“Heart of Chornobyl” is developed by the Ukrainian game company GSC Game World and the game has been delayed several times, most recently due to the Russian invasion. Now Russia is also considering banning the game and punishing buyers if it contains “anti-Russian” elements.
A somewhat bizarre development as “Heart of Chornobyl” rises above political propaganda. Rather, the game maintains an existential science fiction tradition inspired by Andrei Tarkovsky’s film “Stalker” (1979).
As a player, you are thrown into a first-person perspective and an open world based on the Ukrainian zone that became radioactive after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown in 1986. “Chornobyl” (the game uses the Ukrainian spelling) is an unforgiving Russian wilderness of old Soviet military facilities, factories , run-down villages and hauntingly beautiful poppy fields.
According to the “STALKER” myth the zone is a haunted place for zombies, bandits and radioactive rats. The forbidden area also attracts stalkers – walkers and guides – who travel in to retrieve supernatural artifacts.
The main plot is compelling, and difficult moral choices offer many opportunities to affect the ending. It’s also easy to get lost in all the side quests. Most of the time, it’s best to run away rather than fight badly: the enemies are terribly difficult, even on “rookie” mode. Each conflict requires careful consideration given scarce resources in the form of food, ammunition and health items. Too little food makes you tired, and drinking vodka helps against radiation.
An abundance of bugs takes occasionally the edge of the tension. Enemies appear out of thin air and don’t react to being shot or stabbed – which is already a hassle as some weapons lock up when they’ve gotten too screwy.
Hope updates can fix the problem. “Heart of Chornobyl” is too atmospheric to be weighed down by technical beauty spots.