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

 PC
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Mar 20, 2007
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1658 Ratings

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  • Summary: The player will become a stalker, a guy who earns money from shoveling embers out of infernal oven of Chernobyl Zone. Returning from the radioactivity-blazing Zone, he will sell anomalous formations to underground dealers and scientists in research camps on the Zone border. With the moneyThe player will become a stalker, a guy who earns money from shoveling embers out of infernal oven of Chernobyl Zone. Returning from the radioactivity-blazing Zone, he will sell anomalous formations to underground dealers and scientists in research camps on the Zone border. With the money procured, the player will purchase equipment, weapons and protective suits allowing him to reach previously inaccessible areas. This is a role-playing game without growing experience of your character, without changing characteristics and levels. We want the player to develop his real mastery, moreover Stalker is an FPS/RPG game and much depends on his ability to fight. [GSC Game World]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. PC Format
    93
    Broken. Absolutely and utterly broken. Not the game, oh no, it's my fragile nerves that have been shattered. Adrenalin is still coursing through my veins as I type, and what's more, I absolutely love it. STALKER is a thoroughly affecting game, and it's got me by the short hairs. [Apr 2007, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. AceGamez
    90
    I loved every single challenging, compelling, atmosphere-laden moment of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. It's just so different from everything else that's out there.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. GameZone
    88
    From its alternate reality setting and realistic gun mechanics to its trading system and action horror formula, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is radioactive rareness.
  4. IGN
    82
    By itself, the game is a fascinating achievement, even if you trip over technical cracks more than you should.
  5. 1UP
    80
    The game's "exclusion zone" setting, a no-man's-land roughly 30 square kilometers surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, is very much "Mad Maxim": post-Soviet road warriors just beyond the containment dome. Bleak as the end of the world (or at least life as we know it), it's an invention as gorgeous as years-old graphics overhauled for a late launch get.
  6. NTSC-uk
    80
    The clunky interface, numerous bugs, fractured story telling and underdeveloped ideas do distract from what could well have been a real classic, but the fact that GSC have come through development hell to produce a game as memorable as this is quite an achievement.
  7. Cheat Code Central
    58
    Flaws abound in the game.

See all 44 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 246 out of 341
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 341
  3. Negative: 46 out of 341
  1. WesM
    Jan 14, 2010
    10
    S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is definitely not a game for everybody. It can be brutally difficult, even on the normal setting. It doesn't hold your S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is definitely not a game for everybody. It can be brutally difficult, even on the normal setting. It doesn't hold your hand or cut you a break at the beginning--there's not much of a tutorial, early weapons are inaccurate and weak, and you'll die a lot. But that's part of the charm of it all. It's a rough world out there, and it's not meant to be easy to survive. Whereas games like Fallout 3 make the post-apocalyptic world seem almost harmless, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. brings out what you'd expect it to be like. You're no super-human, you're a regular person, a bullet to the head will kill you just like it'll kill anyone else, and those people will try to kill you in return just to survive.… Expand
  2. Cobra007
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    This is a game that you really want to love, but sadly it's put down by all the bugs in the game. There's either bugs that crash the game,This is a game that you really want to love, but sadly it's put down by all the bugs in the game. There's either bugs that crash the game, that make a quest impossible to finish, to bugs that simply make the gameplay suffer. If it weren't for the bugs, I'd be giving this game a 10, but sadly I must give it a 7 since the game just suffers alot from all the bugs.… Expand
  4. EricR.
    Sep 6, 2007
    10
    This is probably one of the most amazing and extreme first person shooters i have ever played, yes it has its bugs and coding issues but once This is probably one of the most amazing and extreme first person shooters i have ever played, yes it has its bugs and coding issues but once you patch the game and get everything up to speed, the game had me playing for hours and hours. so many different things and possibilitys you can explore and proceed in many different ways. Just has me playing and playing just because of the several ways you can play through it, and many different and interesting endings and gameplay route within it. Its sort of like Deus ex and BioShock , so if your a fan of the Dues ex or BioShock i highly recommend this game. With the types of game play thats implemented in this game you'll just be blown away by the story and and environmental surrounding of this hostile world of Chernobyl!… Expand
  5. Marked_One
    Mar 29, 2017
    9
    In my top 5 of best games I ever played. The story is pretty good, the gameplay is really good and it's really atmospheric. While you can sayIn my top 5 of best games I ever played. The story is pretty good, the gameplay is really good and it's really atmospheric. While you can say that the textures are dated, the fact that the game was in developement hell and even managed to pull it out as an actually good game shows that the developers actually knew what they did. However, sometimes enemies are bullet sponges, and it's plagued by bugs, more than you would find in your house's attic.
    All in all, a really great game.    … Expand
  6. Hudson633
    Aug 15, 2012
    8
    I love this, because I love singleplayer experience gameplay, that allows you to roam around with whatever equipment you want. There's a goodI love this, because I love singleplayer experience gameplay, that allows you to roam around with whatever equipment you want. There's a good mix of freedom, side missions, and storyline missions that you have to complete to progress. You can always go backwards, hunt for things, sell your treasures, buy weapons and ammo, until the endgame. The endgame itself is long, and took me totally by surprise at how epic it turned out to be. I was completely satisfied with it, seeing how such a modest game could unmask itself as being so brilliant. I wish I'd played it sooner, and had higher expectations with it, or I might never have tried it out. If you enjoy this and want a multiplayer version, I think DayZ mod is quite similar.… Expand
  7. antwerp
    Jan 16, 2021
    7
    Absolutely perfect atmosphere. However i didnt like the confused story line. Rather often you dont know why you are doing what you are doingAbsolutely perfect atmosphere. However i didnt like the confused story line. Rather often you dont know why you are doing what you are doing and what is the motivation on other persons in the game. In global I miss the motivation for exloring this wonderfull world.… Expand
  8. B.O.S.Kuro-chan
    Mar 27, 2007
    0
    This game is 2D, not worth any upgrades to Vista. I would rather drink pig urine that was pooped in by a Gorilla with hemorrhoids than playThis game is 2D, not worth any upgrades to Vista. I would rather drink pig urine that was pooped in by a Gorilla with hemorrhoids than play this game. It is ugly, sounds horrible, has bad controls, horrible gameplay, retarded story line, and, to top it off, it installs about 20 viruses when you boot it up. Avoid this game at all costs.… Expand

See all 341 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PC Game of 2007
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
8
#8 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

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