Shortly after the conclusion of the epic Xbox Games Showcase 2024 event, I returned to the Summer Game Fest Play Days to go hands-on with two upcoming Xbox console exclusive titles (and day one Xbox Game Pass launch). One of these was STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the long-awaited sequel to the survival horror shooter from GSC Game World.
STALKER 2 is finally coming to Xbox Series I don’t have much experience with this subgenre of video games (I played the first Metro title, and that’s it), so I went into it mostly as a brand new player. By the end of my 30-minute hands-on period, I could tell that STALKER 2 is shaping up to be something special.
What is STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl?
The STALKER franchise is a long-running series of first-person shooter survival horror games set around The Zone, an area beset by supernatural occurrences and mysterious mutations following a second explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (which, you guessed it, of Chernobyl). a fictional version of Chernobyl). The series is set in the same genre as the Metro franchise, characterized by tense environments and dangerous encounters.
STALKER 2 finally continues the franchise with a new mainline entry 14 years after the previous release, and brings all the improvements in graphics, open-world design, and gameplay systems that players wanted from the older games. It is being developed by Ukraine-based GSC Game World, which has suffered problems and delays due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, despite the hardships, the studio has continued to work to bring STALKER 2 to players, and the game is finally coming later this year.
Heart of Chornobyl is a brand new adventure set in The Zone that requires players to have no prior knowledge of the franchise. It features an evolution of the same purposefully clunky, incredibly tense gameplay of the original series. You must survive the dangers of The Zone, learn and avoid dangers as you search for resources, supplies and equipment. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will officially release on September 5, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Xbox and PC Game Pass.
A tense atmosphere full of danger
The first thing I noticed when I sat next to player STALKER 2 at Summer Game Fest 2024 was how stunning the game looks. Visual fidelity, sophisticated character models and incredible environmental detail come together to create an extremely dark, foreboding and tense atmosphere that immediately puts you on edge. STALKER 2 doesn’t waste much time making sure you’re aware of how vulnerable you really are in The Zone, even after you acquire your first weapons.
There was only so much I could see in the span of 30 minutes, but I got my first personal look at STALKER 2’s story and how it will be affected by your choices in the semi-open world. There’s a lot going on in The Zone that you have no control over or knowledge of, but Skif, the character you play as, seems to have a goal in mind from the start. However, achieving that goal is quite a task considering how dangerous this world seems to be.
Other people armed with powerful firearms will be the least of your worries, as you’ll also have to be constantly aware of sources of debilitating radiation, mysterious anomalies that overwhelm you in moments, and even mutated monsters that pose entirely unique threats to your well-being. GSC Game World has clearly put a lot of effort into making STALKER 2 the visual and atmospheric showcase the series always could have been, and it’s stunning (and terrifying).
An action game in which you are not an action hero
Adding to this persistent sense of danger is the fact that you’re simply not an action hero. This isn’t Master Chief or Doom Slayer; you are a human being with a very soft inside, and everything you see could possibly kill you. What highlights your vulnerability are the awkward controls, which I think are intentional. STALKER 2 doesn’t feel bad to control at all – instead, the way you move and aim is a constant reminder that you’re carrying a lot of equipment, that weapons are inherently clunky, and that regular people can’t jump five feet. in the air or sliding twenty feet across the ground on a whim.
The controls took some getting used to, and towards the end of my playthrough there were times when I didn’t know what to do, as STALKER 2 seems happier to give you gentle nudges in the right direction, but mostly leaves you to your own devices. own devices… Even if that means blindly inventing a new control mechanism. However, these are things that could be improved in the final months of development. What probably won’t change is the difficulty.
STALKER 2 was brutal, even in my first demo. Towards the end of my session I encountered a terrifyingly fast and powerful enemy that also happened to be able to turn almost completely invisible. In the poor light of the early morning it was almost impossible to make out anything between the shadows of the surrounding foliage and the wreckage. Even when I managed to hold it, the creature took an astonishing amount of gunfire before finally collapsing. I’ll admit it took me a few tries to survive this encounter, and it was yet another reminder that exploring The Zone is no ordinary walk around the neighborhood.
Overall, I’m very intrigued. My first encounter with the STALKER franchise was a positive one, even surrounded by the noise and movement of the Summer Game Fest Play Days building, and it left me wanting more. My brief exploration yielded unexpected results, and I’m curious to see what other secrets The Zone has in store. The challenge that the dangers within me offer only tries to tempt me even more. With months still to go for optimization and improved onboarding, I believe STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has all the pieces it needs to become something truly special, and one of the best Xbox games of the year.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will launch on September 5, 2024 and is now available for pre-order for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.