The Zone: Stalker Stories
- June 15, 2023
- Illuminated Games
- 2251h median play time
Get on Steam"The Zone: Stalker Stories" is a narrative RPG with tactical card battles set in a world of mutants and anomalies. As a "mutant" with telekinetic powers, survival in the Zone requires careful deck-building, exploration, and completing side jobs. Experience unique stories, collect artifacts, and manage your expedition to maximize your chances of making it out alive.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The setting and writing are excellent, providing a unique take on the 'anomaly' trope with a compelling narrative.
- The card combat system is enjoyable and reminiscent of popular titles in the genre, with interesting mechanics and a satisfying gameplay loop.
- The art and atmosphere are praised for their quality, contributing to an immersive experience in a post-apocalyptic world.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, significantly impacting the overall experience and making it frustrating to play.
- The tutorial is incomplete and some gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion for new players.
- The exploration can feel clunky, with unclear graphics and the inability to see enemies in the environment, resulting in unexpected and often unfair encounters.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines exploration and turn-based card battles, reminiscent of titles like SteamWorld Quest, with a focus on narrative over complexity. Players navigate a map, engage in events, and utilize a mix of energy resources for card mechanics, though the tutorial leaves some aspects unclear. Overall, the experience is described as satisfying and modest, appealing to those who prefer a narrative-driven approach.
“Its gameplay is similar to SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech in that you move an avatar around a map and engage in exploration events and card battles.”
“+ The main gameplay loop of moving your character around a map in real-time, investigating points of interest that you find with your psionic ability, avoiding anomalies, and engaging in turn-based card battles to acquire loot that can be traded for better items and personal upgrades is very satisfying.”
“The gameplay I saw persuaded me to give this game a try.”
“- The biggest issue I had was that the tutorial is not complete, so some gameplay aspects are left a bit vague at the beginning, like how some cards use the standard energy points that renew each round (like in Slay the Spire, etc.) and others use another, non-renewing resource based on physical exhaustion.”
“* The experience it offers is more modest, less random, and focuses much more on narrative than mechanics.”
“* It's a nice simplified striker-like game with a card battler mechanic.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the clashing art styles and simplicity of exploration graphics compared to the more detailed city environments. While the overall aesthetics, animations, and effects are appreciated, many feel there is significant room for improvement, especially given that the game is still in early access.
“I love the stalker aesthetic.”
“The artworks and design, animations, and effects are good, but they can definitely be better. I give some leeway since it's early access.”
“I like a lot of parts about it, like the aesthetics, the story, the free roam, and the battles.”
“Where to start with why this is an utter waste of time, probably with the clashing art styles.”
“It was so jarring to come through all these really mashed together game types, art styles, and basically, non-game.”
“The exploration graphics are quite a bit simpler than the beautiful location art in the city, and the exploration itself can feel a bit clunky when you're not sure what is background art or how to get to a detected point of interest.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and heavily emphasized in the early stages, drawing inspiration from various sources, including the 1979 film "Stalker" and the short story "Roadside Picnic." Players appreciate the blend of narrative with card-based combat, noting that while the story remains significant, the gameplay evolves into exploration and combat as the game progresses. Overall, the narrative is a compelling aspect that enhances the overall experience.
“This game is heavy on the story early on but soon as you get past the gate it opens up a bit with exploration and combat.”
“I like a lot of parts about it, like the aesthetics, the story, the free roam, and the battles.”
“This game is heavy on the story early on but soon as you get past the gate it opens up a bit with exploration/combat.”
“The combat is very similar to Slay the Spire, but there seems to be a persistent world and story in addition to the card battler combat.”
“I like a lot of parts about it, like the aesthetics, the story, the free roam, or the battles.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its artistic quality, creating an immersive experience that encourages players to engage with the environment, even if it sometimes feels slow-paced and mundane.
“I love the art and the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is awesome.”
“I wanted to just skip, skip, skip, but the game makes you move at a snail's pace, allowing you to take in the mundane atmosphere.”
“I wanted to just skip, skip, skip, but the game makes you move at a snail's pace, taking in the mundane atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is available as an option in the game, but it is not essential for progression, allowing for a more flexible gameplay experience.
“Grinding feels more like a chore than a rewarding experience.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and tedious.”
“I find myself spending hours grinding for minimal rewards, which is frustrating.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users indicate that they prioritize narrative elements over replayability and gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the game's story may take precedence over the desire to replay it multiple times.
“I prefer a focus on narrative over replayability and mechanics.”
