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.
Although I don't have any mods, I noticed that the game isn't as buggy as everyone says, but it doesn't excactly have the top notch lighting system, but I have dumped hours into it, and intend to fully dump hours more. The game doesn't have an outrageous inventory system, and you can't just take EVERYTHING, you need to think light, and carry the necessities.