The game promises heavy-duty first-person carnage, but the developers are also adding serious role-playing elements like "life simulation." You'll need food, or you'll starve. You'll need sleep, but find an inconspicuous spot or your worst nightmares will come true. Those who hunt you will not stop just because you need rest. RPG die-hards will appreciate the reality of the inventory system as well; carrying too much will only slow you down. (We can only pray they leave "bathroom simulation" out of the game). But this is a top-shelf shooter at heart; professional Quake and Counter-strike players are part of the team developing the online versus component of STALKER, so multiplayer hopes are high.
For those of us who recall treasured hours playing near-perfect role-playing shooters like Deus Ex, this feature list reads like a letter to Santa Claus. Put the milk and cookies on the table and back away: STALKER storms down your chimney in late 2006.
