STALKER 2 borrowed one of Fallout's best features, Skyrim

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The origins of the open-world genre are hotly debated in the gaming world, with some suggesting that it debuted back in the 1980s with games such as The Legend of Zeldaand others believe that its true beginnings came much later, in the early 2000s, with the release of 3D games such as Grand Theft Auto 3. Regardless of which side of the park is right, the open world genre has come a long way over the past few decades, as have many franchises that started life back then. STALKER is one such franchise.




Having released three games between 2007 and 2009 STALKER The series built a fervent cult following upon its debut, and those fans remained loyal throughout the 15 years it took for a full sequel to finally be released. Now finally in the hands of the players, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl made many adjustments and additions that brought the series into the modern era of gaming, and introduced even more dark beauty to its post-apocalyptic world. And that beauty leads to some exiting moments that match Bethesda.

Bodycam, Metro, Days Gone

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If the grueling gameplay of Stalker 2 was a success, why not try these other post-apocalyptic shooters? Here are the games that scratch the same itch.

STALKER 2's release times rival Bethesda's

The Bethesda Stepping-Out Moment has become a staple of open-world RPGs

Over the past two decades or so, Bethesda has released some beloved open-world RPGs, most of which include so-called “exit” moments. At these points, the player usually leaves the prologue area and accesses the open world of the game for the first time, marking the true beginning of the RPG.


For example, in Fallout 3 and Fallout 4these exit moments occur when the player finally leaves the opening vault and literally “steps” into the wasteland for the first time. U Skyrimthe moment of exit is a little less obvious: it occurs when players leave the Helgen Caves and enter the road that leads them to Riverwood.

These out-of-game moments have become a vital part of Bethesda's role-playing games, and are often associated with players realizing that they are now completely free to explore the vast world in front of them. These breakout moments have begun to permeate the rest of the open-world RPG genre, with recent games such as Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree which contains its fair share of amazing exit moments where the player is suddenly presented with a vast expanse of beautiful open world that can be explored for free.


STALKER 2 has more than its fair share of breakout moments

STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl full of Bethesda-like moments. The first time players jump the fence and enter STALKER 2's area, they are represented by long bioluminescent foliage and a dilapidated building that sets the tone for the juxtaposition STALKER 2terrible beauty. Similar exit moments are then sprinkled everywhere STALKER 2where players often leave the building only to be struck by a strangely colorful setting that one would not normally expect from a post-apocalyptic survival game.

Very similar The last of us and Horizon, STALKER 2 explores the theme of beauty in destruction. While the Zone is filled with mutated monsters, assassin gangs, and destroyed buildings, it's also filled with vivid poppy fields, towering trees, and strange natural wonders formed by the Zone's anomalies, and this strange beauty is well represented through the game's frequent exit moments.

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