S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Review: A Return to the Zone, Glitches and All

Satisfaction: 4/5

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited return of a beloved IP, and in most areas it delivers exactly what fans were hoping for.

Although a friendlier than its predecessors, this is still very much a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game. The zone and almost everything in it wants you dead.

The game is fun to play, but a few systems and balance issues could use improvement:

• Sleeping: There should be more beds or a way to sleep anywhere, as nighttime can feel tedious and uneventful.
• Economy: The in-game economy feels unbalanced. Quests don’t provide enough rewards, you make very little from selling items, and the cost of purchasing supplies or repairs is disproportionately high.
• Mutants: Some mutants feel overly tough or appear too frequently. You also gain nothing from killing them, making them little more than a money sink.
• Travel: A faster mode of travel would greatly enhance exploration, given the size of the Zone.

Tech: 2.5/5

While on the latest and greatest Unreal Engine 5, supporting Nanite and ray-tracing using Lumen, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 unfortunately suffers from performance issues. This seems to be a common issue in modern games. Instead of making a game that runs well, developers add upscaling and frame generation as a crutch.

I managed to achieve a fairly stable 60FPS on my system, and with FSR3 Frame Generation enabled, I boosted this to around 100-120FPS. However, performance can still take a hit in certain areas, particularly when there’s a high density of NPCs.

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Atmosphere has always been one of the series’ strongest points, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 takes it to the next level. The Zone is gorgeous, with environments that are almost photo-realistic. Despite the beauty, the game retains its haunting and oppressive vibe.

That said, there are a number of visual bugs scattered throughout the game. While noticeable, I don’t think they detract too much from the overall experience.

Replayability: 5/5

While S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 isn’t an RPG, there are plenty of choices you can make that impact the Zone and determine which ending you’ll get. The game offers four endings, but like its predecessors, it’s more about the journey than the destination.

The dynamic and unpredictable nature of the Zone adds a lot to the replay value, ensuring no two playthroughs feel exactly the same.

Story: 4/5

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 follows the story of Skif, who ventures into the exclusion zone in search of answers about an anomaly that appeared outside the Zone and destroyed your home. Along the way, your decisions shape which factions become allies and which become enemies. The narrative is engaging and ties deeply into the world, making it a great driving force for the gameplay.

Final Score: 3.8/5

Pros:

• Enjoyable gameplay
• Excellent graphics and stunning atmosphere
• Great soundtrack and ambient music
• Engaging story

Cons:

• Poor performance and stability issues
• Bugs and graphical glitches

Where to buy?

Affiliate Link(s):

• HumbleBundle(Steam)
• GreenManGaming(Steam)
• Fanatical(Steam)

Elsewhere:

• Steam