S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (Page 2 of 4)
- March 19, 2007 17:19 PM PST
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Packing Your Bags
With the inclusion of seldom-used gameplay elements such as an inventory system, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. presents a fresh contrast to other games in the genre. Players must make several tough choices pertaining to what resources they bring into battle; from guns, ammo, med-kits, grenades and anti-radiation drugs. Most remarkably, food must also be supplied for your character--neglect to bring that along and your character may starve to death. This system imposes an excellent sense of limitations; your character is not a superman capable of hoisting half a dozen different kinds of assault rifles and every addition to your supplies must be carefully be weighed for its benefit.
The weapons and items themselves present another distinct contrast to other games. As befitting the setting, most of the weapons are Russian or Ukrainian in origin, ranging from the Fort-12 pistol to the venerable Kalashnikov. GSC has also included the option for some limited weapon customization, but this option is only available on a minority of weapons.
Artifacts spewed from the numerous anomalies in the game provide any number of bonuses to the player if worn. These artifacts are often quite powerful and can also be of great value to the few traders and scientists that ply their trade within the zone. Combat experiences are diverse, helped by an artificial intelligence that generally has enough sense to take cover and attempt flanking maneuvers, though in some cases this is the exact opposite, as many of the wild creatures will simply run in circles when presented with a threat.
The Goggles, They Do Nothing
Visually, the game looks somewhat dated, a result, no doubt, of its extended development time. However, the battered, post-apocalyptic landscape is well depicted, and the impact of the disaster's effect is really hammered home. Helping this along are some excellent sound effects that dramatically ratchet up the tension in several places, particularly when it comes to several underground levels.
In the end, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an immense treat that offers fresh and innovative gameplay experiences. If I had to level one complaint against the title, it's the fact that it's missing the little bit of extra polish that gamers have come to expect. The artificial intelligence for instance is somewhat hit and miss, and many of the RPG elements, while welcomed, didn't go far enough to offer unique paths through the game. These issues aside S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has done an excellent job creating its own niche in the genre.
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