Stalker 2 review: The zone returns with promise and problems

After 15 years of waiting, canceled projects, and development during a real war, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally here. The new entry brings the series into modern times while attempting to retain the elements that made the original special. And like its predecessor, it is a game that is as interesting as it is rough.

The basic concepts remain familiar: you are a stalker exploring the Chernobyl exclusion zone, a dangerous area full of radiation, anomalies, mutants and rival factions. But now, the game world has expanded to 60 kilometers of territory and is built with modern graphics. So do these changes help or hurt the game? Well, I decided to spend my time in this Zone, and after finishing the game, here is my Stalker 2 review.

History: The first step

Your journey begins as skiffa veteran whose apartment is destroyed by a mysterious anomaly outside the Zone boundaries. This setup cleverly gets you into the Zone with personal stakes, although the first few hours can be overwhelming.

As such, the game throws you into its harsh world with minimum orientation. Your first expedition could end with an invisible anomaly tearing you apart, a pack of mutant dogs making your dinner, or you simply getting lost in the dark night until you stumble upon a flashlight.

The opening hours state a crucial fact about Stalker 2: This is not a game that takes you by the hand.. The inventory system, radiation mechanics, and survival basics are barely explained. You will need to learn through experience how to manage your supplies, treat wounds, and navigate the Zone’s many dangers. This steep learning curve may frustrate some players, but it creates a genuine sense of achievement as you gradually master the tough rules of the Zone.

Characters

It takes time to build the narrative, starting with finding answers about the artifact. What begins as a personal investigation expands into a complex web of faction politics, supernatural phenomena, and existential questions about the Zone itself. The pace might test your patience from the start, as A lot of groundwork is laid before the story really gets going..

However, the character writing shines throughout these factional conflicts. richhis first ally, he masterfully walks the line between helpful mentor and shady operator as You’ll spend hours wondering if you can really trust him.. Even the supporting characters feel fully realized. Elenastudying anomalies despite personal tragedy, or Marcus teaching newcomers while pursuing his own mysterious goals, contribute to the sense of a living breathing world.

The story branches significantly based on your choices, leading to four different endings that feel earned rather than arbitrary. Your decisions throughout the game (who to trust, which factions to support, and how to handle key moments) extend to affect both the immediate situation and the final conclusion. The game rarely conveys these consequences, making your choices feel more authentic and impactful.

Voice acting varies dramatically depending on language choice. He The Ukrainian vocal tracks offer a raw authenticity that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the Zone.. The English dub is serviceable, but lacks the emotional impact of the original recordings, and often fails to capture the subtle tensions in key scenes.

A living, breathing wasteland

Let’s talk about what makes the Zone more than just an open world. The game gives you 60 square kilometers to explorebut it is not the size that matters: what distinguishes it is what happens in this space. The Zone keeps moving and changing whether you’re there to see it or not, thanks to something called the A-Life system.

This is what it means in practice: You are walking towards the next objective of your mission when you hear gunshots in the distance. Head there and you may find stalkers fighting bandits over territory. Wait long enough and those gunshots might attract mutants looking for an easy meal. If you stay even longer, other stalkers may show up to pick up whatever is left.

You will find stories everywhere if you pay attention. Underground laboratories tell stories about experiments gone wrong through scattered documents and environmental details. Even fields that look empty can hide something interesting if you pay attention.

The weather isn’t just for show either. When an emission occurs, you should stop what you are doing and find shelter quickly. The sky turns red, lightning begins to strike the ground, and anyone caught outside is dead. These moments create real tension because quick decisions have to be made.

This is not a world that exists just to entertain you; It feels like a place that would continue to operate even if you weren’t there. It may seem pretentious, but it’s the simplest way to explain what makes the Zone different from other open worlds. You are not the main character here. You’re just another stalker trying to survive in a place that doesn’t care if you live or die..

