Stalker 2 review, one year late, nearly 12 months since its release last November. I will go over what I’ve learned after 12 months in the zone.
*Mod Link* https://www.nexusmods.com/stalker2heartofchornobyl/mods/1211
*One Year Later Review: The State of the Zone in 2025* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXisxXPsM0&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=2&t=1s
*Master Difficulty Breakdown & What to Expect* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgn2oQ0zSLY&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=1&t=1s
*Stealth Looks Insane After Patch 1.6 Update* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y27pZssbT4&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=5&t=42s
*Becoming The Monolith |The Enemy Of The Zone* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUSpsy2qfD4&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=1&t=28s
*What Changes Will Come In The Unreal Engine 5.5.4 Upgrade* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4OZFLeBuxA&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=4&t=5s
*How To Get To The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant WITHOUT MODS* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ilMFuNdFsA&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=3&t=72s
*Latest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Updates* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkNxUqQu6DY&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=6&t=21s
*The Bush People Explained: Glitch, Anomaly, or Something More* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NiERjonU44&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=10&t=1s
*Secret Hidden Mutants Tales Of The Zone* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoYt6ZV1Us&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=11&t=19s
#stalker2 #stalker2news #stalker2updates #stalker2patch #gscgameworld #stalker2leaks #stalker2mods #unrealengine5 #goodhuntingstalker #stalker #gscgameworld #heartofchornobyl #stalkergameplay #stalkersoc #heartofchornobyl #сталкер #сталкер2 #goodhuntingstalker
00:00 One Year in the Zone
00:25 The Launch Disaster
01:38 GSC’s Fight to Fix It
02:59 Unreal Engine 5: Blessing or Curse?
04:09 The Soul of STALKER: A-Life Still Missing
04:57 Returning Players and Lingering Problems
05:31 What’s Working Now
06:38 A Tough Development Reality
07:56 Looking Ahead to late 2025 & 2026
08:42 Should You Play It Now?
09:04 Subscribe for more Stalker updates
source
Mod Link https://www.nexusmods.com/stalker2heartofchornobyl/mods/1211
One Year Later Review: The State of the Zone in 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXisxXPsM0&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=2&t=1s
Master Difficulty Breakdown & What to Expect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgn2oQ0zSLY&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=1&t=1s
Stealth Looks Insane After Patch 1.6 Update https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y27pZssbT4&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=5&t=42s
Becoming The Monolith |The Enemy Of The Zone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUSpsy2qfD4&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=1&t=28s
What Changes Will Come In The Unreal Engine 5.5.4 Upgrade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4OZFLeBuxA&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=4&t=5s
How To Get To The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant WITHOUT MODS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ilMFuNdFsA&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=3&t=72s
Latest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Updates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkNxUqQu6DY&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=6&t=21s
The Bush People Explained: Glitch, Anomaly, or Something More https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NiERjonU44&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=10&t=1s
Secret Hidden Mutants Tales Of The Zone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoYt6ZV1Us&list=PLzsJfXT1Efg8zFvx-WfiVstoll0_0VKFJ&index=11&t=19s
Short sum: You should definitely go and play mods instead of this mess until they fix optimization and bugs that are coming from engine issues.
(The fact that it received the best technology award is very awkward to me, though.)
I can't wait for the PS5 release!
i don't think mutant loot was in the old games. that was a gamma addition right?
I'm excited to see what the game is like after updates and DLC but man is it a pain right now, I am glad to see NVGs finally added
frame rates improved, but for the sake of me i can't fix the brightness in that bar you arrive to at the beginning.
still soulless ubisoft slop
Ngl, the game needs more time. Anyone looking to sink hundreds of hours needs to wait till next year.
These problems made me not buy it for the series X and now I'm probably going to skip the PS5 release.
Still no proper a life right? Still half baked
it is a good game, given the circumstances of its development and continued development in a warzone. It can only get better. I play semi-regular and ive had it since launch but only have 4 days of game time invested. I will continue to support. Great channel Dave. Keep up the great work!
💚
Switching from X-ray to UE5 was and is one of the biggest downfall of stalker 2. Unfortunately it lost its roots. The amount of patches or fixes will not bring what (original) trilogy had to offer.
I played the og games (except clear sky) and I loved them. So I’m definitely looking forward to stalker 2 coming to ps5.
Mods is where it's at… no need to wait.
For Stalker 2!💚
Hmm considering buying (on sale)… So far I'm not impressed by the reviews. Guess I'll sit back some more and wait for 2.0 (unless I win a copy then I'll try right away wink wink 🤣)
… or I should maybe try Stalker Gamma since I already own Stalker 1
I just want to play as unknown stalker not stuck with any complex background. Just hate the curent story that force you to choose which side that lead to different ending.
