"A Fresh and New Vibe"

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a unique and an ever more intense "First Person Shooter." It is, if not, one of the most exciting and challenging games I've played in quite some time. However, with a few bugs and flaws, the game is set back a few points. I'll give you my recap.

Story: 7
Probably not the best story I've stumbled upon, but it all depends on how you play. It has several different endings, and your game-play will decide the outcome of your story. It really doesn't differ that much though.

We all know the fact that Chernobyl is a real place, and that it actually had a real nuclear disaster, but since this is a video game that tries to put a little twist to the story, I'll give it a 7.

Game-play: 7
I have several pros and cons about this game, and I'll just list a couple of important ones.

Pros

Freedom: You can wander, explore and receive missions wherever you tend to go. It has a hint of an RPG style to it.

AI: The AI in this game is incredibly smart.

Atmosphere: I love the atmosphere in this game. It is dark, depressing and frightening all at the same time. The surroundings and atmosphere really makes you want to live and not die.

Cons

Bugs: There are several bugs in the game, and a few major bugs that can even hinder your game progress. Patches and updates will probably fix this in the near future.

Weapons: For some reason the weapons in this game are really weak and inaccurate. I would even prefer pistols over some rifles. Probably not the best game if you're looking to play with dominant weapons.

Factions: We all know there are several factions in this game, but we still don't know if we can actually join most of them. I hope they plan to fix this in the future, so you can decide on what faction you want to work for.

Basically the game is still new, and there will eventually be fixes to come. All in all its game-play is solid.

Graphics: 7
The graphics are strong in this game; however, it could have been a lot better for the requirements it needs. Top notch computers still have struggles in running the game. If we were in 2004, I'd be totally astonished by the graphics, but we're not. Oblivion and even Half-Life 2 easily overtakes this game graphic-wise.

Sound: 9
This is by far the best aspect of this game. The sound is just truly amazing! It is very detailed and crisp. You can hear echoes of men yelling from a distance, evil dogs barking and even monsters groaning. With its overwhelming sound effects, it actually gives you a vibe of intensity, anxiety and even sorrow. It's truly one of a kind!

Controls: 8
Pretty much the controls are the same with most other FPS games. Nothing too drastic.

Overall: 7
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is pretty much a unique and solid game with a couple of flaws to fix, but would it worth the title of "Game of the Year?" No. However, it will definitely be one of the better games of 2007.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/07