This version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. on PS5 was sent to me by the guys and gals over at GSC Game World, and I always appreciate that and like to get it out of the way first.
This review won’t focus on the story of the games too much, as there are 3 games in the trilogy with wildly different stories, for example, the first game in the series, Shadow of Chornobyl deals with the exclusion zone after the fall while the 2nd game in the series, Clear Sky has you playing as Scar and is a prequal to the first game and takes place before it all.
Instead, I want to focus on how the gameplay and functions compare to previous releases of the game. Well, outdated, honestly, in many regards. The movement feels kind of janky and jumpy compared to modern games and less fluid, something that easily could have been taken care of. Do not get me wrong, it works just fine, but if you are used to modern games, the sudden return can feel jarring. Following the map, most notably in the first game, can also feel awkward.
That being said, this is truly the best way to experience the game. It has never looked better in a release, and the controls have never been more fluid than they are now. The sound has also been greatly improved, as you imagine.
I know many of these seem to go against what I just said; that is because the game is quite old, almost 20 years at this point. The original was released in 2007, and a lot has changed since then. Games have come a long way, and they haven’t all aged the same. Playing the 2007 version of this game is a painful experience at this point, and this release gives everyone a chance to experience this in a way they can enjoy it again. It isn’t great, but it isn’t bad either. 7/10 experience. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
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