Everything We Know About Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone

Key Takeaways

Chernobylite 2
offers a customizable protagonist, a shift from first-person to third-person perspective.
Improved animations feature characters without gas masks, with better facial expressions than its predecessor.
The game transitions to a full open-world setting, allowing seamless travel between different areas in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

As an old-timer who’s seen more than a few sunsets in this game industry, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to Chernobylite. The first game was a gem, and I remember spending countless hours huddled around my radioactive campfire, trying to keep my team alive while dealing with the elusive Black Stalker.

2020’s “Chernobylite” was an intriguing game developed by indie studio The Farm 51, set in the actual Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The game utilized maps generated from a 3D scan of the area for authenticity. It blended shooting, stealth, survival, resource management, exploration, and role-playing elements to deliver a unique blend of history and science fiction. Although not as widely recognized as other indie games, “Chernobylite” garnered a fair amount of interest upon release and cultivated a dedicated fanbase. The initial game left some questions unanswered, but the prospect of a sequel seemed unlikely for quite some time. However, in 2024, The Farm 51 announced “Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone,” revealing some captivating details about the upcoming sequel. A few months later, they released another gameplay trailer, shedding light on even more intriguing features.

While the first trailer fueled some concern that Chernobylite 2 was turning into a looter-shooter, the second trailer implied a detailed and atmospheric world reminiscent of the first game. Much of the plot is still hard to discern, but there are some interesting things that can be uncovered from the glimpses we’ve seen so far.

7 A New Protagonist

Players Will Get To Create Their Own Stalker

In Chernobylite, the game primarily focuses on the protagonist, Igor Kymynuk, whose identity is somewhat hidden due to the first-person perspective, with his face often concealed by a hood and mask. However, in the upcoming sequel, Chernobylite 2, it appears that players will have the opportunity to create their own character, potentially revealing more about Igor or allowing players to insert themselves into the game world.

In the trailer, various costumes, gas masks, and hairstyle alternatives seem to be highlighted. Fingers crossed that the game will offer a character customization feature, including gender selection, though this might not be evident from the trailer alone. It would indeed be refreshing if the protagonist could be female, as opposed to the first game. Moreover, having more women in the cast beyond Olga would also add diversity and depth.

6 Perspective

The Immersive First-Person Has Been Dropped

In the game ‘Chernobylite’, the perspective is from the first-person viewpoint. With the exception of the initial and concluding scenes, the story unfolds exclusively through the experiences of the character named Igor. This narrative method, reminiscent of ‘Half-Life’, offers a unique experience as it limits the player’s understanding to what Igor knows. Essentially, the game reveals plot details only when Igor has learned about them.

In contrast to typical games, Chernobylite 2 offers an innovative approach by presenting gameplay in both first and third-person views, with the ability for players to switch between these perspectives during regular gameplay. Interestingly, combat situations will automatically switch to a third-person view, providing players with a more comprehensive understanding of their surroundings for tactical reasons. This design choice aims to improve situational awareness.

5 More Ambitious Animation

Actual Facial Animations This Time Around

Upon launching the game Chernobylite, players will immediately observe the unique character animations. Each character wears a gas mask and many also don hoods, making it challenging to discern their physical appearances. However, each character’s portrait is displayed alongside their subtitles, providing a glimpse of their features. This design choice was strategically made as facial and hair animations can be particularly challenging for even the largest studios. By equipping characters with gas masks and hoods that hide their faces and hair, the developers, The Farm 51, effectively bypassed the animation complexities associated with these elements, making the game development process smoother.

It appears that Chernobylite 2 could be taking a new approach, as suggested by the trailers. Characters in the previews are shown without gas masks, and it seems possible for players to play without one too. Additionally, characters are depicted engaging in conversation with each other, displaying convincing facial expressions during dialogue. This could indicate that the developers have improved resources or built upon their experience from the original game to create more realistic character models.

4 Open World

More Room To Explore

In the initial version of Chernobylite, the game’s setting was based on a 3D scan of the actual Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, yet it wasn’t an entirely open world. Instead, it could be described as a collection of interconnected mini-open worlds or regions. Each day in the game, Igor would choose which region to venture into himself and designate others for his companions to explore.

