S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Preview — A Haunting Return to The Zone

The long-awaited sequel to the cult classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is almost upon us, and after years of anticipation and delays, I finally got my hands on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl at Summer Game Fest 2024. As someone who has only dabbled in the franchise, I was eager to see what drew so many players to The Zone, and after my 30-minute demo, I can confidently say that GSC Game World ‘s latest offering is shaping up to be something truly exciting.

Set in the aftermath of a fictional second explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 thrusts players into a world where reality itself seems to be unravelling. The game’s opening moments set the tone for what players could expect as they delved deeper into the game’s world. As I got underway on my mission, I found myself sneaking through cracks in walls, hiding from patrolling helicopters, and witnessing bizarre supernatural occurrences that left me feeling uneasy and on edge, with the game walking a razor’s edge between a shooter and a horror experience.

From the moment I took control, it felt like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was from a game from another time period, bucking many trends modern first-person shooters rely on. The game’s mechanics are intentionally clunky, creating a sense of tension and vulnerability that permeates every aspect of the experience. It may be wearing the trappings of a game like Call of Duty , but this isn’t a power fantasy where you’ll be mowing down hordes of enemies with ease. Instead, every encounter feels like a desperate struggle for survival.

Much like we all experienced when we first played Half-Life 2 and experienced the world overrun by the combine, The Zone itself is a character in its own right, and GSC Game World has done an incredible job bringing this haunting landscape to life. Unreal 5’s visual fidelity is on display , delivering dense foliage, crumbling structures, and eerie anomalies, creating a world that feels both beautiful and terrifying. The attention to detail is remarkable, from the way light filters through the trees to the subtle environmental storytelling that hints at the horrors that have unfolded in this cursed land.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 remarkably uses lighting and atmospheric effects to create a world that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The sky above The Zone is a swirling mass of clouds and energy, casting an otherworldly glow over the landscape. Anomalies pulse with alien energy, warping the fabric of reality around them. It’s a visual spectacle that reinforces the alien nature of this once-familiar environment.

Even in the early moments of the game, you quickly learn that The Zone is not just pretty to look at but a deadly playground full of dangers, both natural and supernatural. During my brief time with the game, I encountered radiation hotspots, deadly anomalies and mutated creatures that seem to defy the laws of nature and can quickly take you down without a moment’s notice. Navigating this treacherous landscape requires constant vigilance and a willingness to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

“While we have grown accustomed to the feeling of having enough bullets to take down an army, resource management plays a crucial role in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 …”

As I mentioned, while the game may look like any modern first-person shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is much more of a challenge than you may first think. Combat feels weighty and impactful, with weapons that kick and bark realistically as you fire. The game’s AI is impressive, with enemies working together to flank and outmaneuver you. I found myself constantly struggling to stay alive, scrambling for cover as bullets whizzed past my head and mutated creatures stalked through the tall grass.

While we have grown accustomed to the feeling of having enough bullets to take down an army, resource management plays a crucial role in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 , and I quickly found myself carefully rationing my ammunition, medical supplies and anti-radiation drugs. The game doesn’t hold your hand, and it’s clear that careless players will quickly find themselves in dire straits. This emphasis on survival adds a layer of strategy to every encounter, forcing you to carefully weigh the risks and rewards of each situation.

Even in the short time I spent with the game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 ‘s open-world design was something special. While my demo was relatively linear, it’s clear that the full game will offer players a vast, interconnected world to explore. The Zone is full of landmarks, from abandoned settlements to mysterious anomalies, and I can’t wait to see what secrets lie in its radiant depths. The session gave me a taste of what the full experience would be like, and even then, I loved how the developers created a world that feels complex, alien, and terrifying all at the same time.

“ S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 ‘s open-world design was something special.”

This leads me to perhaps the game’s strongest element: its atmosphere. There’s a palpable sense of dread that permeates every moment, whether you’re creeping through an abandoned building or facing down a pack of mutated creatures. The sound design is particularly noteworthy, with ambient noises and haunting music working together to create an unsettling auditory landscape.

Even early on, as you go through your early missions, the sense that something horrible has happened to the people in this world is felt around every moment of the game. The story and world-building craft a sense of tension, and that only grows as you experience more of what S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has to show you.

If you have not guessed from how I describe the game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 doesn’t seem to be making many concessions for newcomers to the series. The game is unabashedly challenging, and players unfamiliar with the franchise’s unique blend of survival horror and first-person shooting may find themselves struggling at first.

Almost everything in The Zone is going to try and kill you, and it is only your quick reflexes and your ability to strategize that will let you get out alive. That said, the core gameplay loop is engaging enough that I suspect many will be willing to push through the initial learning curve.

While I may have struggled with the game, I walked away from my time with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, excited to experience more. It was a world that felt completely unique and full of life, and even though it all wanted me dead, it had a mystique about it that stayed with me, begging to be experienced and explored. I have so many questions about The Zone, the creatures that live there, and the mystery of where the story will go next. This is a game that will undoubtedly punish me, but if the full release is anything like the demo, it will all be worth it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to release on September 5th, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, giving a whole new generation of players the chance to experience the terrors and wonders of The Zone.