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- Stalker 2 is one of the most distinct survival FPS games, and it cleverly combines horror and immersive sim genres.
- While not exactly a horror game, Stalker 2’s open-world exploration and enemies add a sense of horror, making it more diverse.
- The game’s open world, combat, and sound design are groundbreaking and enhance immersion.
Stalker 2 may not be everyone’s cup of tea because of its unique FPS approach and considering how tough the game can get. The Zone is an unforgiving open world filled with various mysteries, creatures, and stories to tell.
Its playstyle leans more towards realism, and developer GSC world perfectly encapsulated what it felt like to survive in the aftermath of a war, considering how they also made the game during such times.
While the game’s focus was mainly on creating a survival FPS game, Stalker 2 cleverly combines horror and realism elements while delivering a rich narrative experience.
Why It Matters: Initially starting development in 2012, Stalker 2 took a lot of time to release, but it’s important to realise why. The game has so much content and variety, and blending different genres is just the base of it.
Stalker 2 Is A Horror Game But Not Like You’d Expect
While being a lone warrior scavenging through The Zone is frightening, the fear level gets elevated given the game’s enemy variety and abandoned dark places filled with bloodsuckers that can turn invisible and are sure to give you a jumpscare every time.
However, Stalker 2 isn’t your typical horror FPS like the Resident Evil or Prey games since no supernatural entity is related to the game’s narrative. Rather, the player experience, survival, and exploration become truly terrifying.
The graphics do elevate the experience. With a darker setting in a land that is practically deserted except for some survivors and a lot of mutated enemies, as Skif, you’d be sceptical about visiting newer areas at the beginning of the game with lesser gear because one thing is for sure, the game can be unforgiving at times, and you’re going to find yourself dying a lot.
Stalker 2’s Immersive Open-World That Is Basically A Simulation
I’d really have to give GSC Game World props for making such an immersive, open world and giving players so much freedom in how they approach the game. For example, you can skip the main storyline altogether and just go on your own path and still have an amazing time.
The Zone can simultaneously be terrifying and beautiful, and the supernatural wasteland can be beautiful sometimes. However, they’re only appealing just from afar.
Stalker 2’s open world is unparalleled in my gaming journey, and it’s difficult to intertwine a great story while keeping a perfect balance between a gameplay experience.
Sound design is another aspect often neglected in any media, but that isn’t the case with Stalker 2. Every asset has its unique sound effect, and spanning cameras change how the sound hits you. I didn’t know storms were truly terrifying and caused goosebumps until I played Stalker 2 and found the perfect blend between visuals and sound designs.
Since combat is a huge game aspect, GSC Game World has made the best weaponry possible in a video game. The developer’s experience with weapons helped greatly in this matter, too. The gun models are accurate, with amazing attention to detail, and weapons will also jam, depending on how you care for them.
Even the game’s world-building is top-tier. How you interact with NPCs with branching storylines and how it affects world-building depends on your morals and choices. I think it’ll take me at least 3-4 gameplay runs to truly discover all the potential storylines.
With each aspect, Stalker 2 defines how ugly society can be and, to some extent, reflects on the real-life scenario of the Ukraine-Russian war.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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