorial Nuclear Power Station went into meltdown, spewing radioactive material over a massive area of the Ukrainian township of Chernobyl.
It was the worst nuclear accident in history (as far as this game is concerned anyway), killing and seriously injuring thousands of people, and leaving generations of families maimed and disfigured.
In the new first-person shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R. from Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, some 20 years later a second incident occurred - an explosion within reactor 4 during a seemingly routine clean-up operation, contaminating an even larger area and spreading even more toxic radioactive waste across the entire Eastern European continent.
But instead of killing thousands of people, it had a much greater, deadlier after-effect.
Creatures more hideous than could be imagined were spawned, and strange paranormal phenomenon has been reported across a widespread area now known as The Zone.
In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl, you play as the Marked One, a heavily armed mercenary, suffering from a severe case of amnesia and somehow trapped inside the deadly exclusion zone that has been set up around the Chernobyl nuclear power station.
You job is simple - to survive, somehow, and regain your memory while making it out of The Zone in one piece - or close enough to it.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an incredibly immersive first-person shooter, set amongst the backdrop of some of the most breathtaking scenery ever featured in a game of this genre.
To survive and complete the single-player campaign, Marked One will rely heavily on his wits, forging alliances with other stalkers and armed factions, and a seemingly unending supply of weaponry in your fight against mutant beings, wild animals and many other rather unpleasant non-playing characters.
And if your campaign is to be a successful one, you will also have to master the art of scavenging almost anything that isn’t bolted, glued, fixed or melted down - including replacement weapons, ammunition, health packs, food (yes, you will need to eat and drink), radiation antidotes and other various items that you can trade for money or other more necessary items and equipment.
The game engine itself is highly impressive, and one you’ll be required to master it efficiently and expediently. Good coordination between keyboard and mouse is essential to success.
The game’s AI is also a strong-point, with other human enemies and creatures taking full advantage of their surroundings during combat, as well as a fair degree of teamwork and tactics.
Visually, the game is spectacular. The in-game graphics and backgrounds are as exceptional as any RPG on the market.
The audio soundtrack is similarly dazzling, with the wind rustling through the fields and the cries of anguish and terror from distant beasts and creatures alike enough to send shivers down the spine of any hardened gamer.
The Russian and Ukrainian dialogue spoken by all the characters, smattered with snippets of broken English, gives the game a unique feel.
But fear not, the English subtitles add a nice touch.
The atmosphere created within S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is first-class, while the gameplay is undiluted excitement at every turn.
What sets S.T.A.L.K.E.R. apart from other RPG-cum first-person shooters is its ability to break away from the customary linear gameplay. There are no set paths to take, no storyline that must be followed to complete the overall mission and any number of extraneous missions that come your way.
The player is free to roam unimpeded throughout the entire game world, and interact with anyone or anything at any time.
It’s not an simple, straightforward game by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a rewarding experience for gamers looking for a unique and demanding game experience.
It was the worst nuclear accident in history (as far as this game is concerned anyway), killing and seriously injuring thousands of people, and leaving generations of families maimed and disfigured.
In the new first-person shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R. from Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, some 20 years later a second incident occurred - an explosion within reactor 4 during a seemingly routine clean-up operation, contaminating an even larger area and spreading even more toxic radioactive waste across the entire Eastern European continent.
But instead of killing thousands of people, it had a much greater, deadlier after-effect.
Creatures more hideous than could be imagined were spawned, and strange paranormal phenomenon has been reported across a widespread area now known as The Zone.
In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl, you play as the Marked One, a heavily armed mercenary, suffering from a severe case of amnesia and somehow trapped inside the deadly exclusion zone that has been set up around the Chernobyl nuclear power station.
You job is simple - to survive, somehow, and regain your memory while making it out of The Zone in one piece - or close enough to it.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an incredibly immersive first-person shooter, set amongst the backdrop of some of the most breathtaking scenery ever featured in a game of this genre.
To survive and complete the single-player campaign, Marked One will rely heavily on his wits, forging alliances with other stalkers and armed factions, and a seemingly unending supply of weaponry in your fight against mutant beings, wild animals and many other rather unpleasant non-playing characters.
And if your campaign is to be a successful one, you will also have to master the art of scavenging almost anything that isn’t bolted, glued, fixed or melted down - including replacement weapons, ammunition, health packs, food (yes, you will need to eat and drink), radiation antidotes and other various items that you can trade for money or other more necessary items and equipment.
The game engine itself is highly impressive, and one you’ll be required to master it efficiently and expediently. Good coordination between keyboard and mouse is essential to success.
The game’s AI is also a strong-point, with other human enemies and creatures taking full advantage of their surroundings during combat, as well as a fair degree of teamwork and tactics.
Visually, the game is spectacular. The in-game graphics and backgrounds are as exceptional as any RPG on the market.
The audio soundtrack is similarly dazzling, with the wind rustling through the fields and the cries of anguish and terror from distant beasts and creatures alike enough to send shivers down the spine of any hardened gamer.
The Russian and Ukrainian dialogue spoken by all the characters, smattered with snippets of broken English, gives the game a unique feel.
But fear not, the English subtitles add a nice touch.
The atmosphere created within S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is first-class, while the gameplay is undiluted excitement at every turn.
What sets S.T.A.L.K.E.R. apart from other RPG-cum first-person shooters is its ability to break away from the customary linear gameplay. There are no set paths to take, no storyline that must be followed to complete the overall mission and any number of extraneous missions that come your way.
The player is free to roam unimpeded throughout the entire game world, and interact with anyone or anything at any time.
It’s not an simple, straightforward game by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a rewarding experience for gamers looking for a unique and demanding game experience.
WE RATE IT
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 9
OVERALL: 92%
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 9
OVERALL: 92%
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