There is no leveling progression, but there is an inventory system, the game is filled with NPCs that can be interacted with, and there are some stats to keep in mind when it comes to weapons and equipment. The fabric of reality itself is wavering, the landscape is dotted with physics-defying anomalies, the fauna has mutated into grotesque monsters, and valuable “artifacts” with various supernatural properties have caused many men to illegally enter the Zone seeking to make their fortunes by selling said artifacts – stalkers.Īs far as the gameplay elements are concerned, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. However, in the alternate universe of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., there is more than just radiation to worry about. Now, the “Zone” is the Zone of Alienation surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Marked One suffers from a trope that was relatively common back then – amnesia – and the only thing he has is a simple instruction in his PDA that says: “Kill Strelok.” So, in an attempt at finding answers, Marked One sets on a journey to find Strelok, a path that only leads him deeper and deeper into the Zone. The premise of Shadow of Chernobyl is rather simple – the player character, an unnamed stalker referred to only as the “Marked One,” is rescued from a so-called death truck by another unnamed stalker who delivers him to a trader named Sidorovich in exchange for payment. It was originally supposed to come out in 2003, but the development took longer than anticipated, and the Shadow of Chernobyl that we know today finally came out in 2007. The development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl started way back in 2001, when it was known as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost.

The first and most iconic entry in the series. was “before your time,” read on, as we will provide a brief overview of all three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will attract the attention of some gamers who did not get the opportunity to experience the original back in the day. game, so the chances are that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. But it’s been over a decade since the last S.T.A.K.E.R. Now, the studio has been re-opened, and the devs are breathing new life into the beloved franchise. 2 was originally supposed to come out in 2012 but was instead canceled that same year when the development studio behind the series, GSC Game World, was temporarily closed for several years. Many fans of the franchise were overjoyed upon hearing the news since S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 for the time being) has been confirmed and will launch sometime in 2021. So far, it has received two sequels, both of which are solid games in their own right.Īnd while Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat were more related to standalone expansions, a true sequel (known only as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

The original game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, is a classic that will forever have a place in the video game hall of fame. Few game franchises manage to amass a fan base as large and leave a footprint as long-lasting as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

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