S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | Review Thread

John Elden Ring

John Elden Ring

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5 Jul 2022
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Game Information​

Game Title: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Platforms:


  • Xbox Series X/S (Nov 20, 2024)
  • PC (Nov 20, 2024)
Trailers:




STALKER 2 Release Time Schedule:​

  • Seattle (PST): November 20, 2024, at 8:00 AM

  • New York (EST): November 20, 2024, at 11:00 AM

  • São Paulo (BRT): November 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM

  • London (GMT): November 20, 2024, at 4:00 PM

  • Prague (CET): November 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM

  • Kyiv (EET): November 20, 2024, at 6:00 PM

  • Beijing (CST): November 21, 2024, at midnight

  • Tokyo (JST): November 21, 2024, at 1:00 AM

  • Sydney (AEDT): November 21, 2024, at 3:00 AM

  • Auckland (NZDT): November 21, 2024, at 5:00 AM
The game is being released simultaneously across all time zones, ensuring players around the world can immerse themselves in the dangerous and mysterious world of Chornobyl at the same time.


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Release Time by Region





Stalker 2 Preorder Bonuses​


​

Stalker 2 Preorder Bonus
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl preorders come with a few more bonuses than originally expected:

  • Veteran Rifle (weapon)
  • Tourist Suit (skin)
  • Exclusive backpack (skin)
  • Extra stories and songs to listen to while sitting around the campfire before/after missions.

Stalker 2 Collector’s Edition​


$180​

4400738-stalker2collector%27sedition.jpg




Stalker 2's Collector's Edition includes a statue, physical art book, exclusive steelbook. case, and plenty of other physical collectibles. You also get the DLC that comes with the Deluxe Edition, including an extra quest and numerous skins, as well as the preorder bonuses. Here's the full list of what's included in the box:
  • Stalker Figurine
  • Art book
  • Steelbook (Collector's Edition art)
  • Letter from developers
  • Souvenir Zone Permit
  • Sticker Pack
  • Zone Map
  • Poster
  • Patches
  • Token (dog tag)
  • Keychain with firestarter
  • Deluxe DLC
    • Additional quest
    • One costume, three weapon skins (campaign)
    • Two costumes, three weapon skins (multiplayer)
It was sold out for a long time, but Amazon replenished its stock on November 16 --snag a preorder while you can.

Preorder at Amazon (in stock)

Stalker 2 Limited Edition​


$80​


617Hhr+C0sL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg


Stalker 2's Limited Edition costs $80 and includes most of the collectibles found in the pricier Collector's Edition, but it excludes the two big ticket items: the statue and the physical art book. You won't get the Deluxe Edition DLC with this version, but it does come with the preorder bonuses. The Limited Edition's steelbook case has different art than the Collector's Edition case.
  • Steelbook (Limited Edition art)
  • Letter from the developers
  • Souvenir Zone Permit
  • Sticker Pack
  • Standard DLC
  • Zone Map
  • Poster
  • Patches
  • Token (dog tag)
  • Keychain with firestarter
  • Letter from the developers
  • Standard DLC
The Limited Edition is currently sold out, but it might be available to preorder again soon.
A digital-only Deluxe Edition is also available to preorder on Steam, Epic, and the Xbox Store for $80. It comes with the following goodies:
  • Additional quest
  • Digital Art book
  • Official Soundtrack
  • One costume, three weapon skins (campaign)
  • Two costumes, three weapon skins (multiplayer)

Preorder at Amazon (sold out)

Stalker 2 Standard Edition​


4395681-stalker2.png


The standard edition of Stalker 2 comes with the base game and preorder bonuses for $60. Preorders are available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop.
Digital copies can be found on the Xbox Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.

Preorder at Amazon

Preorder at Best Buy

Preorder at Walmart

Stalker 2 Ultimate Edition​


$350​


4012707-stalker2ultimate.png


It's not available to preorder at this time, but Stalker 2's Ultimate Edition costs nearly twice as much as the Collector's Edition. It comes with everything from the CE as well as a Stalker backpack and the Artefact Container Lamp, both of which look pretty cool.
  • Stalker backpack
  • Artefact Container Lamp
  • Stalker Figurine
  • Art book
  • Steelbook (Ultimate Edition art)
  • Letter from developers
  • Souvenir Zone Permit
  • Sticker Pack
  • Deluxe DLC
  • Zone Map
  • Poster
  • Patches
  • Token (dog tag)
  • Keychain with firestarter
The Ultimate Edition has to be purchased from the official Stalker 2 website.
Click to expand...




