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

The very first time I saw STALKER: Shadows of Chernobyl was at E3, and I saw that the game had a fair amount of potential. That was four years ago. The game would periodically surface with new information here, some screenshots there, but it was a sad thought to think that this game was on the course to become little more than another game that fell by the wayside, a stone in the road paved in abandonware. However, it now seems that the little FPS that could will finally see the light of day on the PC, having gone gold and release to the manufacturer later this month. Having spent some time playing the single-player multiplayer modes at a recent press event held by THQ, the game has come a long way since it first debuted nearly half a decade ago, and could very well be one to check out.

STALKER is more than a standard FPS in that it will offer more of an adventure than a straight up action shooter. The game has a robust single player mode, with a world rife with NPCs and non-linear quests that you can partake in. The storyline has a flow similar to games like Half-Life in that you’re never taken out of the game.

STALKER features real-world weaponry, with Soviet arms like Kalashnikovs, sniper rifles and so on. Firing weapons also feels quite realistic, each one presenting a unique and appropriate amount of kick that reflects its real counterparts. Unlike other FPS games, you won’t have copious amounts of ammo at your disposal, and you won’t generally find ammo packs lying out in the middle of nowhere. You’ll have to search hard for your weaponry, and conserve your ammo for times when you’ll really need it.

Weapons are also quite scarce in the multiplayer matches as well, as you’ll have to search the map to find them. A lot of the fun in the multiplayer games is evading your enemies while you search for more means to take them out.

Graphically, STALKER gets the job done, but the downside to its years in development is that it doesn’t quite compare to current games out for the PC. The best thing that it has going for it visually are the huge and sprawling environments. However, as it stands, the character models look slightly bland and aren’t as impressive as they once were, and the areas feel a little drab and lacking in diversity. Granted, the desolate environments are in line with the game’s storyline and theme, but some of the textures feel a little repetitious and bland.

While the graphics feel decidedly last-year, STALKER is still coming along as a fine, non-linear adventure FPS, and it’s very assuring to know that a game that has been this plagued with a rocky development could still be this solid and exciting. Look for it later this month (and a full review soon).