"A good game, that's if you don't mind technical inconveniences."

Game-play:
Nothing new really especially to experienced FPS gamers. The usual mouse controlled interface, inventory drag, drop, double click bit. No major issues here.

Graphics:
Nicely rendered images and animations (except gun graphics which are dull and lack detail). The cut-scenes are perhaps the best out there (too bad, you can't play cut-scenes). The worst part is the engine optimization, where the process of rendering textures inconveniences the player to a point that you may have to restart due to a freeze (due to stuttering). The stuttering/pausing when moving, fighting with a lot of NP Cs, rain and lightning is a major turnoff pure and simple. The game actually comes to a momentary halt, then resume, halt, resume, and so on. Perhaps the one main inconvenience that simply cannot be overlooked and should not be left unaddressed by the developers.

Sound:
Sound is not bad, it is appropriate for the setting. Eerie when it needs to be. Somber when called for. It lacks however, a central/main piece that a major undertaking such as this should have. Sound effects such as gunshots, creature noises, and voice-overs are done fairly well. Environmental sound effects like wind gusts add realism to outdoor events.

Story:
May be the product of the imagination of some kid who really didn't know what tale he wanted to tell except that it needed creatures and creepy stuff, and enemy soldiers, and shooting. Even when given a mission, there's no explanation given as to what significance the quest has on the story, except that you need to do it lest you run the risk of leaving the game unsatisfactorily ended. You only get to know what it's all about in one of the endings by the way.

Conclusion:
All in all S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadows of Chernobyl is a game that will draw you to a series of suspenseful quests en route to a finale, which is basically the only time the story is completely told. It is worthwhile to have a game such as this installed in your pc which by the way, should be equipped with adequate hardware in order to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 04/17/07