MetaCritic

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OpenCritic:


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Critic Reviews:​
AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 70 / 100


If Stalker 2 didn't have so many serious performance issues and bugs, it would be my Game of the Year. It has a great story, memorable characters, a unique world to explore, and great visual presentation - pretty much everything to keep you immersed for hours.
Click to expand...
Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 79 / 100


Stalker 2 has more bugs than we can tolerate, but it's still a very enjoyable game. The attention to detail in its huge open world, the new AIs and the new gunplay mechanics won me over. It also has great graphics and after a few updates I think it will be a must-play for everyone.
Click to expand...
Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 3 / 5


Stalker 2 is brutal, unforgiving, and not for the faint-hearted. While its storyline is poised for new players, its gameplay feels the opposite, providing a hardcore experience for anyone looking to dive into the Zone. Nevertheless, Stalker 2 is the kind of game that ages like a fine wine, getting better, richer, and slightly bolder as you push through its 35-hour campaign. That being said, the performance issues and missing features do leave a somewhat bitter taste.
Click to expand...
Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4.5 / 5


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an immersive and atmospheric journey through the Zone, delivering gripping exploration and hardcore survival, though its ambition is hindered by technical issues, making it a flawed yet quintessential S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience.
Click to expand...
Gamer Guides - Patrick Dane - 81 / 100


While performance woes hinder it, STALKER 2 is a fiercely unique and immersive survival game. It asks the player to put in the work and struggle against its harsh systems that may turn many off. However, if you’re willing to persevere through its systems and technical issues, there is a special experience waiting to be found within the enchanting Zone.
Click to expand...
Gamer.no - Gøran Solbakken - Unknown - 8 / 10


Stalker 2 stands out as an impressive and immersive survival shooter. A huge, handcrafted world with interesting story choices, lots of content and quality all around. Refreshingly, you are not a superhero out to save the world, but a regular grunt trying to survive
Click to expand...
IGN Deutschland - Eike Cramer - German - 8 / 10


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a game that, in my opinion, is all too rare in this form. GSC Game World has managed to create an incredibly atmospheric combination of survival, horror and end time in a fascinating environment. Despite all the shooter weaknesses, the wooden dialogues, the incredibly annoying anomalies over time and some dubious technical problems, I fell in love with this zone. You won't find that much freedom and mystery anywhere else. Added to this is a story that takes its time to get it going, but then surprises with cool factions and robust characters. This excursion to Chernobyl requires patience and stamina, but rewards you with spectacular views, fierce battles and an expressive end time.
Click to expand...
Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 80 / 100


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is not a game for everyone. Its unforgiving difficulty, steep learning curve, and technical issues make it a challenging experience, especially for newcomers. Yet, for those willing to brave its harsh world, the game offers a deeply immersive and rewarding journey, moreso than other open-world games.
For veterans of the series, it’s a triumphant return to form—one that stays true to the franchise’s uncompromising identity. For newcomers, however, it’s an intimidating introduction to a genre that demands patience, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace failure.
Click to expand...
Nexus Hub - Andrew Logue - 9 / 10


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is everything I've ever wanted from a sequel - a refined world, plenty of emergent gameplay possibilities and stunning atmosphere add up to make one of the best games of 2024.https://nexushub.co.za/nexus/review-s.t.a.l.k.e.r.-2-heart-of-chornobyl.html
Click to expand...
Stevivor - Hamish Lindsay - 5 / 10


[PROVISIONAL SCORE] "The fact that STALKER 2 is complete and ready for an imminent release is nothing short of a miracle. It’s just a shame that my experience... is damaged by a constant stream of ever-present bugs and issues."
Click to expand...
XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.4 / 10


After a tumultuous dev cycle, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shines despite some rough edges.
Click to expand...



