S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl feels like it shouldn't even exist. Developed by GSC Game World, the sequel has emerged against all odds—overcoming a troubled development history, studio closures, and the recent, unimaginable challenges of creating a massive AAA title in war-torn Ukraine. Yet here we are, with a sequel to one of the most beloved immersive survival shooters.

Films and video games about Chernobyl are somewhat personal to me. It's just that I have family in Ukraine, and stories relating to Chernobyl hold a special meaning for me, making this title all the more interesting ever since the very first announcement. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is said to bring back the immersive atmosphere, oppressive gameplay, and engrossing story of its once glorious predecessors while also becoming the epitome of hope and creativity in the hardest of times that the country is going through.

The hardest part of this review is capturing what truly defines a Stalker game. Simply put, the gameplay of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl feels like a blend of PUBG-style shooting set within one of the largest open worlds you'll encounter—an immense 60-square-kilometer slice of Ukraine. The scale is intimidating yet incredibly immersive. While the game includes an easy mode, dedicated fans of the series will undoubtedly stick with the default difficulty.

I won't spoil much of the story, but here's a general idea of what you can expect. The writing so far feels strong and will resonate with fans of the original games. It doesn't try to revolutionize the formula, but that's part of its charm. You'll find yourself pulled into the enigmatic Zone, the action of which has to do with the well-known Chernobyl nuclear power station, the Monolith, and the weird occurrences around them.

You play as Skiff, a newcomer to the ranks of stalkers scavenging the Zone surrounding Chernobyl. The Zone is the main focus of the series, and this game builds upon it in a lot of interesting ways. All three areas were explored before coming back, but this time, it was accompanied by a whole new load of other locations. But not everything is given for free—some story decisions can block or reveal certain zones instead of enriching the exploration process.

There are certain familiar factions like Duty, Freedom, and the Mercenaries who have all returned and are still trying to stay alive or make a profit in the very inhospitable Zone. So, the game has a lot of dialogue, especially in the main story and side quests. Most of it is probably voiced, but still, a good amount of text is there for the lovers of deeper lore. However, even if you just skim through the dialogues and follow the main quest, the general storyline will still be understood.

The writing style has a grim, dark tone similar to the previous installments, with few instances of humanity. Living in the Zone is hard, but those who dwell in that reality do not just animalistically exist—they are looking for something good, they are trying to hold on to something, or they are simply waiting out the day.

Side quests are especially fun to do. Some of them are of a classic kind: go to a place, pick up some object, and bring it back, while other ones come up with more inventive stylistic devices or consequences that depend on what you choose to do.

There is more to this world than meets the eye—both for the player and the character. There are vacant site locations, inner scrawled pieces of paper, and other disturbing arrangements that suggest something has happened and contribute to the ambiance of the Zone without any actual speech. These minor elements make the environment better and allow an exploration of their purpose in action.

Most of the gameplay in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is built around expeditions in that hostile environment; hence, preparation for the trip is high on the agenda. Before the trip, one has to make sure all the gear is fit for purpose and has enough food supplies to deal with whatever awaits the adventurer.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers voiceovers in both native Ukrainian and English. The English voiceover is a mixed bag, with some strong performances but also quite a bit that falls flat. It's serviceable for players who prefer not to read subtitles, but the experience feels far more authentic and impactful when played with the native Ukrainian voiceover.

However, this can present a challenge during combat, as understanding what's being said is often crucial for survival. The game also relies heavily on waypoints, but in the version I played, they were prone to frequent glitches.

By all standards, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is also a sequel to the previous games, but with many relevant updates. The gunplay is a major step forward. Weapons are heavy, recoil is realistic, and most importantly, it is all about careful shots, as you really have to watch your bullets. Talking of bullets, they are very few, and hence, reckless firing can render you unable to defend yourself in the Zone.

The easiest and most pleasant form of combat is also the most difficult. The enemies are programmed to be really smart; they flank, take cover, and even throw grenades to force you out of your hiding place. Running straight into the enemy is rightfully considered a sign of stupidity. Nevertheless, their vision is not all that great—every now and then, soldiers do weird things like getting stuck or behaving excessively erratically. One hopes these shortcomings will be fixed in future updates.

Anomalies and artifacts are a major part of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Anomalies usually protect these artifacts, and one can use a detector to search for them in dangerous areas. The new look of the redesigned anomalies is very beautiful; some even come with mechanics that never existed before. Artifacts are designed for certain boons, such as more stamina or more resistance to radiation, but they can also come with penalties, such as more radiation. These risks have to be managed quite well.

Survival mechanics play a big role in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. You'll have to cope with hunger, thirst, sleep, and radiation, which complicates the gameplay but not to the degree that it becomes unbearable.

Another system introduced with the game, and this is the most welcome of all, is crafting. The Zone, being a hazardous environment, allows one to combine scavenged materials to fix or improve weapons or make necessary items such as medical kits, bullets, etc. It is simple but effective, increasing the incentive to go out in the wild.

Also, a completely new stamina system was incorporated in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Thanks to the new weight mechanic, you will also find that the weight of your gear affects your fatigue rate and recovery time, which means careful consideration of what you should carry and what you should leave behind.

Every item you carry has weight, and if you're prone to hoarding, it can drastically reduce your mobility. Thankfully, Skiff's private stash is available at every base. This convenient storage system significantly transfers your gear between locations, making inventory management much easier.

While the gameplay mechanics can be punishing at times, they rarely felt overly frustrating. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl manages to find a good balance between realism and practicality. That said, there were moments later in the game when I unknowingly walked into major battles unprepared, forcing me to reload an older save and stock up beforehand.

This game doesn't feature a traditional leveling system. Instead, in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, your progression is determined by the gear you acquire. Throughout your journey as an artifact hunter in The Zone, you'll find a range of weapons like pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, and snipers. What you choose to pursue, how you obtain it, and the choices you make along the way can all influence the game's multiple endings.

Visually, The Zone is stunning—wild, mysterious, and eerie. The level of detail in the environments is truly remarkable. The first time I climbed to a high vantage point and took in the view, seeing the distant power plant and antenna, I was filled with excitement.

While S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is undeniably beautiful, with a breathtaking aesthetic, it's not without its technical hiccups. There are some minor issues, like occasional lip-syncing problems or texture pop-ins, which are easy to overlook, considering the massive scale of the game.

I can't talk about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl without highlighting its exceptional sound design. The ambient sounds in The Zone are as chilling and immersive as ever. You'll hear distant gunfire, the wind rustling through trees, and eerie, unidentifiable noises that heighten the tension.

The dynamic music system is fascinating. At a given moment, the music changes. When exploring, it tends to be peaceful, and all of a sudden, the music takes a turn, suggesting that something intense is just about to take place.

The voice acting is also exemplary. Every character has a distinct personality, and the voices add to the immersion. Little things like NPCs chatting or even singing at campfires bring life into the game and make it realistic.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a sequel that carries the legacy of the previous games and goes a notch higher than what an open-world survival game can offer. It was developed in extremes, as it is a work of art and a shield of GSC Game World.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl covers almost everything, from the dynamics of the world and combat to crafting and survival systems — everything is truly special. Graphics, sound design, plus storytelling are all on the highest level; that's why it doesn't really matter if you are a fan of the series or if it's your first time.

Are you curious enough to withstand the pull of The Zone, resolve its riddles, and make decisions that will greatly affect your adventure? Then, dedicate some time to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. It's a game that puts you to the test, one that allows freedom of strategy and one that holds up tension until the very last moment.