The Heart of Chornobyl par jeuxvideo.com

The Apocalypse Club

STALKER 2 is the direct continuation of the saga and places its plot after the events of the first STALKER In 2006, 20 years after the nuclear disaster which struck Europe, the region of Chornobyl was devastated by a second explosion which was origin of mysterious anomalies and mutations which make places particularly dangerous for human beings. It is in this apocalyptic context that Skif, a stalker who recently lost everything, goes to the Exclusion Zone in order to make his fortune by unearthing precious artifacts. and seeking the cause responsible for these mysterious incidents.

GSC Game World had the good idea of ​​not linking the story of Skif to that of the first video games in the franchise so that everyone can enjoy Stalker 2 without doing their homework first… and that's excellent news . The universe is introduced the hard way, and especially in media res, which has the consequence of parachuting the players without notice into the Exclusion Zone after a first good cutscene. Then, Stalker 2 focuses above all on an environmental narration as well as scripted sequences which fit as best they can into the survivalist experience designed by the Ukrainian studios.

Players can, however, influence the story during multiple-choice dialogues which impact the progress of the missions and not the outcome of Skif's adventures in Chornobyl. Alas, the story ends up becoming confusing, for lack of real implication, and struggles to stand out with its effective narrative passages failing to surprise. It must be said that Stalker 2 is above all an immersive simulation with which is juxtaposed a post-apocalyptic story which is inspired by the great literary works of the post-apo sub-genre. Another point which makes the title so charming: this FPS is fully dubbed into Ukrainian and subtitled in French. The immersion is total.

An apocalyptic still life

STALKER 2 does not repeat the feats of arms of its predecessors from a purely technical point of view. The franchise, which was once at the cutting edge of video game technology, is lagging behind other productions in 2024, particularly in the open world. The GSC Game World title suffers in particular from a blatant lack of optimization. To enjoy the experience in optimal conditions and allow Heart of Chornobyl to express its full potential, you must have a truly powerful PC otherwise you will suffer framerate drops or sacrifice visuals.

GSC Game World has already taken care of the “day one” version and improved the overall experience via several fixes. However, several technical anomalies still haunt the adventure, whether it is the clipping of decorative elements, the display of certain textures, etc. Stalker 2 compensates for its technical shortcomings with an artistic direction from Eastern Europe that will make your blood run cold. The atmosphere that emerges from the game irradiates the retina of the players, sometimes amazes them with its breathtaking panoramas, sometimes terrifies them with its devastating supernatural storms.

The open world imagined by Ukrainian studios has no equal for fully immersing stalkers with its capricious weather and its day/night cycle which influence the adventure. Heart of Chornobyl thus trades technical supremacy for a visual and sonic atmosphere with no real equivalent. The Exclusion Zone, which extends over 64km², is full of significant places to discover and notable geological anomalies, and ensures a total change of scenery with its different biomes ranging from twilight to flowery. Stalker 2 is the destination to recommend to all survivors looking for a unique experience.

Survival of the fittest

GSC Game World does not reinvent the formula that allowed the first video games in the saga to establish themselves as essentials of the 10th Art, but refines it to make it the ultimate immersive simulation in a hostile environment. STALKER 2 aims to be austere and never seeks to seduce those who dare to defy its warnings. This FPS is harsh to the last degree, unforgiving (or almost), and tends to push players to their limits… especially at the highest difficulty levels.

Darwin could not deny Stalker 2 as much survival of the fittest is the foundation on which this experience is based, which lasts around forty hours in a “straight line”. This involves frequent checking of the character's constants (health, hunger, radiation rate, endurance, etc.) in order to meet their needs in real time, but also through the management of their equipment, weapons and other resources made available to it. A stalker does not go on an expedition without having been carefully prepared and in full possession of his means. This means spending some time managing your inventory and haggling in order to gain momentum.

Moreover, the absence of RPG mechanics is to the credit of GSC Game World which prefers to focus on the acquisition of equipment rather than on obtaining skills for the sake of realism. Stalker 2 seeks to be credible in a post-apocalyptic context and succeeds with flying colors with an emphasis on exploration and appealing to our natural curiosity and caution. Because the threats are real. Beyond anomalies and mutants, the main danger remains humans. Man is a wolf to Man, and this is confirmed in Stalker 2.

GSC Game World attempts a sporadic, but very intense approach to clashes which can quickly result in premature death. However, artificial intelligence, which turns out to be summary, still struggles to convinceand it is neither the boss fights nor the anecdotal infiltration sequences that will change this strange impression. Finally, Stalker 2 is fully playable with keyboard/mouse, but can also be done with a controller. It is nevertheless essential to point out that the aim is much more difficult, which greatly reduces your chances of survival.

Conclusion