Making any video game is a minor miracle, and the developer ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Skifs story parallels that ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
2s Ukrainian developer, GSC Game World.
‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’GSC Game World; Plaion
Like Skif, the developers of GSC had to flee Kyiv, where the studio was founded.
Adeveloper diary posted to YouTubeshows they stuck it out for as long as they could.
2: Heart of Chornobyl?
TheS.T.A.L.K.E.R.series draws upon Ukraines real history as a former Eastern Bloc nation under the influence of the USSR.
It caused the largest release of radioactive materials in human history and left the surrounding regions devastated for decades.
To enshrine the games status as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, GSC changed the name ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
2fromHeart of Chernobyl to theUkrainian spellingHeart of Chornobyl.
The first three games in theS.T.A.L.K.E.Rseries were released by GSC in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Fans of the cult hits have been waiting 15 long years forS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Several warring factions exist within the Zone, as well as lone bandits and stalkers.
These are the most manageable threats.
Theyre nothing in comparison to the looming presence of mutated creatures that can attack at any moment.
Every trip is a matter of life and death.
The anomalies are what setsS.T.AL.K.E.R.
2apart from more run-of-the-mill sci-fi shooters.
These are unexplainable phenomena scattered throughout the games world that can kill an unwary player in an instant.
Pools of electricity and poison crackle and bubble, and geysers of fire simmer just below the ground.
Dealing with these forces in a typical player power fantasy likeCall of DutyorSkyrimis easy, butS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
2is an anti-power fantasy.
Players have to make Skif eat, sleep, and heal with bandages and med kits.
Theres no traditional leveling up system, either.
This isnt a war that can be won quickly.
Although the Zone is hostile, the people who live within it find ways to make life more bearable.
Stalkers will gather around campfires in the safe zones.
They make jokes about the warring factions or mutants that roam the landscape.
They share stories of bravery and battle.
It makes the Zone feel more like a real place with its own history.
As well as relaxing, Skif can buy supplies in these safe havens, but they dont come cheap.
Players will have to rely on scavenging for most of their gear or finding valuables to trade for cash.
In the Zone, survival comes first.
Into the heart of darkness
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
2rewards calm, patience, and precision above all else.
Many missions will send Skif into an enemy compound, but how to approach is down to the player.
Whats most engrossing aboutS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
The Zone is large, more than 60 square kilometers, and although its hostile, it feels alive.
When it passes, theres still a day and night cycle that affects how players explore and fight.
Visibility is heavily reduced at night, and even regular rainstorms can make it harder to spot danger.
Unfortunately, a host of technical issues affected the review version ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
For PC players who haveNvidias built-in DLSS software, it is a saving grace.
There are also many, many bugs.
Corpses regularly fly off into the distance or stand bolt-upright with their arms outstretched ina T-pose.
but they make the play experience more frustrating than intended.
Its all Skif has, so he must fight to survive, and dare to try and thrive.
Its another kick to the stomach when already down.
When GSC was faced with war, they didnt give up.
They continued to makeS.T.A.L.K.E.R.
2in bomb shelters, ruined homes, while volunteering or taking up arms.
Their only choice has been to get back up and keep going.
2: Heart of Chornobylis now available for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
