We've been hearing about STALKER for so long, it was hard not to expect the worst when this title finally made it out of development and onto store shelves. Lukewarm reviews on release didn't help matters, and I never actually planned to ever buy or play this game.
But I started hearing from people I respect just how good this game was. How underappreciated and underrated it was. And how it was one of 2007's best first-person shooters, right behind Bioshock. I couldn't believe my ears. Bioshock was one of the best FPSes I've played since the original Half-Life.
But it's true -- aside from its wonky interface and intial lack of polish, STALKER is every bit as engaging and satisfying as Bioshock was.
So I finally gave it whirl. First things first -- STALKER makes a bad first impression. The UI isn't explained very well. Overall game concepts aren't explained at all. You'll probably want to browse a FAQ early on to get a clearer overview of all the game mechanics. It takes a good hour to get settled in -- but everything that comes after is absolutely worthwhile and satisfying.
STALKER gives you an intriguing, thought-provoking main storyline that I found myself playing late into the night just to find out what was going on and what would happen next (just like Bioshock). However, STALKER actually one-ups Bioshock in how satisfying and challenging the actual gunplay is. AI is generally pretty darned good, and you'll have plenty of satisfying shoot-outs throughout the game.
STALKER also gives you an incredibly immersive, unique world to explore, not unlike those typically found in open-ended RPGs like Morrowind or Oblivion. The rudimentary sidequest system isn't nearly as fleshed out as what you see in RPGs, but it's enough to give you some additional context in the world besides the main story.
If you're someone who loved the deep storylines of Bioshock or the unique atmosphere of classics like Fallout or open-ended exploration like Oblivion, absolutely check out STALKER.
