After waiting 11 long years, the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sequel is finally here. As someone who has deeply immersed themselves in the series, playing not just the original "Old School" games but also modded gems like Anomaly, Lost Alpha, Gamma, and Escape From Pripyat, this release feels like a major milestone.

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience goes beyond gaming for me. It’s about the atmosphere, the lore, and the community. Over the years, I’ve even participated in real-life S.T.A.L.K.E.R. airsoft LARP events that perfectly captured the game's essence. Imagine sleeping in decaying, abandoned buildings, completing quests, guarding camps at night, and fully living out the Zone—it was incredible.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 truly surprised me with how well it captures the ambience of its predecessors. The developers’ decision to reuse some of the iconic sounds from the old games—like the meowing of cats or barking of dogs, growling zombies in the distance—instantly transported me back to Shadow of Chernobyl. The nostalgia is real, and it’s powerful.

That said, the game isn’t without its issues. There are noticeable glitches, optimization problems, and occasional sound hiccups. Frame rates can drop dramatically—from 100 FPS to 5 FPS in densely populated areas, which can be annoying at times.

Still, I’m thrilled the day has finally arrived, and despite its rough edges, I’m enjoying every moment in the Zone. I have faith that with patches and updates, this game will evolve into the masterpiece we’ve all been waiting for.

After waiting 11 long years, the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sequel is finally here. As someone who has deeply immersed themselves in the series, playing not just the original "Old School" games but also modded gems like Anomaly, Lost Alpha, Gamma, and Escape From Pripyat, this release feels like a major milestone. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience goes beyond gaming for me. It’s about the atmosphere, the lore, and the community. Over the years, I’ve even participated in real-life S.T.A.L.K.E.R. airsoft LARP events that perfectly captured the game's essence. Imagine sleeping in decaying, abandoned buildings, completing quests, guarding camps at night, and fully living out the Zone—it was incredible. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 truly surprised me with how well it captures the ambience of its predecessors. The developers’ decision to reuse some of the iconic sounds from the old games—like the meowing of cats or barking of dogs, growling zombies in the distance—instantly transported me back to Shadow of Chernobyl. The nostalgia is real, and it’s powerful. That said, the game isn’t without its issues. There are noticeable glitches, optimization problems, and occasional sound hiccups. Frame rates can drop dramatically—from 100 FPS to 5 FPS in densely populated areas, which can be annoying at times. Still, I’m thrilled the day has finally arrived, and despite its rough edges, I’m enjoying every moment in the Zone. I have faith that with patches and updates, this game will evolve into the masterpiece we’ve all been waiting for.