S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Reviews
Despite major technical and game design flaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl grants the exact experience the series fans have been waiting for over a decade.
Review in Russian | Read full review
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a fantastic game that flirts with greatness but falls short of being truly incredible. Longtime fans of the franchise will relish the brutal challenge the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe is known for, while newcomers might find the bugs more horrifying than the world itself.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a pretty big mess. In its current state, this is a badly-judged game in almost every way. The new zone is incredible to behold at times, for sure, but it's a world at odds with itself; full of gear and guns, but with precious little in the way of enemies that challenge you to use them. The story is terrible, the A-Life system is AWOL, and the acting and writing is atrocious. Stalker 2 is cheap in how it kills without warning, is packed full of bugs and performance issues on Series X, and is devoid of mostly anything that makes it feel worth playing for very long.
If it weren't for technical problems, we could talk about a timeless production. Unfortunately, the bugs drag the rating down a bit. However, this does not change the fact that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl lifts the burden of expectations and is a worthy continuation for which we have had to wait so long.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Overall, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite having some issues mentioned in the review, is one of those games with a unique identity, creating a strange allure that pulls players in like a trap. Personally, when I wasn't playing, I had a strong desire to return and immerse myself in the mysterious world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, a feeling I can't recall experiencing with any other video game recently. The detailed story, which directly reacts to the gamer's behavior, engaging gameplay, and outstanding atmosphere are positive features that make S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 one of the most respectable titles of this year. Especially since the game is available on Game Pass, I highly recommend giving it a chance.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Stalker 2 brings the series into the modern era with stunning visuals while staying true to its hardcore FPS roots. The game retains what made the series unique, with difficult action, expansive environments and a rich story. However, minor issues such as weaker animations, AI and minor bugs detract from the experience.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
GSC Game World nails a unique mixture of genres between survival horror and open world with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The atmospheric environments, engaging gunplay, and the constant feeling of threat culminate in a heavy recommendation from me for fans of the genre.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a flawed but fascinating game. It is unresolved but full of atmosphere. Although lacking in many aspects, it is rich in survival elements that will delight the most hardcore fans. In short, it is a unique game-for better or worse.
Review in Italian | Read full review
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers us a powerful adventure of radioactive terror. A first-person horror sim with survival elements in which we will have to learn to survive and improve our equipment to reach the end of its complex plot. Monsters, anomalies and enemy factions join the arid terrain and dangerous emissions to turn the proposal into a unique experience in which learning and intuition are as important as exploration and quick thinking when advancing.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on PlayStation 5 is the biggest comeback story of the year. The level of optimization is remarkable, and the implementation of DualSense features makes it one of the best PS5 ports ever released. While its quest system, A-Life, and enemy spawning still suffer from slight hiccups, nothing can rival the immersion it creates through its desolate wasteland that demands commitment in learning the ways of a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a masterpiece from GSC Game World, arriving on PlayStation 5 in its definitive version with excellent optimization and challenging enemies. The dynamic world and impactful player choices create a unique experience, overshadowing the few remaining bugs
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It's not a masterpiece, it's not a disaster, and it's not even the big comeback we were hoping for: Stalker 2 is an imperfect but fascinating experience, more mature on PS5, recommended especially for those who appreciate a hostile and magnetic world, willing to forgive its flaws in order to be engulfed by its unique atmosphere. An extra year of work, however, is not particularly noticeable.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While playing through S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, I found that the overall world was incredible, with an atmosphere that instilled fear as I progressed, especially at night, along with plenty of exploration for me to have as I went through all kinds of locations looking for loot. In terms of weapons, I found that they were very realistic and provided their own challenges to the game’s combat against the tough enemies I would come across. The weapons’ jamming brought a whole new level of fear into the game.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl ventures into the uncharted territory of the PS5 in a much better technical state, though the odd bug is still common. Boasting a huge apocalyptic landscape to explore, impressively long main story and some great gunplay, its destructive charm is easily noticeable. Sadly, it feels caught between two parallel genres and is unable to commit to either, suffering from tedious survival mechanics and superfluous decision making. The mysteries of the Zone pale in comparison to the mystery of what could have been if it had had a unified vision.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 offers consistent immersion and good ideas in the use of weapons, equipment, and exploration, but it stumbles with weak side quests, inconsistent visuals, and entirely unexciting combat. It is a game that delivers interesting moments but falls short of what many expected. Overall, it is an average experience with sporadic moments of brilliance.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
STALKER 2 on the PlayStation 5 is a fine, atmospheric, and exciting game, but it doesn't live up to all expectations. The world is fantastic, the atmosphere unique, and the feeling of the Zone constantly watching you remains impressive. That remains the reason this series is so beloved. But the technical state of the art is lacking. The gunplay feels sluggish, the AI isn't always very smart, the bugs are still present, and the graphics are decent but not exceptional. Performance is better than a year ago, but still not perfect. With all the gaming frenzy these past few months, STALKER 2 doesn't offer enough to stand out, which is a shame because it's definitely a game worth your time and clearly made with a lot of love.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Despite technical and balancing issues, Stalker 2 serves as an excellent sequel that respects its roots, dives deeper into the Zone’s lore, and expands its role-playing elements.
STALKER 2 offers a richly detailed survival experience in a uniquely crafted, devastated world, with tough challenges that enhance the realism and deeper immersion thanks to the impact of player choices on the story and environment. However, it suffers from technical issues such as long loading screens, low frame rates, unstable AI, and some frustrating design limitations. Overall, STALKER 2 is an adventure worth experiencing, but it needs technical improvements to make the gameplay more stable.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl immerses you in a dangerous, unpredictable world where survival requires strategy and resourcefulness. With challenging gameplay, atmospheric visuals, and meaningful choices, the game builds on the series’ legacy. While performance issues and repetitive side quests hold it back slightly, its haunting setting and deep mechanics make it a standout experience for fans and newcomers alike.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a bold and triumphant return to the series, blending narrative, deep gameplay, and cutting-edge visuals. Featuring a focus on player choice, immersive mechanics, and a richly detailed world, the game excels at both the shooter and survival horror genres. While its extreme difficulty and bleak tone may deter casual gamers, fans of immersive, challenging experiences will find it immensely rewarding.
Review in Arabic | Read full review