The 35-minute gameplay video of Stalker 2, and the promise of an authentic' experience which will kill you dead, has finally convinced me to jump on board The Zone hype train.

A panel of experts selected Stalker 2 as the most desired game for the first ever PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2023. I wasn't one of the experts, but Stalker 2 was definitely on my list of most-wanted video games. I was excited to get a longer look at it in a new 35 minute mostly-gameplay clip shared today by GSC Game World.

This is our most detailed look at Stalker 2 to date, covering everything from the sequel's general overview to specific development aspects. The most important part is a complete run-through of a mission in the game: Accessing the abandoned Clear Sky base, one of its factions.

The mission didn't click with me at first, but I realized as the walkthrough continued, that sure looks familiar. This was a wise decision on my part because the Swamps is a location from Stalker: Clear Sky.

GSC Game World is committed to ensuring that players have an "authentic" Stalker game experience. As far as I can tell, this means two things: the freedom to explore the world of the game as you please, regardless of the storyline, and the fact that Stalker 2 will not be shy to kick you in the a** if you get into too much trouble.

In the video, Ievgen Grygorovych, the Stalker 2 game's director, says that he didn't want the game to be too easy because he believes it would lose the grip on reality. "If the player is able to make mistakes easily, can't die, and has their hit points regenerated, then it's not the Stalker experience," Ievgen Grygorovych says in the video.

This is not a new thing for the series or FPS games, but Dzmitry Anoshka, level art lead, noted that Stalker 2 also does not have player levels. "Your progress is reflected by better knowledge of the surrounding environment [and] faster reactions." This is pleasing to me because it reflects the memories I have of the original Stalker: From a rookie in a tunnel, wondering what that noise was to a veteran in the same tunnel, with a vague idea of what that noise was. And a sense of dread, because I know there's still a good chance that it will kill me, despite the miles that I've logged.

Ingwar Dovgoteles, the cinematics team leader, uses a creepy but oddly appealing analogy to describe how it is similar to diving. "The Zone is not scary in the first few metres. It's sunny and beautiful. The deeper we go, the darker and colder it becomes.

"We start to hear how loud and hard our heart is beating. The submersion continues. We will eventually realize that we cannot go back. We are too deep. The only option left is to dive deeper in the darkness and cold, under extreme pressure. There are few chances of survival. "The only hope for a miraculous outcome is deep in the abyss."

The video also confirms that the November release date will still be held. The game has been repeatedly delayed, most recently last July when the "final" release date of September 5, was pushed back to November 20, This date seems to be set now that GSC Game World is ready to showcase the game. I'll be there.