S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

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"S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat" is a horror shooter game set in the aftermath of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The government's large-scale operation to take control of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has failed, with most helicopters crashing. You are a agent sent by Ukraine's Security Service to investigate the operation's failure in this single-player or multiplayer game. Uncover the truth behind the operation's collapse in the dangerous and anomalous Zone.

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S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat screenshot

+10

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,929 reviews

story748 positive mentions

stability232 negative mentions

story
2,586 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The story of "Call of Pripyat" serves as a logical continuation of the "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." trilogy, focusing on Major Degtyarev's mission to investigate the mysterious crashes of military helicopters in the hazardous Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. While the main narrative is often described as straightforward and less engaging than its predecessor, "Shadow of Chernobyl," the game compensates with a wealth of well-crafted side quests that enhance world-building and character development, allowing players to shape their own experiences and outcomes. Overall, the game is praised for its immersive atmosphere and engaging gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding the pacing and depth of the main story.
- “The story is solid and there are some fun surprises along the way.”
- “The story is also the most fleshed out in this game, which lends the game a completely different tone in that you actually feel like you're interacting with fellow stalkers when you help them out, do fetch quests for them, keep them alive in escort missions, and so on.”
- “Call of Pripyat has a brilliant way of telling the story as you slowly turn the pages to find out what really happens to the Stingray group and Operation Fairway.”
- “The story is a bit sidelined in this one in favor of side quests and side quest chains, and this works wonders for this game.”
- “The main story is... serviceable.”
- “The story is somewhat weak but the side stories more than make up for it.”
atmosphere
1,363 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The atmosphere in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, particularly in "Call of Pripyat," is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively capturing the desolation and danger of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Players often highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of tension and loneliness, enhanced by its environmental design, soundscapes, and dynamic weather effects. While some reviews note that "Call of Pripyat" may not reach the atmospheric heights of its predecessor, "Shadow of Chernobyl," it still offers a compelling and richly detailed world that draws players into its eerie narrative.
- “The atmosphere in this game is amazing, it makes you want to put hundreds and hundreds of hours of gameplay even after you finish the game.”
- “The atmosphere perfectly captures the feelings of loneliness, peace, and solitude within the zone, making it deeply engaging.”
- “The atmosphere is so immersive and engrossing that you'll almost feel radiation poisoning from Chernobyl.”
- “It looks amazing yet it feels like it has no atmosphere.”
- “Call of Pripyat lacks personality in its gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is unmatched by any other game out there.”
gameplay
1,146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
4%
The gameplay of "Call of Pripyat" is widely regarded as the best in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, featuring refined mechanics, improved gunplay, and a more engaging open-world experience compared to its predecessors. Players appreciate the balance of survival elements, such as managing resources and navigating a dangerous environment filled with mutants and anomalies, while also enjoying the depth of quests and character interactions. However, some critiques mention dated graphics and occasional bugs, though these are often mitigated by a strong modding community that enhances gameplay further.
- “Absolutely stellar survival shooter/RPG with amazing gameplay and quests that offer the player great choice in how to complete them.”
- “The gameplay is captivating from the first minutes.”
- “Call of Pripyat is the culmination of the systems introduced in the previous two games - setting, gameplay mechanics, and introduces an extra layer of attention to detail and care that pushes it above its predecessors.”
- “Terrible gameplay; the first mission was me vs like 10 super-powered guys who had mega hacks, and here I am barely able to run. I can't hold a button down to do it too; the most complex run mechanism ever, piss-poor accuracy, can barely hold my gun firing. They can shoot through walls, through grates from miles away in the dark. It feels so bare bones, 3/10 game.”
- “The gameplay is still janky and in some ways even unenjoyable.”
- “The gameplay is purely and simply identical to the two previous games, Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky.”
graphics
765 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
12%