Combat: brutal but rewarding

Fighting in Stalker 2 isn’t about being a superhero. A few bullets can kill you, your weapons jam and degrade, and resources are constantly in short supply. Mutants move erratically and human enemies can detect you from a surprising distance. The first few fights are particularly tense – that first encounter with an invisible bloodsucker stalking you through an abandoned facility will stay with you.

The weapons don’t really feel reliable.. That gun you just picked up? It might work fine for the first few magazines and then start to jam. Every weapon needs constant maintenance.and repairs are not cheap. You’ll spend a lot of time weighing whether to repair your current equipment or save up for something better.

He The customization system is quite deep. once you get into it. You can add sights, change barrels, upgrade stocks, the usual stuff. But here’s the kicker: everything is expensive. Really expensive. You may spend hours saving and realize you also have to keep paying to keep it up. The game makes you think a lot about each update because nothing is cheap or easy.

Let’s break down how the different enemies work because you’ll need different tactics for each one. Human opponents can be quite intelligent in open areas. But this intelligent behavior has some strange quirks. If you put those human enemies in tight spaces, like buildings, they might suddenly get stuck on furniture or stand there like they’ve forgotten what they’re doing.

Mutants are a completely different problem. Dogs and pseudo-dogs hunt in packs, which sounds great until you try to shoot these fast-moving targets that never seem to run in a straight line. Bloodsuckers are probably the worst, as they can turn invisible and stalk you, which is scary the first few times but can be frustrating when you’re trying to line up a shot.

Here’s something important about combat in Stalker 2: Preparation matters more than reflexes.. Knowing when your gun needs repairs and carrying enough medical supplies is often more important than how quickly you can aim. You’ll learn to check your gear carefully before heading out because resupplying in the field is usually not an option.

What makes Stalker 2’s combat interesting isn’t a single element, but how it all works together. A Simple Shootout Can Get Complicated Quickly When you realize you’re running out of ammo, your gun starts to jam and you hear the mutants approaching. The game creates tense situations not through programmed events but through the interaction of its systems.

Is it perfect? No. AI has clear problems, especially in complex environments. Mutant behavior can sometimes be more annoying than threatening. But when everything falls into place, when you’re in a real firefight trying to stay alive.

Graphics and performance

My configuration:
UPC: AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060
RAM: DDR4 8×2 RAM at 3200MHz
SSD: WD SN570 500GB
Monitor: 1080p@144hz

Stalker 2’s performance tells an interesting story about optimization choices. After spending time with different graphics settings, there’s a clear idea of ​​how the game runs on modern hardware.

The game runs surprisingly well at 1080p with epic settings. maintaining 90-105 FPS in most situations. The gameplay feels fluid and the visual quality holds up very well. The frame rate remains relatively stable even during hectic moments with multiple NPCs or during broadcasts. This seems to be the sweet spot to balance visual quality and performance.

Going up to 1440p with high settings is where things get more complicated. Although you will see numbers between 70 and 90 FPS, the actual experience is not as smooth as these figures suggest. Stuttering becomes a notable problem, especially during combat or when moving through different areas of the Zone. Loading new areas can cause problems, even if running from a fast SSD.

Combine that with occasional game crashes and other technical issues like clipping and stuttering, it’s obvious that Stalker 2 still needs some optimization to run well.

Verdict: Is it worth a trip to the area?

STALKER 2 isn’t perfect, but it offers something unique. When you hide in a dark tunnel, hear nearby monsters, or watch the sky turn red as a radiation storm approaches, the game creates moments you won’t find anywhere else. The story itself is gripping, with an amazing narrative arc and equally satisfying voice immersion that you’ll love.

Technical problems are real and can be frustrating. But if you can look past them, you’ll find a game that rewards patience and careful play. It’s not just another shooter where you run around feeling powerful. It’s a game about surviving in a place that wants you dead.

If you want a polished and smooth experience, maybe wait for more patches. But if you’re interested in exploring a dangerous world where your choices matter and every expedition feels tense, Stalker 2 is giving you that experience right now.