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Radioactive IT Review: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - Watch that Geiger counter
Radioactive IT Review: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - Watch that Geiger counter | Review: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - Watch that Geiger counter |
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| by Mike Bantick | |
| Sunday, 01 April 2007 | |
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GSC's ambition of providing a real world environment to explore has been successfully done by others such as Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. STALKER however, is a different game to Bethesda's opus. Whereas Oblivion is broken up with load screens only when you go into a new dungeon or town, STALKER has distinct regions within the Zone that requires a rather immersion depriving load time to traverse. Presentation wise, STALKER is a magnificent creation that, once the loading is complete, that brings the player back into the Zone immediately with exceptional graphics, lighting and weather effects along with superb sound design that give a creepy ambiance that immediately grabs you. From a first person perspective, the game adequately gives you modern FPS details such as a multitude of weapons, from knifes to sniper rifles, Iron sighting (down the barrel of the rifle) a variety of ammunition, grenades and firing options. The downside is the requirement to swap weapons within the RPG inventory screen. Battles are tense, especially at dusk, with fellow Stalkers fighting, mutants, and bandits alongside each other depending on their attitude towards you. Enemies will make good use of cover and attempt to out-flank, whilst the friendly AI can sometimes get in your way. Overall though, the FPS aspect works very well. On the RPG front, STALKER retains, the inventory management, with weight and size of items being a factor, as you roam the countryside. You can collect "Artefacts", mysterious products of the Zone's radiation, and either sell them or attach them to your belt. Up to five "Artefacts" can be attached with varying affects on your Stalker, giving both positive and negative effects. Apart from equipment and "Artefact" upgrades, there is no traditional "levelling up" of your Stalker, if anything you will be the benefit of "levelling up" as you play, learning the factions in the game, and what is dangerous as you travel. Horror Survival is the obvious product of the games environment, with mutant beasties springing from all dark corners of the Zone as you ply your trade in the wasteland. These mutant attacks take many forms, from the ripping fangs of rabid dogs to mind attacks by unknown foes. For the review conclusion see page 3. |
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