CHERNOBYL: The Untold Story
- September 24, 2019
- Mehsoft
Get on Steam"Chernobyl: The Untold Story" is a survival horror game set in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Players must navigate the dangerous, radioactive environment while avoiding or fighting mutated creatures. The game features a non-linear story based on real events and testimonies of people affected by the disaster.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The reload mechanic is innovative and adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay, making players more engaged in their shooting.
- The game offers a unique historical perspective on life during the Soviet era, with interesting details and a foreboding atmosphere.
- The visuals and music are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's setting.
- The gameplay is overly difficult and punishing, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment, especially for casual players.
- The story feels insubstantial and lacks depth, making the overall experience feel empty and tedious.
- The game suffers from repetitive mechanics and a lack of engaging content, leading to a sense of boredom during play.
- story62 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Chernobyl: The Untold Story" is criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking depth, with many reviewers finding it uninteresting and lacking character development. While some appreciated the historical context and visual presentation, the overall narrative was deemed too simplistic and disconnected from the gameplay, leading to a disappointing experience for those seeking a rich story. The game's structure, which allows for non-linear progression, further detracted from the storytelling, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.
“I loved the story it told about the people that lived in the Soviet era and the thoughts of people who live after the fall of it.”
“Great storyline.”
“It's based on the real story.”
“The story is...meh.”
“The story is a nothing-burger.”
“Unfortunately there isn't much to the story.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the innovative reload mechanic that adds a timing challenge, while others criticize the overall experience as repetitive and lacking depth. Players noted that the game is short, lasting around three hours, which some found to be a suitable length to avoid monotony. Overall, the gameplay is described as average, with a blend of rail shooting and exploration that may appeal to fans of the genre but leaves much to be desired in terms of refinement and engagement.
“A small but subtle thing that I think is absolutely genius about this game is what they did with the reload mechanic.”
“The devs of this game decided to tie a small timing game to the reloading mechanic. Whenever you press the reload button, your gun will reload no matter what, even if you miss the timing or don't hit the button at all. However, if you succeed at the mini-game, the reload animation is much faster, saving crucial seconds that could leave you vulnerable if you miss. Not to mention the fact that you actually have to take your eyes off the action for a second in order to succeed at the mini-game.”
“Rail shooter with Gears of War reload mechanics and bullet time!”
“I can tell the developers cared, but they really needed to put more effort into the gameplay and world itself.”
“Nice concept and I like how they told you about the bad parts of the USSR, but gameplay is really, I mean really, repetitive and kind of boring.”
“Gameplay is quite boring and is divided into two parts: moving through Pripyat, collecting posters and busts of USSR leaders, and the second, hardcore part - shooting at infected people and soldiers.”
- music22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging synthwave tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. The opening song is particularly noted as a standout, while the ambient music effectively complements the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as enjoyable and underrated, making it worth listening to outside of the game itself.
“The opening song is a banger, and the more ambient music as you wander fits the atmosphere really well.”
“Yes, the soundtrack is incredible and underrated, and I will still keep buying Mehsoft titles until they make a game strong enough to get the global recognition they deserve.”
“My recommendation is to find the soundtrack on YouTube (it's not hard to find, and it's only 4 songs), and give that a good listen as it's quite enjoyable apart from the game.”
“The action is very classic and feels like an on-rails arcade shooter while the synthwave music bumps and pushes you through the action.”
“In this review, I'll cover the basics: plot, gameplay, soundtrack, everything else.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, featuring a pleasing retro-pixel art style and minimalistic aesthetics that enhance the game's atmosphere. Users appreciate the variety in enemy visuals corresponding to different levels, complemented by good background music that adds to the overall experience.
“The premise is unique, the graphics are lovely retro-pixel, and the atmosphere is on point.”
“It has pretty good music and a neat art style.”
“Good background music and the overall minimalistic aesthetics are pleasing.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective use of Soviet Union stylistic elements, creating a nuanced and parodic commentary on authoritarianism. The combination of engaging ambient music, charming retro-pixel graphics, and a unique premise contributes to an immersive experience that some players may prefer over challenging gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as memorable and impactful, drawing inspiration from notable influences like "Policenauts," "Fallout," and HBO's "Chernobyl."
“The premise is unique, the graphics are lovely retro-pixel, and the atmosphere is on point.”
“Just like the title is a combination of simple words that together make a unique sentence, the game in my eyes is a genius combination of simple, but effective and memorable parts of other games - it takes something from Policenauts (best Hideo Kojima game so far), Fallout (best Todd Howard game so far), and the thick atmosphere of HBO's Chernobyl.”
“Some people might just want to experience the atmosphere, not play something brutally hard, and you risk losing players by making it too hard.”
“It uses the stylistic trimmings of the Soviet Union much more effectively, and to much greater - and more nuanced - parodic levels, and it manages to make a statement on the senselessness of authoritarianism through gameplay and atmosphere alone, unlike this game.”
“The opening song is a banger, and the more ambient music as you wander fits the atmosphere really well.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a mix of touching and amusing, particularly through the short descriptions of historical elements. However, the ending has left some feeling disappointed, leading to a sense of wasted time.
“But if you click on the few buildings or cars, etc., you will have short descriptions both touching and amusing, about what life was really like back then over there.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking substance, leading to a sense of emptiness and frustration during gameplay.
“The game feels insubstantial, empty, even tedious at times.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with critics noting that the absence of perspective on the protagonist detracts from the overall story and monologue. This highlights the importance of visual storytelling elements, such as close-ups, in enhancing character engagement.
“The story and monologue are uninteresting because there's no character development, no perspective to the protagonist, and it shows how important the close-ups were in 'The Mercury Man' to make the story good.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its excellent replayability, with multiple users highlighting this aspect positively.
“Great replayability.”
“Great replayability.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by a selection of amusing achievements that add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience. Players appreciate the cleverness and creativity behind these humorous elements, enhancing their enjoyment of the game.
“The game features a handful of funny achievements that always bring a smile.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations keep me laughing throughout the game.”
