In 1986, the world's worst nuclear disaster occurred at the Chernobyl power station. Soviet authorities established a 30km 'Exclusion Zone' around this nuclear wasteland, but in 2006 a second explosion rocked the stricken reactor, obliterating all living things and causing the Zone's boundaries to ripple outwards. From this epicenter came waves of mutated creatures, deadly radiation, and a strange, anomalous energy. The Zone was cordoned off by the military, who would shoot on sight anyone foolish enough to brave the horrors within.
One of the best games I've ever played....oh wait, I'll rephrase that: this is the BEST game I EVER played so far. And, to be honest, I played dozens of games.
Anyway, good things Shadow of Chernobyl has:
1. Its atmosphere that is most of the times...horrific (DUH....it's a survival horror game!), which makes players to actually be careful where they go and what they do since they might get killed instantly at anytime;
2. Large, populated maps (well...maybe except Cordon, which is kind of boring) and these maps actually have lots of stashes where you may either celebrate due to its content, or where you might get dissapointed and motivate you to look for another one;
3. The high possibility of being modded easily;
4. Awesome graphics (especially when using a mod like Photorealistic Zone);
5. A story that makes you more and more interested in Marked One's past;
6. Awesome guitar tracks that make me stay at a Stalker camp for a few minutes just to listen to them and to get the courage to raid another mutant nest....
There are WAY other qualities to be mentioned, but the character limit doesn't let me mention them... Well a sad thing about Shadow of Chernobyl is that, despite the fact that maps are large, there aren't too many maps available at all...but hopefully Lost Alpha will change that aspect :).
But still, a 10 is a 10. And this game TOTALLY deserves it.