All I want from stalker 2 personally is more emphasis on the survival aspect in the game. I want to feel like I genuinely have to survive. Eat drink and sleep should all have a fallout 4 survival mode level of hard to it. And maybe more aspects. I want to feel apart of the world not a someone who doesn’t have to follow the same rules as the other inhabitants of the zone. And obviously better alife
LoL you dont get the irony of this game winning best game-tech award???? …
Just started playing gammma for the first time… just wow
I played the first one in 2007, when I heard that’s it was going to be a sequel man the hype train was something let me tell, love this game
When A-Life is fully working, it will be a STALKER game. Until then, I'm happy to wait and play other games
Hooray almost a year since GSC Game World scammed me and stole my money hooray
Replayed it too since last year. This is terrible – enemy NPC spawn is atrocious. Mutants are annoying not challenging.
Economy is fvcuked up – you gather loot just to spend about 60-70% on repairing your own gear.
World does not change in any meaningful way after plot points (example: after Ward’s heavy losses at Duga there were no faction war even thoufg both Duty and Freedom spoke about it)
game came out november 20th. Its not even november yet, thus this cannot be a 12 month review.
What's crazy how many people feels okay paying for unfinished product! Remember when you buy a game when it is done properly! Nowadays developers lunch it and keep working on it for the next 5 years until it become complete! Similar to
Cyberpunk 2077, now is actually a decent game. I don't like this trend!
Im still playing it. Mods on xbox work again and keeps getting better and better mods and the fixed help everytime they update waiting for 1.7 to see if the performance gets better
I still love this game even if it’s not exactly where I wish it was in the development, still an amazing game and story, just needs the features that the past stalker games had and a actual fully working A-Life System. I cannot wait for the game to be in its 2.0 state so I can have another play through that hopefully should feel like a whole different game like cyberpunk. Btw Dave great video, and I was always curious to how u played the game and the choices made and loot u found along the way. If u ever do a let’s play of stalker 2 I would definitely watch!
Oh i cant wait for the ps5 release 😊
Your dedication for this game is amazing! Love these kind of videos!
ukraine war started 2014 with a USA finance coup
russia defend the russians in the east regions. russis are the good guys. ukraine regime are fascists
The game is very good but I would like to return to the open world after finishing it. I really love this game.
We need a Broken Steel style DLC. It could work with 2-3 of the endings or they could pick one that gets you the DLC and opens the game up again after the final mission.
UE5 IS HORRIBLE FOR GRAPHICS, BLURRY MESS
working around stutter fix mod and engine mod game now works better!
Hopefully playstation saves it
I don’t regret preordering it’s a lot worse then I thought it would be but the developers put tremendous effort in constantly patching updating and living up to there mistakes it makes me willing to be patient
I really think the devs/publishers released an ALPHA build of the game. Missing features, thousands of bugs etc etc.
Really pleased the game is much improved, but im waiting for a finished build before playing.
Man, I need you to get a mod list released—maybe even a guide so people can improve their gameplay. It’d also be great if you got in touch with modders like Grok and the guy running OXA Armory, and gave us some feedback on where they’re at, how their mods are coming along, and what they’re trying to achieve.
I loved it, aside from the repetitive monolith soldiers which I found far more irritating than the bugs. Will replay when the engine gets updated and there are a few more weapon mods available.
I personally really like Stalker 2. I get lost in the game just exploring. Im hopeful for the engine update. Game on gamers. Be good to each other out there.
I guess u summed it up nicely, its better but not the full experience, maybe June 2026 will be a good time to visit it back for us who finished it already.
Meanwhile, a free copy will make my younger brother happy indeed.
I bought the game over the weekend for £25 (waiting for ARC Raiders) just wanted something to fill the time, Gamma looked way too complicated for a new player. I think this game has huge potential (partly why I bought it) but playing with an engine mod for better performance plus frame gen on a 5070ti and it’s still really blurry. I couldn’t imagine what it was like at launch but surely the game needs to prioritise the performance over any content updates. Night vision is cool but the game would benefit more from fast travel to towns imo. Nothing worse than running 700m for a quest, finding a nice gun becoming overweight then needing to run the 700m back.
There’s a huge potential there, but it is without a doubt one of the worst performing games I’ve ever played.
So far still no really good flashlight shadows ..
Honestly, S2 has major issues, mainly the lack of A-Life. But where it shines is its possibilities. Modders already proved how this game can be "changed", meaning GSC can AND will make it one of the best open world games out there. Stalker's lore, it's story, characters, the Zone itself – you honestly can't find it in any other game or even similar to that.
I’ve finished the game in about 42h after I started playing on release day. And I’m not touching it again until they deliver what I think is proper quality Stalker game. There was no even night vision until recently, lol, core game mechanics bugged and stripped.
This games creepy environments, and stellar level design is slowly becoming one of my all time FPS horror survival games. I hope they know what they got.
Some missions still broken a lot of serious fps drops and a-lot of other bugs that haven’t been fixed for the last year
Since 1.6 I have got so for 8-10 crashes on series x and mods that dosent work properly on Xbox plattform and lots of old bug's reappearing 😰🙈