S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl delivers an open and detailed world first-person shooter with a few RPG elements.
The combination between open world, FPS, and RPG is totally seamless. You will never think that you are playing an FPS while wandering the zone, looting corpses, or accepting side missions. You will never think that you are playing an RPG while in an intense battle. You will never think you are playing an open world game while battling mutants, raiders, and the supernatural in underground labs. The only unfortunate thing is that the game isn't an even split between these elements, the rpg and open world elements could use a little boost.
The zone is a great place to explore. Exploration is incredibly rewarding, tense, and great fun. The interesting locations make you want to keep turning corners and searching the area. Anomalies turn the dark zone into an even darker dangerous area, and drastically change the way you navigate through areas. The dark areas and interesting locations just add to the already existing oppressive atmosphere that is almost perfect, although improvements could be made. The game lacks an ambient soundtrack to add to the feeling of loneliness and despair and would have drastically improved the atmosphere.
The story is an interesting and compelling one, if you play the game right. Salker has a brilliant story but some never find it due to the excessive work required to find the right things to do. Way points could have helped players find the right characters to talk to in order to unlock the "true" ending of the game. That being said the game features multiple endings, most of which are very anticlimactic. The "true" ending is well done and concludes the main character's story in a climactic way and is worth is to search for the extra story missions to get to it.
The combat system is very innovative and interesting. The weapons feature accurate ballistics modeling and tight recoil. Weapons can be modified with Scopes and Suppressors, unique variants can be found throughout the world. Health System is also unique, being shot or attacked can cause bleeding, which can be remedied with a bandage. AI are very smart and will try to flank you, move cover, and communicate with their teammates.
Stalker also features a survival system and an RPG-like inventory system. Your character must find food throughout the world and deal with radiation sickness with anti-radiation drugs or Vodka. Weapon condition plays a key role, the more damaged a gun gets, the more often it jams.
The game is ,unfortunately, outdated for a 2007 game. The graphics are behind the time and so is the performance of the game engine. But that hardly hinders the amazing combination of game styles that is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl
Gameplay: 9.5
Story: 9
Sound: 8
Multiplayer: 8
Graphics: 8
+ .4 Greatly designed areas
+ .5 Very well created atmosphere
Overall: 9.5