Video Reviews




Critic Reviews:
AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 70 / 100


If Stalker 2 didn't have so many serious performance issues and bugs, it would be my Game of the Year. It has a great story, memorable characters, a unique world to explore, and great visual presentation - pretty much everything to keep you immersed for hours.
Click to expand...
Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 79 / 100


Stalker 2 has more bugs than we can tolerate, but it's still a very enjoyable game. The attention to detail in its huge open world, the new AIs and the new gunplay mechanics won me over. It also has great graphics and after a few updates I think it will be a must-play for everyone.
Click to expand...
Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 3 / 5


Stalker 2 is brutal, unforgiving, and not for the faint-hearted. While its storyline is poised for new players, its gameplay feels the opposite, providing a hardcore experience for anyone looking to dive into the Zone. Nevertheless, Stalker 2 is the kind of game that ages like a fine wine, getting better, richer, and slightly bolder as you push through its 35-hour campaign. That being said, the performance issues and missing features do leave a somewhat bitter taste.
Click to expand...
Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4.5 / 5


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an immersive and atmospheric journey through the Zone, delivering gripping exploration and hardcore survival, though its ambition is hindered by technical issues, making it a flawed yet quintessential S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience.
Click to expand...
Gamer Guides - Patrick Dane - 81 / 100


While performance woes hinder it, STALKER 2 is a fiercely unique and immersive survival game. It asks the player to put in the work and struggle against its harsh systems that may turn many off. However, if you’re willing to persevere through its systems and technical issues, there is a special experience waiting to be found within the enchanting Zone.
Click to expand...
Gamer.no - Gøran Solbakken - Unknown - 8 / 10


Stalker 2 stands out as an impressive and immersive survival shooter. A huge, handcrafted world with interesting story choices, lots of content and quality all around. Refreshingly, you are not a superhero out to save the world, but a regular grunt trying to survive
Click to expand...
IGN Deutschland - Eike Cramer - German - 8 / 10


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a game that, in my opinion, is all too rare in this form. GSC Game World has managed to create an incredibly atmospheric combination of survival, horror and end time in a fascinating environment. Despite all the shooter weaknesses, the wooden dialogues, the incredibly annoying anomalies over time and some dubious technical problems, I fell in love with this zone. You won't find that much freedom and mystery anywhere else. Added to this is a story that takes its time to get it going, but then surprises with cool factions and robust characters. This excursion to Chernobyl requires patience and stamina, but rewards you with spectacular views, fierce battles and an expressive end time.
Click to expand...
Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 80 / 100


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is not a game for everyone. Its unforgiving difficulty, steep learning curve, and technical issues make it a challenging experience, especially for newcomers. Yet, for those willing to brave its harsh world, the game offers a deeply immersive and rewarding journey, moreso than other open-world games.
For veterans of the series, it’s a triumphant return to form—one that stays true to the franchise’s uncompromising identity. For newcomers, however, it’s an intimidating introduction to a genre that demands patience, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace failure.
Click to expand...
Nexus Hub - Andrew Logue - 9 / 10


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is everything I've ever wanted from a sequel - a refined world, plenty of emergent gameplay possibilities and stunning atmosphere add up to make one of the best games of 2024.https://nexushub.co.za/nexus/review-s.t.a.l.k.e.r.-2-heart-of-chornobyl.html
Click to expand...
Stevivor - Hamish Lindsay - 5 / 10


[PROVISIONAL SCORE] "The fact that STALKER 2 is complete and ready for an imminent release is nothing short of a miracle. It’s just a shame that my experience... is damaged by a constant stream of ever-present bugs and issues."
Click to expand...
XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.4 / 10


After a tumultuous dev cycle, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shines despite some rough edges.
Click to expand...

Pey said:
As it's right now, It's an 8/10 for me. It'd 9/10 and even my favourite game of the year if it had launched properly without performance issues and bugs > https://www.pcmrace.com/2024/11/20/stalker-2-pc-review-analisis-resena/




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Monkeyclaw

Monkeyclaw

Veteran
29 May 2024
624
446
Netherrealm
Gamepass version comes without DLSS and it even runs like ass on the Steam version with a 4090 which does have DLSS. Yeah thanks but no thanks.

Unoptimised crap.
 
E

Evilnemesis8

Veteran
19 Dec 2023
1,472
1,260
Just tooled up for a big mission? Here's three monster attacks and a bandit ambush so you're limping and bulletless by the time you get there. Found some nice loot? Get ready to haul it off at baby crawling speed, because the weight carry limits mean you can only travel unencumbered by taking the absolute essentials. Favourite gun jammed twice before it can finish a single magazine? Sorry, moron, you should have spent three-quarters of your life savings to get it repaired by a technician, such as the ones that the main mission flow repeatedly drags you away from for hours at a time.
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All I needed to hear tbh.
 
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