Post-patch, I can say without a doubt that this is the STALKER 2 we were all hoping for. The Zone is lively and expansive, enemies are balanced much more fairly than on release, and the game has been optimized extremely well.

The primary gameplay loop is extremely fun, and I find myself planning forays into different areas of the Zone either to loot stashes, hunt artifacts, or just explore places I haven't been before. A true stalker experience if ever there was one.

The story is much more intricate and detailed compared to the previous ones. I get the impression there's a lot more going on concerning Project X than we see in any of our playthroughs. It's deep, it's dreadful, and it's intriguing. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

I feel like I've come home to an old friend at long last.

Post-patch, I can say without a doubt that this is the STALKER 2 we were all hoping for. The Zone is lively and expansive, enemies are balanced much more fairly than on release, and the game has been optimized extremely well. The primary gameplay loop is extremely fun, and I find myself planning forays into different areas of the Zone either to loot stashes, hunt artifacts, or just explore places I haven't been before. A true stalker experience if ever there was one. The story is much more intricate and detailed compared to the previous ones. I get the impression there's a lot more going on concerning Project X than we see in any of our playthroughs. It's deep, it's dreadful, and it's intriguing. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here. I feel like I've come home to an old friend at long last.