The player travels throughout the zone in an attempt to learn of his past through various means, as well as helping shrewed businessmen and other stalkers achieve their own personal agendas.

The main storyline revolves around the nameless player character, known simply as 'The Marked One'. Names of top stalkers are listed in the player's PDA, which acts as the in-game objective menu, as well as allowing the user to access PDAs found off on dead bodies and marking points on a map of The Zone. The player can try to obtain the top stalker rank. The artifacts were created as a result of the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl These can be sold for quite a high sum, or kept for personal use by the player. Artifacts are objects found in and around the zone that have special powers, sometimes with a negative impact on the user as well. Some characters will also trade items with you, usually for money. You can also bring in materials found off of bodies and in the wild and sell them to various dealers of merchandise. You can earn money by completing both main and side quests, and you can use this money to purchase supplies and weapons. The player has the freedom to wander about the environment and explore, though this is more dangerous then it is in most shooters and RPGs,due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to obtain better equipment and additional areas to explore without following the story. In fact, the main story missions can be put off until the player wishes to start them. It is up to the player whether or not to undertake these side missions. There are many people who will give you main story quests, as well as side missions. You travel around and talk to people for information, usually setting you on your next main story quest. While not entirely new, S.T.A.L.K.E.R takes concepts from many different types of games and combines them, producing a unique experience in spite of the origin of these ideas. After a long period of waiting, will gamers be pleased to finally be able to explore 'The Zone'? The game combines the ideas of a traditional first person shooter, with a horror survival aspect, as well as some RPG roots. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has to be one of the more unique first person shooters to be released on the market. After a long period of waiting, will gamers be pleased to finally be able to explore 'The Zone'?' 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has to be one of the more unique first person shooters to be released on the market.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC) review

Stalker shadow of chernobyl controls