An absolutely marvelous adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers novel 'Roadside Picnic'

User Rating: 9.5 | S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl PC
By Angle180 | Review Date:
Just about as I was beginning to lose hope ever seeing good First-Person Shooters for PC again, this got released and it's was in that sense, a lifesaver. I absolutely love this game and don't even know where to begin in describing its good sides which cover most of the sides a computer game can be rated on at all. First of all the AI (at least that of your enemies) is really clever and the fact that you can change the difficulty level of the game via a simple visit to the options menu makes S.T.A.L.K.E.R playable by anyone interested in the theme, be it a newcomer or an experienced gamer. The scenery of this game is outrageously realistic and simply pulls you into the Zone (that's the place the story takes place in), creating an eerie and somewhat exposed feeling whenever there aren't any friendly faces around. The well developed presence of Factions and the 'role play gamish' ability to choose your own path (the whole Zone is practically open to you from the very first minute of gameplay.. you'll set your own pace and begin exploring accordingly) further enforce the sense of realism which of course further pulls you into the world and plays with your emotions.

Now the story is a whole other thing altogether. I think I can honestly say I have never come across a computer game with such a strong storyline and development. That is probably because most computer games aren't based on exceptionally good novels as is S.T.A.L.K.E.R - Shadow Of Chernobyl. A good story can make the whole experience of a book, movie or indeed a computer game more believable, more buyable, more playable and this game isn't lacking. If you're into the classic sci-fi/catastrophy theme and don't mind a little horror on the side, then this game should be just for you.

Sometimes when you finish a really good book or a movie, you stop to think about it to digest the experience. You'll find yourself looking at the sky in the middle of the night, thinking of the story and how you felt touched by it. Well to me this game is the jackpot. It's well built up, has a good engine and dozens upon dozens of hours of playing time A n d it carries the bewitching effects of a post-apocalyptic scenery, a catastrophic theme and a strong story with impressive character development.

If there is one thing that this game has lacking it's an experience gaining system. All the necessary requirements for it are there although I must admit it's the only thing preventing this game from being an RPG and maybe that's not so bad after all with all the shooting going on. Besides the gadgets, weapons and armor tend to get better and better as you play so that's pretty much the same thing.

All in all I think 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R - Shadow Of Chernobyl' is a wonderful game based on a wonderful novel and if you're into FPS, RPG and good sci-fi then you don't want to miss this. One of the best games I've played so far for its innovativity in masterfully adapting story with playability.

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