S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat Review [575 words] – CallsignHUSKER
. Ukranian developer GSC Game World brings us their latest installment in the S.TA.L.K.E.R. franchise, Call of Pripyat. The title’s acronym stands for, Scavenger, Trespasser, Adventurer, Loner, Explorer, Robber. At a glance Call of Pripyat appears to be just another iteration of the now commonplace post-apocalyptic roleplaying-game. In fact Call of Pripyat’s most compelling feature is its unique setting.
. You may not have known that Pripyat is a real city and yes it really is abandoned, decaying and full of radiation. In 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant famously had a meltdown; the worst in human history. Two days later, the Soviet Union evacuated the 50,ooo inhabitants of Pripyat among many others and formed the ‘Exclusion Zone’ or ‘Zone of Alienation’. Looting plagues the zone to this day. It is in this no-man’s-land that the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games take place.
. GSC has recreated Pripyat with eerie precision. Recent footage of the crumbling city is remarkably similar to what can be seen in-game. Call of Pripyat maintains the series’ reputation for creating a compelling atmosphere.
. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat is generally a good-looking game. It is one of the first games to support DirectX 11. The landscapes, sky and weather effects are some of the best in any game. Character models and some textures are disappointingly rough but Call of Pripyat can give even high-end gaming rigs a run for their money.
. There isn’t enough voice-acting in the game and what little it has fluctuates between decent and downright obnoxious; the deafening ‘hey bro’ and ‘later dude’ of a Hawaiian merchant in the game comes to mind. It’s a good thing that you spend much of your time exploring the game’s three expansive areas and searching for loot.
. Nuclear anomalies pepper the landscape. Anomalies range from vortexes of wind that can tear you apart to deep chasms containing unnatural swirling fires. You can search these with a cruddy sonar-like detector for bizarre objects created by nuclear fallout called artifacts. These can be sold to merchants or other Stalkers for piles of roubles or even worn to gain unearthly bonuses.
. Although there is a central storyline it is less interesting than the people and places you find while exploring. This is a sandbox game that encourages you to choose for yourself where you want to go or what you want to do next.
. It’s worth noting that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky released in 2008 is a larger and fuller game with more characters and many of the same innovations as Call of Pripyat including a similarly impressive graphics engine. In some ways Call of Pripyat is a step backward for the franchise. For instance, the faction system that allowed the player to join with one of several ideologically opposed groups vying for control of the zone has been largely removed.
. However it is the first in the series to offer a multiplayer component. The multiplayer isn’t very innovative but it works well. The ability to buy new gear throughout a match is a welcome addition.
. Call of Pripyat is a very atmospheric survival horror game with an iconic setting. This is a great game for people who like to expect the unexpected and go exploring.
Immersive – 8.5 – Intriguing setting is offset by a lackluster storyline.
Technical – 9 – If you can crank up the settings you will see some gorgeous sunsets.
Value – 8 – Not nearly as fleshed-out as Clear Sky but multiplayer and a low price tag help.
Average = 8.5/10
