STALKER Apocalypse

Areal is a post-apocalyptic shooter with survival horror elements, and a spiritual successor of the cult S.T.A.L.K.E.R series. The title is a debut project of an independent American studio West-Games, which included artists responsible for the aforementioned S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Metro: Last Light. The production of the game was partly financed thanks to the funds obtained from the crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter.

Plot

The action of the game takes place in a gloomy universe, in which the civilization leans towards collapse as a result of the fall of a mysterious meteorite. Along with it, an unexplored and rapidly spreading substance, called metamorphite, arrives on Earth. The player travels through a huge open world, divided into three threat zones. They spread from the place of the meteorite catastrophe and differ in the level of anomalies caused by the cosmic substance. By performing the main and side missions, we will find many answers to questions related to the mysterious phenomenon. We will also use the unique properties of metamorphite, which - when used in the right way - can also become a source of power, influencing the characteristics of the player and performance in combat.

Mechanics

For most of the time, the action is observed from the first-person perspective, although the game does not lack numerous cut-scenes, during which the camera switches to the third person. The plot is non-linear, and any decisions made by the player have an impact on the further course of the game. The direct course of individual battles is determined by several detailed factors, such as the hero's skills, the presence of anomalies and mutants, the use of different types of metamorphytes or the appropriate choice of weapons, which can be modified during the game to adjust to your playstyle. In addition to a wide range of weapons and equipment, we can also drive vehicles such as ATVs, trucks, tanks and even helicopters. Most of them will require regular refueling, and during the fight, they can suffer damage that will need to be repaired.

Technical aspects

Areal uses the engine created by the developers. Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, the game world is diverse and enriched with a large palette of colors. Creators from West Games have also implemented a special X-Life technology responsible for the artificial intelligence of their opponents. Thanks to it we can count on many credible and unexpected reactions of our enemies, trying to use various attack strategies during the game, depending on the development of the situation.

Last updated on 26 June 2014