Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PC) review: Flawed, haunting, and utterly compelling

The original Stalker, released back in 2007 by Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, introduced players to a haunting vision of a second Chornobyl nuclear disaster, one where irradiated wastelands were teeming with mutants and fortune-seeking stalkers – and hence the title. The inspiration came from the cult novel "Roadside Picnic," and back then, its grim premise seemed like speculative fiction, a chilling "what-if" scenario. Fast-forward to today, and the world has caught up to that vision in more ways than we might have ever imagined. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the release of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl feels eerily timely.

Stalker 2 opens literally with a bang. An apartment building disintegrates into a fiery explosion, thrusting you as the lead character, Skef, into the Zone with nothing more than a piece of scanning equipment that holds potential for both survival and revenge. Before Skef can even get his bearings, he's ambushed, loses his scanner, and finds himself alone in this unforgiving world. The game wastes no time in setting a tone of constant struggle and relentless survival, where every resource is scarce, and every encounter is fraught with peril. It’s not exactly like the beginning of Elden Ring, but very close.

So, the gameplay here is merciless. Every step through this irradiated wasteland is a gamble. Mutated monsters, roving bands of hostile stalkers, and deteriorating equipment mean you're always on edge. Your weapons have a nasty habit of jamming just when you need them most, and supplies like food and ammo are perpetually in short supply. It’s a game that makes you work for every inch of progress. Safe houses scattered across the map offer temporary respite, a chance to trade, upgrade your gear, or take on side quests, but these moments of comfort are fleeting. Most of your time is spent outside, in the Zone, contending with whatever chaos it throws at you.

Visually, the Zone is both desolate and breathtaking. Grasslands blend into decaying urban spaces, rusting Soviet-era remnants stand as silent monuments to a forgotten world, and unpredictable weather changes add to the unease. One moment, you’re trudging along a muddy path under a blinding sun, and the next, dark storm clouds roll in, carrying fierce winds and obscuring your vision. Anomalies – bizarre remnants of whatever science birthed this place – dot the landscape, appearing as floating anti-matter or miniature explosive eruptions. They are beautiful, deadly obstacles that force you to stay alert, always scanning your surroundings.

Stalker 2 isn't just about survival; it's also about exploration – not just of terrain, but of a complicated web of lore and allegiances. That said, there are so many factions, cults and military groups that, at times, it can feel overwhelming. It doesn’t help that the voice acting, and dialogue can be a bit stiff too, and many of the NPCs seem almost interchangeable. The lore-rich world has its allure, but the delivery makes it easy to get lost, or even lose interest, in the narrative's finer details.

From a technical perspective, Stalker 2 isn't without its issues. Its Day 1 release was riddled with bugs, ranging from missing character models to quests that wouldn't complete properly. There's a lingering feeling that the game could use more polish, although GSC has promised a major patch is coming very soon to fix some of the more critical issues. Even so, those imperfections don't take away from the core experience, which is so compelling that it's easy to overlook the glitches. There’s an atmosphere of desperation and melancholy that permeates the game – a reflection, perhaps, of the developers' own reality as they worked amidst the uncertainty and trauma of conflict. The echoes of this struggle can be felt throughout, adding an unexpected gravity to the game’s already grim tone.

This sombre atmosphere takes on a near allegorical significance. The game’s main military faction, the Ward, is a force that has invaded the Zone under the guise of stabilisation but is really bent on expansion and control. A thinly veiled commentary on the real-world invasion of Ukraine, perhaps? You really can’t begrudge the developers for drawing the line between reel and real-life so grey with Stalker 2. The connection to real-life events makes Stalker 2 feel more poignant, an exploration of trauma and resilience that hits differently from typical dystopian fiction.

But despite all the flaws I mentioned above, Stalker 2 has an unshakable pull. There’s something intoxicating about wandering through these irradiated fields, scavenging for weapons, making fragile alliances, and pushing deeper into the unknown. The ever-present sense of danger, the haunting solitude, and the stark imagery of a civilisation barely holding on, all combine to create a uniquely immersive experience.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a defiant entry in a genre that often plays it safe. Its vision is bold, occasionally to a fault, and it doesn’t care if you’re uncomfortable or confused. It’s a game that drags you through the mud and tests your patience, but for those willing to endure, it offers something raw and memorable. It’s certainly not for everyone, and that’s part of its charm. If you enjoyed the eccentricities of a game with strange systems and janky mechanics, then you’ll likely find this game appealing. Stalker 2 is not a perfectly polished blockbuster, but it’s a testament to resilience, both within its narrative and in its very existence. GSC Game World set out to create something singular and uncompromising, and they succeeded – glitches, rough edges, and all.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

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