Journalists shared their first impressions of the preview version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which they tried out at the Summer Game Fest 2024. Here are the highlights.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 creates the impression of a very expansive and rich game. Players have access to large and varied locations that can be freely explored. According to the reviewers, they played for only 40-60 minutes but were already able to appreciate the grand scale of the world.

The shooter feels like a game from the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series but modern and more advanced. Shooting and controls have become much more convenient compared to previous games. At the same time, some mechanics, such as inventory management, will be familiar to franchise fans.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a difficult game, the journalists stated. The battles were tense, and the enemies were skilled: they aimed accurately and threw grenades. Both the player character and the enemies died fairly quickly.

During the preview, players ran out of ammunition. Resources had to be used carefully, and locations needed to be thoroughly explored to find materials. Over time, weapons in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 degrade. The reviewers didn’t have enough time to assess how this affects shooting, but they saw a corresponding hint in the interface.

Despite the bugs, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 feels polished, the journalists said. According to them, the game generally creates the impression of being high-budget and meticulously crafted. The reviewers had an excellent first impression of the shooter. Its release is scheduled for September 5 on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Main image: alphacoders.com

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