Atmosphere in this game can't be matched. Amazingly huge area to explore. A few bugs keeps this game away from a 10.
You can't call yourself a FPS PC play without playing STALKER, it's a classic, like Doom, Duke Nukem 3D or even Wolfenstein 3D. This kind of games break every standards, and move gaming to another level, the groundbreaking Chernobyl nuclear disaster atmosphere is actually unique.
Nuclear mutants are surprisingly smart, and actually live in a "world of their own", by spawning in random places of the huge 20 miles square zone. They have their own goals, and sometimes you find them fighting each other over control of a part of the zone, even running away in fear when outnumbered.
You never know what you will find in the STALKER zone, and if you are looking for adventure, great graphics and lots of thrill, this is definitely the game for you. 100% recommended.
This is my evaluation:
Graphics: 10 (Perfect) // Logic: The X-ray engine its amazing. HDR, sky, everything falls in place. It runs in almost every PC, so you can actually play this game with a low budget.
Gameplay: 9 (Outstanding) // Logic: The game is actually great, you find yourself fighting hordes of mutants in the dark corners of a radioactive zone, but sometimes human enemies AI its quite leaky.
Story: 8 (Good) // Logic: Even when the game its full of rich, and entertaining sub stories, the main line its quite broken, and lacks of actual sense. Could be better.
Feeling: 10 (Perfect) // Logic: This game will definitely cause an impression on your feelings, if not, then you should get a overall medical exam. Just Kiddding, the game feels like a dark corner of hell, as I think a nuclear accident site might feel.
Overall: 9 (Outstanding) // Logic: STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl is just a few bugs and improvements away of a perfect score.