One of this year’s most anticipated games, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is an unforgiving yet impressive sequel to the cult classic immersive sim from Ukrainian Developers GSC Game World.
While the game received polarizing reviews from critics and gamers alike, it is still the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans are familiar with.
To survive the deadly Exclusion Zone, here are 7 tips for living another day in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl:
Death Is Normal
You know you’re marked for death when you encounter your first Mutant. But don’t worry about it. Death is normal in this game. If you see that kill count getting higher every time you die, pay no mind. It’s all part of the experience.
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+ 8S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a hard game. It is a slow-burn experience that encourages players to rethink their engagements. It’s no Call of Duty or Apex Legends where you can go guns blazing on an enemy.
You need to be smart about how you deal with situations; otherwise, your death count will go up and up. So before you start doing anything crazy, don’t forget to save!
Explore, Explore, Explore
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is about exploration. The whole Zone is yours to roam, assuming you can handle all the threats and anomalies you face. There are no wrong directions, but keeping close tabs on the main mission can take you to the best places.
click to enlarge + 8Sure, there can be times when you have no idea where to go. As long as you take the beaten path, there will surely be enough landmarks packed with surprises. Who knows? There might be stashes full of good weapons.
Find Stashes
When you open your world map, you'll notice points of interest, such as landmarks and anomalous zones. However, one thing that you should be looking out for is the Triforce-like symbol. These are Stalker Stashes scattered all around the Exclusion Zone.
click to enlarge + 8Chornobyl is packed with these hidden goodies, so it’s best to keep an eye on them along the way. They can be tricky to find since there’s no indicator.
click to enlarge + 8All you have to do to find them is slowly survey the area and check whether it’s underground or above ground. Your compass should help you determine which direction the stash is in. Be careful when scouring the area, as random threats can appear from every corner.
Watch Out For Anomalies
A STALKER’s threats aren’t limited to Fleshes and other mutated freaks; the Exclusion Zone’s innumerable Anomalies also play a role in our death and survival. These radioactive phenomena can be deadly if you’re not careful.
click to enlarge + 8Thankfully, you have your trusty Bolts with you. Bolts are useful for avoiding anomalies. Simply throwing a bolt at an anomalous field can trigger it, stabilizing it for a few seconds. These tiny metallic screws are unlimited, so you can throw them anytime you want.
Whenever you hear your Sensor beeping like crazy, it’s time to pause and assess where the Anomaly Field is. Once it’s sighted, all it takes is one Bolt to quell its hazards.
Take Side-Quests
You’re not fully living the STALKER life without taking on side-quests. These side activities are marked as Blue and can be useful for stacking Coupons, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's currency. While they give unique weapons as rewards, sometimes, they’re not worth the hassle.
click to enlarge + 8Either way, taking side-quests can immerse you in the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and add more lore to the Exclusion Zone and its inhabitants. You can even meet the various Factions that once roamed the Zone; they were pretty big during the previous installments. Now, they’re a shell of what they once were.
There’s No Wrong Path
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an immersive sim, meaning you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. There’s no right or wrong way to play the game. You could be the murderous STALKER roaming the Zone or the ol’ fashioned vagabond looking for answers.
click to enlarge + 8Of course, the main quest is always looming, but you can ignore it. Soak in the sights and explore this lawless and irradiated land as long as you’re well-equipped.
Don’t Worry About Jank
Lastly, the jank is part of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience. If this is your first time playing a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game, don’t fret about the weird bugs and glitches happening. It’s all part of the game.
click to enlarge + 8Kidding aside, don’t worry too much about it. The devs are hard at work fixing the game with patches. This week, the upcoming patch should arrive to fix high-priority issues such as game-breaking bugs and glitches. The rest—well, we’ll have to wait a few more weeks before they can iron out all the problems.