Oleksandr DiMartino S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review

Let me start with the positives: • First and foremost, the plot deserves praise. It’s absolutely incredible. Managing to seamlessly integrate all the previous stories while expanding the lore is truly commendable. • Next is the atmosphere, of course. The excellent sound design and authentic locations are a delight to the eye. • Outstanding cutscenes. • Decently populated locations. • Unmatched weapon animations and combat mechanics overall. Now, for the negatives: • I won’t go over the bugs, FPS drops, or the inability to complete certain quests. I want to address the map instead. A large seamless world is undoubtedly great, but not when you’re forced to traverse it on foot, overloaded, and with limited stamina. Walking through the Zone becomes a chore, and it shouldn’t be this way. I understand why there was no transport in previous installments, but here, it’s simply a necessity. • The absence of old mechanics also doesn’t do the game any favors (no binoculars or night vision goggles). These features would have been far from redundant. • Stealth is the Achilles’ heel of the entire trilogy. This part is no exception, though at least stealth exists here. • The downgrade in graphics is noticeable to the naked eye. It’s a leap from 2007 standards but definitely not on par with 2024 expectations. • Facial animations are satisfying only in cutscenes. • The A-Life system is practically nonexistent—or at least, I hope that’s the case because if it is present, it’s a significant downgrade compared to the earlier installments. The game is wonderful. You can feel the developers’ love for the universe. But it isn’t without its flaws. However, all of these issues can be fixed, and I sincerely hope that happens. Thank you, GSC, for an amazing game, a wonderful childhood, and for giving hope for the bright future of my favorite project. I genuinely wish you success and inspiration in your work.