S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Reviews
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an achievement for so many reasons. As well as being the little game that could, given the team's real-world challenges, the game doubles down on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. way, delivering a sublimely realised sense of place with the Zone. Unfortunately, so much of the console experience is rendered so disappointingly undercooked.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an anomaly. It dazzles with stunning visuals, an eerie atmosphere, and gameplay that captures the soul of the original series. Yet, like The Zone itself, it's plagued by technical glitches, inconsistent performance, and design missteps that get in the way of its lofty ambitions. Despite its flaws, STALKER 2 has a strange magnetic force, and once you're in, it's hard to look away.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the fourth game in the series, but the first proper sequel. The expansive story is decidedly more action-packed and
STALKER 2 is stable and runs consistently at a high framerate on my higher end system. Guns make noises, the gaping wounds in the earth have been knitted over and characters models no longer desync in cutscenes.
Like the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is far from perfect, with a host of problems, controversial gameplay choices, a ton of bugs, and an ever-present sense of haste and incompleteness. Even without taking into account the lack of tweaks and polish, it won't be to everyone's taste. But if you like the lingering atmosphere, the gritty, down-to-earth story, and the romance of the stalker's journey, then this is the Stalker you've been waiting for all these years.
Never traditionally fun, needlessly painful, and almost always breaking down, I love S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Despite its many issues, I doubt any other shooter in 2024 could match it on atmosphere, vibes, or ambition.
Stalker 2 is unlike anything else in the FPS market right now, but design flaws that only become more baffling the more you play and an embarrassingly long list of minor bugs, performance hiccups, and game-breaking issues undo nearly all the good done in other areas of the game. An engrossing experience lies beneath all the clutter, but it will take time to unearth it.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl remains true to its core philosophy: to create an immersive and unforgiving Zone that feels as alive as it is hostile. Every would-be explorer must endure harsh conditions and relentless challenges, testing their resolve until they either give up or fully embrace the Zone's brutal logic and become a part of it. This experience closely mirrors the spirit of the original trilogy, making S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 feel authentic to its roots. However, some of its hardcore and overly rigid systems may prove too alienating for a broader audience, potentially limiting its appeal.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Nor a sudden war neither fifteen years in development stopped the people at GSC Game World to show their potential once again: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl delivers on almost all fronts, giving us a cruel and immersive world in which we can all get lost. We already know we won't have to wait too long for multiplayer and mod support, but let's also hope we won't have to wait another fifteen years for another game like this.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Heart of Chornobyl continues the long-lived Stalker tradition of releasing great immersive sims with loads of performance issues, which are still enjoyed by the fans due to their charming atmospheres and immersive gameplay. Stalker 2 is far from a perfect title, but it delivers in terms of content and story to those who want to see more of the zone.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most immersive, grittiest, most brutal of games, for multiple reasons. It’s also one that will allow for a ton of opportunities, no matter whether you follow missions, help out the odd friend, or go it alone, exploring the world forevermore. There’s also no doubt that aurally, it’s of the very highest standard, helping complete the immersion.
A year after it originally launched on Xbox Series X/S and PC, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has landed on PS5 thankfully in a much better state. A challenging open-world experience, this finally feels like it fulfils its potential, and on PS5 Pro it's a real treat thanks to stunning visuals and solid performance.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on PS5 offers a strong experience despite its flaws. It blends unforgettable survival atmospheres with moments of tension that the player feels personally with every step inside the forbidden zone. It may not be the complete experience many dreamed of, but it remains a world worth entering-for those whose curiosity outweighs their fear and who have the patience to endure its brutality.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
In a clearly more refined version compared to its original release, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is still heavy, cold, and brutal, knowing exactly what it intends to convey to its audience. The result of a complicated development process due to the context of its developers, it ends up reflecting an uninviting, almost old-fashioned pessimism, resulting in a deep, challenging, and complex game, but one that is also too raw and faithful to concepts that may not appeal to everyone.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is lucky to have seen the light of day. The trade-off is one of the rockiest launches since Cyberpunk 2077. The game is already a very specific acquired taste, but compounded with the hopelessly unplayable state, it cannot be recommended...yet. Maybe one day after the developers' home is free from the global strife, they can take the time to salvage what could be a pretty cool game. Until then, stay safe, stalkers.
Despite the tremendous atmosphere, big open world, and familiar mechanics, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an uneven experience due to AI flaws, combat annoyances, laborious exploration, and technical issues.
At its current state, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is practically crippled by tons of bugs and technical issues. Do we care? Absolutely not! S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a majestic return to the brutal and unforgiving world of Chernobyl; it’s deep, complex, insanely atmospheric, and exactly what a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fan would want from a sequel. It’s a miracle that GCS Game World managed to release the game in the first place given the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the technical issues are something that will be eventually ironed out. What matters is the strong core gameplay, stunning visuals, and exceptional setting and atmosphere. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is not a game for the typical first-person shooter fan; you have to feel it, absorb it, and live it. Happy hunting Stalker.
Review in Persian | Read full review
If GSC had waited a little longer to release the game, the anomaly would not be so abundant. You may want to wait for a few more patches for much better experience.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a decent attempt at a survival game from GSC Game World, with its potential for great atmosphere and breathtaking gameplay hidden behind its poor technical performance. The game's narrative is well integrated into its post-apocalyptic world, and despite its weak start, it can keep you entertained for hours. So if you're into the world of games like the Metro and Fallout series and enjoy survival and resource management experiences like Escape From Tarkov, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl could be one of your best choices in 2024. However, I recommend waiting at least a few months for the game's serious problems to be fixed so that you can have a better experience.
Review in Persian | Read full review