In simpler terms, instead of dividing the map into smaller sections like many games do, Chernobylite 2 appears to be opting for an open-world design within the zone, enabling seamless travel between various areas. As for the map, we’ll have to wait and see if it will use the same 3D scanned map as the original game, but if it does, it could lead to a significant enhancement in gameplay experience.

3 Chernobylite Evolution?

Chernobylite Might Be Even More Powerful

The game “Chernobylite” derives its name from a peculiar element central to the plot, which mirrors a real-world counterpart – Chernobylite, a radioactive compound generated by the Chernobyl disaster. In the game, this anomalous resource flourishes in radioactive areas and displays unusual characteristics, such as affecting human minds and reality itself. The protagonist, Igor, who is an experienced professor studying it, frequently utilizes this substance. However, a sinister turn of events unfolds as he uncovers that Chernobylite is not just a radioactive compound, but an extra-dimensional parasite. Igor must then decide whether to allow the parasite to annihilate Earth or sacrifice himself to prevent it.

In the sequel to Chernobylite 2, it seems that the parasitic entity has resurfaced and players can expect fresh revelations about its capabilities. Players will find certain familiar elements from the initial game, as Chernobylite retains its power to create portals and manipulate reality. Additionally, it can generate monsters, some of which were not present in the first installment. However, a new character hints at something novel. A figure appearing in the gameplay trailer, referred to as “Borya” in subtitles, appears to have been tainted or assimilated by Chernobylite. He exhibits characteristics such as pale skin, green eyes, and fragments of the substance embedded within his flesh. The most striking scene suggests a boss battle, where Chernobylite is depicted using an old abandoned excavator and combining it with various mechanical parts to construct a mech suit for itself. Clearly, the second installment promises even more chaos and excitement.

2 Return Of Familiar Mechanics

Big Parts Of The First Game Are Expected To Come Back

Besides ensuring survival, Chernobylite also featured a management system requiring players (in this case, Igor) to establish a base and supervise a team. The construction of the base was an engaging aspect, as functionality wasn’t the only concern; Igor had to consider the needs of his team members, meaning he needed to build facilities that promoted health and comfort. Managing the team proved challenging, too. At the end of each day, Igor had to allocate food resources, and occasionally make difficult choices when supplies were limited. He also had to ensure everyone was adequately equipped to avoid under-providing for one companion, which could potentially lead to their demise or desertion from the group. If they returned during the game’s climax, these deserters could create complications for Igor.

As per the Steam description for Chernobylite 2, some familiar elements are anticipated to reappear in gameplay. Notably, team management appears as a key aspect, hinting that each team member could serve as a mentor, prepared to share their expertise and skills. This mirrors a feature from the original game, where players could invest skill points in learning from their allies. Additionally, base construction seems set to make a comeback, employing a similar system of crafting items using scavenged resources while attempting to strike a balance between functionality and comfort.

1 Black Stalker Returns?

Somehow He’s Back, Despite the First Game’s Ending

In the narrative of Chernobylite, the chief antagonist that constantly haunted Igor was an enigmatic figure known as “The Black Stalker.” This menacing character was easily identifiable by his oversized gas mask and glowing green eye slits. He relentlessly tormented Igor throughout the game, frequently appearing at unfavorable moments within the zone. More often than not, escaping was the wisest choice. His presence significantly impacted the game, as his mask graced the promotional artwork. However, he was ultimately vanquished, leading to a climactic confrontation with Igor that disclosed some pivotal secrets. Players witnessed his demise, assuming it was permanent. But when the trailer for Chernobylite 2 emerged, viewers were left stunned as they saw none other than The Black Stalker, alive and standing in the Red Forest once more.

This situation certainly invites some speculation about his role here. One plausible guess could be that he was resurrected following the occurrences of the initial game, but there are alternative scenarios. For instance, it’s possible that this isn’t the authentic Black Stalker, but rather someone else pretending to be him or assuming the role. Alternatively, it might turn out that Chernobylite 2 is a prequel (much like Red Dead Redemption 2), suggesting that the Black Stalker is still alive at this stage in the storyline. Regardless of the reason, it appears the character will reappear significantly in some capacity.

2024-10-07 08:34