Just Short of the Russian Standard
STALKER COP Quick Review
Let me start by saying I am an ardent fan of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. With that said, it must be noted that these games are buggy and that if you suffer through it, and quick save often, then you will be delighted in not only the game play and atmosphere, but also in the story. The same holds true for COP, however, it is not the strongest entry in the series. Either way, here are the pros and cons of COP:
Pros:
- Less buggy of the three
- Refined RPG Mechanics (upgrade guns, suit, sleeping, eating)
- Refined gameplay mechanics overall
- Still good atmosphere
- Still quirky and Russian
- A more coherent game
Cons:
- Shorter than SOC, longer than CS
- Doesn’t rival SOC atmosphere
- Story isn’t as good as SOC
- Ending doesn’t really do much for the game
The truth is that nothing will really ever rival S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. COP is a good way to end this trilogy, it ties up some loose ends and in the process provides a decent enough story to warrant another romp through the Zone. With that said, unless you’ve played SOC or CS, and loved them, I wouldn’t recommend picking this game up. Do yourself a favor, play SOC, if you like it buy CS and COP at a discounted price. You won’t regret it. These games are what pc gaming is all about, so buy at least one in the series. Let’s just hope the true sequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, which is rumored to be using the Cryengine, will deliver what the best parts of each game while providing a story just as intriguing as SOC.
