Simon LeonardTable of Contents
You know. For every game release, there’s always at least one person that complains that it’s not as good as others. And yet, the game becomes a best seller and this person goes on to complain that it’s not as good as others. While this happens with many games, it’s a very particular thing with Metroid. Metroid Dread is an indie game that came out last year, and it’s been steadily getting better analysis since release. The game is also doing well on Steam, and it’s currently sits at #3 on the best sellers list on Amazon.
A surprising announcement was made yesterday by Amazon, the game distributor of choice for video game enthusiasts, announcing their first-ever best-selling game. According to the report, the game is titled “Metroid Dread” and is available for $4.99 for all customers.
The long-awaited sequel to the Stalker trilogy is finally a real thing that we can experience soon enough! With an official release date in the air set on the 28th of April 2022, we can finally mark our calendars and wait in anticipation of its release.
The game is currently available for preorder on Steam, so make sure to grab some OffGamers Steam Wallet Codes if you’re interested!
It was originally announced way back in 2010, but due to development hell, it will now be released in 2022. It was supposed to be released in 2012 but it was canceled and reannounced in 2018 as the version that we get to see today. We were granted this surprise from Microsoft’s E3 2021 showcase and we can’t wait to experience Stalker 2 to see what GSC Game World has in store for us.
Stalker Backstory
For those who are unfamiliar with the Stalker franchise, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Note that we’re using Stalker instead of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. because it would save more time to type. The acronym actually stands for Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers and Robbers which holds significance to the franchise as a whole.
The Stalker series takes place primarily around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone with each game focusing on the different characters trying to survive after the nuclear reactor catastrophe.
Naturally, in a radioactive environment, all sorts of creatures from humans to animals will get mutated. But the main attraction to this radioactive world is the artifacts that were found. These artifacts are powerful enough to grant regenerative powers and radiation reduction and you will come across plenty of it along the way.
What Is It About?
Not much has been revealed about the game just yet, but here’s what we DO know. The gist of the game is similar to previous games where bounty hunters (including yourself) will adventure into the ‘Chernobyl Exclusion Zone’, lured by its mysteries and treasures. The zone itself is full of weird anomalies, dangerous creatures, and powerful artifacts for you to uncover.
You’ll venture deeper into Chernobyl and uncover something powerful in the middle of the zone that would pose a threat to everyone living in the area.
The story is non-linear, so each of your choices will have its own consequences. There are also multiple endings for you to uncover, so replayability is secured. By this, it naturally means that there are good endings and so-called ‘bad’ endings for you to uncover. We would just advise you to choose based on how you would feel in certain situations to get an ending true to yourself.
Preorder Details
Even if the game is releasing next year, preorders are already open and are paired with some pretty cool preorder bonuses as noted below:
⦁ Extended campfire content
⦁ Exclusive weapon skin
⦁ Exclusive armor skin
⦁ An early bird multiplayer badge
Of course, there are also different editions that you could choose from such as the Deluxe Edition with in-game cosmetics and Ultimate Edition with story expansions and season pass. There’s also a Limited Edition and Collector’s Edition if you’re a superfan. Of course, these are all priced differently according to their respective editions.
Gameplay
Here’s the trailer for those who are interested:
Throughout the years we have gotten a few peeks at what would be the Stalker 2 gameplay, most recently being the trailer showcased at Microsoft’s E3 2021 showcase. From the trailer itself, we saw glimpses of gruesome battles and quiet moments by the campfire which would be your home base of operations. There’s even a scene where you’re in a swamp looking for an artifact as a monster gets sucked away by an anomaly.
The trailer also showed off the main character, Skiff picking and attaching weapons as well as firing them. The trailer is definitely action-packed, but let’s not forget the survival elements that the game is also known for. Your radiation meter, hunger and stamina need to be balanced for you to survive in the harsh world of Chernobyl.
In terms of world size, Stalker 2 is going to be one of the bigger open-world games out there for players to explore. This sets it apart from previous releases where exploration was limited. Let’s not forget that this game is mainly a first-person shooter game, apart from its open-world survival mechanics.
Here’s a trailer with commentary from the developers as well:
Visual and Technical Improvements
Of course, being a game that was planned for release about 11 years ago, we would expect the game to have some form of visual and technical improvements. This is especially true as the technology of today has advanced further than it had all those years ago.
As such, GSC has confirmed that there will be RTX support for Stalker 2 on the Xbox Series X/S as well as 4K resolution. For now, the game will be exclusive to the Xbox console (aside from its PC release), but we may see it get released for the PlayStation in the future so keep an eye out!
Should I Play The Other Stalker Games First?
If you want my advice, I would definitely recommend playing the other games first in order to get an understanding of what the game would be like. It does help to put things into perspective and you won’t be too left out when it comes to the game’s mechanics.
In fact, the game’s developers agree that you should try out the other games first as well as quoted from the GSC site, “Stalker 2 is a standalone project that can be enjoyed on its own. At the same time, we recommend completing the previous games for the maximum level of immersion.” So, take their advice!
Simon Leonard