The graphics of the game, while considered outdated by modern standards, still hold a certain charm and atmosphere that many players appreciate. Released in 2009, the visuals can feel primitive compared to contemporary titles, but improvements in lighting and art style help maintain immersion. Additionally, a robust modding community offers various enhancements that can significantly upgrade the graphical experience, making the game visually appealing even today.
- “The graphics are beautiful and have stood the test of time.”
- “The visuals capture the eerie beauty of Pripyat, radiating that post-apocalyptic charm.”
- “The graphics hold up surprisingly well for a game from over a decade ago, that said the reason you should play this game is the atmosphere.”
- “I dare to say that this is the worst out of all the Stalker games; the graphics are incredibly outdated. Even back then they were underwhelming, but by today's standards, the game looks even older than it actually is.”
- “The graphics are definitely outdated, but man did I get immersed.”
- “The graphics here look strange though, almost cartoony in a WoW sort of way, especially as the draw distance is not far enough to fill in detail for the whole landscape as there's no far range graphics for foliage.”
stability
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
Overall, "Call of Pripyat" is regarded as the least buggy and most stable entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, with many players noting significant improvements in stability compared to its predecessors, "Shadow of Chernobyl" and "Clear Sky." While some minor glitches and occasional crashes persist, they are generally not game-breaking and can often be resolved by reloading saves. The game is praised for its polished experience, though players are still advised to save frequently and consider using mods to enhance stability further.
- “They managed to combine what was great in SOC and CS into one game that is practically bug-free and stable and, most importantly, fun, unlike the previous entry.”
- “Runs great at 144 fps max settings on 1660s R5 3600 16GB RAM.”
- “Much more bug-free than either Clear Sky or SOC, this game offers the solid FPS-quest system you are used to with vast improvements in interface and playability.”
- “The only real complaint that I have about this game is that, even with a major bugfix mod installed, this game is extremely buggy.”
- “It's buggy as hell, and even on my high-end rig I would have random crashes to desktop and full freezes.”
- “One of the major downsides is its extremely buggy engine; you will encounter bugs after bugs and suffer crashes.”
music
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a mix of haunting soundtracks and dynamic combat music that contributes to the overall immersion. Players appreciate the emotional weight of the music, particularly during key moments and the credits, although some express a desire for more variety and the option to turn it off for a more atmospheric experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, complementing the game's eerie and tense environments.
- “The ambiance is enhanced by a sublime soundtrack, very rock and orchestral during the fights, and calm and gloomy during the exploration phases.”
- “You never truly get to feel at ease, except for the times when you are huddled around a fire with your fellow stalkers, as one strums up a tune on his guitar, mournful song filling the silence.”
- “Incredible game, immersive atmosphere, music, visuals, everything.”
- “Dynamic music is back but it sucks; I really miss CS combat music, so just turn this one off.”
- “The music is complimentary to this particular atmosphere, but nothing really memorable.”
- “The game does not really have music.”
optimization
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on newer hardware. While some users noted improvements in optimization compared to previous titles in the series, others criticized the outdated engine's inability to utilize modern resources effectively, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable, players often recommend using mods to enhance performance and visuals.
- “Most importantly, the optimization problems I experienced in the previous game have been fixed in this game.”
- “One of the standout features of Call of Pripyat is its improved graphics and optimization compared to earlier games in the series.”
- “Cop is the best optimized game of the lot too, so your computer shouldn't have too much trouble running it.”
- “The performance is my chief complaint about this game.”
- “Sadly, I encountered many performance problems mainly due to the fact that the engine this game runs on is still 32-bit and refuses to use the proper amount of resources it needs to run well.”
- “This game is very outdated and unoptimized.”
replayability
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The game boasts high replayability, largely due to its open-world design, diverse side quests, and multiple endings influenced by player choices. The active modding community further enhances this aspect, offering countless modifications that can significantly alter gameplay and extend playtime. Overall, players find themselves returning to the game for new experiences, making it a standout in terms of replay value.
- “The open-world in this game is suited to be a lot more replayable, with anomalies constantly respawning artifacts of different rarities after blowouts/emissions, a ton of cleverly hidden stashes, and a ton of (very good) side quests that take you around to more hidden parts of the maps.”
