S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl

“S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat”

Developer: GSC Game World

Publisher: GSC World Publishing

Release Date: Fall 2009

This year, the Ukrainian company GSC Game World brought a new add-on to the beloved S.T.A.L.K.E.R. to KRI, called “Call of Pripyat.” We, of course, learned from the developers who and why Pripyat is calling.

So, there will be no miraculous transformations of the Zone. Everything happening around us is well known, but the ideas laid down in the previous games will be implemented properly. Another addition was needed simply to fix all the mistakes, of which, it must be admitted, there were quite a few in “Shadow of Chernobyl” and “Clear Sky.”

The levels have noticeably increased in size. At KRI, we were shown only one map out of five, but in more than half an hour of walking among the local landscapes, we did not explore even a third of it. By the way, you won't have to wander through old, well-trodden places. Even in Pripyat itself, the authors drew the eastern part of the city, which the player had not visited before.

In addition, the developers promise to pay a lot of attention to the development of quests, making them more interesting and diverse. The Zone as a whole looks familiar: mutants still roam around, anomalies appear here and there, and groups of stalkers sort out their relationships. However, if you look closely, you can find a lot of new and interesting things here. For example, the radioactive zoo is now divided into two parts: carnivores and herbivores. The former would not mind feasting on the latter, so the squabbles between them will become very common. And in general, both classes behave differently.

You won't find anomalies on every corner now, but nevertheless, the Geiger counter and bolts will still be useful – because in the very heart of one of them, there may be a very useful and expensive artifact. Or maybe not – that's the whole point. By the way, there is a feeling that the anomalies have become more attractive from a visual point of view. This is not just some place where you instantly turn into a piece of meat, but an extraordinary mystery of nature that evokes genuine surprise.

“Call of Pripyat” includes a lot of less noticeable, but useful changes. It is worth mentioning the more detailed and in-depth upgrade of weapons – there will be special mechanics at the bases ready to deal with weapon modernization. On the other hand, dealing with luggage has become easier – in particular, with the arsenal: a convenient sorting of cartridges by weapon type has appeared.

As for the plot, everything is ordinary: an agent of the security service goes to the Zone to find out where the government expedition disappeared to. The game is scheduled for release in the fall of this year.