A Thinking -Man's Shooter (S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl (PC))

Member Name: scola_p

Product:	S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)
Date:	12/09/07 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Big and open, with amazing graphics and sound

Disadvantages: Enemy AI a bit too good, making the game VERY difficult

S.T.A.L.K.E.R is set, quite controversially, in the ruins of Chernobyl, a town in Russia near a nuclear reactor that underwent a melt down. Ignoring the moral squeamishness that surrounded this decision, this is a really good setting for a game, as it adds scope for a whole host of game play ideas.

When you first start playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R, it seems to be a simple first person shooter (fps). The controls are the now standard WASD keys for movement and the mouse for looking, so anyone who has played a PC fps in the last couple of years should be right at home.

The game starts with a monologue from one of the non player characters (NPCs), who lets you know hoe you got to where you are. What it boils down to is that you were found, half dead, and have no idea who or what you are. This seems a little bit hackneyed, and the NPC monologue is not the best plot device ever, but I think we can forgive them for that.

The NPC gives you your first mission, and you can come back to him later for more. So off you go, trying to find the next person to talk to. Most of the missions follow this vein, with you having to speak to a few people before retrieving an object or some information, which is almost always heavily guarded.

Once you get out into the open, you notice how good the graphics are. Grass and trees move in the wind, fires flicker within oil drums and abandoned buildings. The only possible criticism of the look of the game is that it is all a bit drab, but it is supposed to be set in a radioactive wasteland, so this is fair enough.

Whilst crossing the countryside, the dosimeter you carry occasionally starts clicking, which means there is danger nearby. This often takes the form of and anomaly, which is some form of radiation induced oddness which is often fatal. These take different forms, and get more extreme the further you head into the game. On a slight aside, it is quite funny watching the mutant animals scattered across the landscape run into them and explode.

However, it often worth getting as close as you can to these anomalies, as they often have artefacts at their centre. These are items that provided different benefits and penalties to your character, including greater resistance to various forms of damage, resistance to or constant exposure to radiation and even a tendency to bleed more when injured. Balancing your equipped artefacts is one of the keys to being really successful in this game.

Anyway, back to the first mission. You eventually find some allies, and start to assault a compound. You sneak up through the trees, matching the pace of your allies. Shots break out - some of you have been spotted. A full gun fight erupts. They see you. Bullets fly past. You return fire, running for cover. Then, you die.

That is the point you realise that this is not a normal FPS, but a strategic game, where the guns work properly and stealth is key. If you approach STALKER like a gung-ho Hollywood movie, you will do nothing but die often. You need to plan your approaches, use cover, and even use guerrilla tactics when out numbered. It really is a case of slow and steady wins the race.

One of the problems I found with the game was the enemy AI. Aside from the mutant animals, almost everyone you come up against is effectively a trained soldier, and will rip through you if you are not careful. They also have the uncanny ability to tell friend from foe at a range when they are nothing but a dot on your screen. If their weapon has a long enough range, you could well die without even seeing them. Very frustrating!!

However, this gripe aside, this is an amazing game. If you like FPS games, but like something with a bit more of a strategic bent than the likes of Quake or Unreal, I can whole heartedly recommend this game. If you want to just shoot and blow thins up, stay away!!

Summary: A challenging FPS