- “The huge amount of quality mods available for this game give it endless replay value.”
- “This game has high replayability, especially with the complete mod.”
- “Not much replay value.”
- “Very low replay value; there is absolutely no way you keep playing after you finish it. Unless you go to collect all the artifacts, there is nothing to do anymore.”
- “I don't find much replay value in this game, and to me, it is my least favorite of the series.”
humor
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark and absurd elements, often highlighted by janky animations, poor voice acting, and quirky character interactions. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend grim atmospheres with comedic moments, such as humorous glitches and witty dialogue, creating a unique charm that resonates with fans. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment, making the experience both entertaining and memorable, despite its technical shortcomings.
- “Now being done with the trilogy, I can say Stalker is now one of my favorite franchises ever, great immersion and atmosphere, gripping story and game world, and of course: that great Stalker charm and humor.”
- “The game also features a lot of humor and personality, with quirky characters, witty dialogue, and easter eggs.”
- “The voice acting in English is hilariously bad; if you want the game to be more serious, I recommend using the Russian voiceover.”
- “Another unfunny meme”
grinding
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
12%
87%
Reviews on grinding in the game reveal a mixed experience; while some players find the artifact collection and gear-farming tedious and time-consuming, others appreciate the streamlined mechanics that make progression feel less grindy. Many note that exploration can become monotonous due to low-density points of interest, yet some enjoy the challenge of scavenging and the immersive world-building. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a necessary part of the gameplay, with varying degrees of enjoyment depending on individual preferences.
- “You feel the need to scavenge, but it's not tedious.”
- “It took me 15 hours to complete this game whilst exploring and farming artifacts for at least 4 hours, while I spent 18 hours on the main story.”
- “The problem with exploration, however, is the low density of points of interest, which makes exploration kind of tedious.”
- “Constantly needing to walk from location to location gets incredibly tedious after a while.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' experiences of joy, fear, and nostalgia, with many expressing deep emotional connections to the characters and story, particularly during climactic moments. While some found the main storyline lacking in emotional depth, others reported powerful emotional responses, including tears of joy and fear, especially in key scenes and side quests. Overall, the game is described as an emotional journey that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding its narrative coherence.
- “After completing every side quest and getting the best ending, this game made me cry tears of joy with how good it is.”
- “I personally cried at the end of 'Cop' when Degtarew became a legend and helped the stalkers out; I was so deep in the story I cried like a little baby.”
- “This game is an emotional experience.”
- “Your goal is to find things, no clues about them, plain boring story supporting all.”
- “Rather boring story.”
- “For all the good gameplay elements it has like the shooting mechanics, bullet ballistics, and good AI, the game loses some points on its buggy and unoptimized engine (make hard saves every few missions because you might lose hours of progress), a boring storyline, and a general lack of endgame content that makes you want to play the game after finishing the main quests.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by the inclusion of ads, which some players appreciate for enhancing gameplay, particularly for aiming mechanics. However, there is a mixed sentiment regarding the overall value, with some players feeling that the game's quality and experience are compromised by the reliance on advertisements, contrasting it with the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes. Overall, while ads are seen as beneficial by some, they also raise concerns about the game's depth and entertainment value.
- “I put on a few mods to update the graphics; if only modern games were as good as this. No microtransactions, no loot boxes, just pure amazing gameplay with some of the best atmosphere ever.”
- “Ads are a must for accurate shots.”
- “10-15 bucks for the average 2-hour piece of crap movie or 60 for games that spent twice as much on advertisement than programming, counting 'grind' as lies of 100 playthroughs that leave you feeling worked more than entertained.”
- “It's a bit tougher to be accurate whether ads or from the hip.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Reviews indicate that while the gun-play and character design are well-executed, there is a notable lack of character development compared to earlier installments, leaving players wanting more depth and progression in the characters' arcs.
- “The character development from the first two games made me want more.”
- “The gunplay and the character design also hold up fairly well and do not feel too dated.”
- “Where is the character development?”
- “The other reason was the character development from the first two games made me want more.”