Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone – Everything You Need to Know

The creators of Get Even and Chernobylite, The Farm 51, have returned with a sequel to their 2021 survival FPS game, titled Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone. This upcoming game is being developed for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC platforms. While more details are on the way, eager fans won’t have to wait long as the open-world action RPG enters early access on March 6th exclusively for PC following a successful Kickstarter campaign. After testing a demo, here are 15 crucial facts to keep in mind before venturing back into the Zone.

Set-up

In the original game, you may recall that it took place within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, with protagonist Igor Khymynuk delving into its depths. The upcoming sequel, however, takes a significantly different approach. Instead of following Igor, you’ll be controlling Cole Grey, a character hailing from an alternate reality who is involved in the Planewalker program. This dimension appears to be an ideal world sustained by Chernobylite – but therein lies the catch: obtaining more of it becomes the central challenge.

In the role of an Explorer of Realms, Cole’s duty is to journey into different dimensions and gather resources, regardless of their consent, to maintain the stability of his own dimension. Needless to say, complications arise following each mission, leaving Cole in a state of being far from his familiar home.

Connection to the First Game

For fans of the original game, the Exclusion Zone might seem quite recognizable, despite the appearance of Chernobylite. You’ll also encounter the Black Stalker, but beware, he won’t be out to harm you at first – a twist revealed in spoilers. In a recent Reddit AMA, The Farm 51 hinted that the game will feature traveling between worlds. This means that the reality you enter might not be exactly the same as you remember from the first game. Consequently, characters you’re familiar with may remember certain events differently than you do.

Classes

Initially, you have six distinct character options – Eliminator, Recon, Emissary, Technician, Scientist and Chernomancer, each with unique gameplay styles. Engage in close combat using the Eliminator, focus on firearms as the Emissary or combine both approaches with Recon. Each character excels in different areas and boasts exclusive perks such as the Recon’s Camouflage Master or the Chernomancer’s talent to convert damage into health. There’s also Planewalking, a feature that allows for swift build swaps, although specific details about it are still forthcoming.

Third-Person (and Experimental First-Person)

Initially, when Chernobylite 2 was unveiled, The Farm 51 disclosed it as a third-person game, but this announcement garnered a mixed response from fans. However, with the achievement of its crowd-funding stretch goal, the first-person perspective is back on the table, and players can toggle between these perspectives at will. As of now, the preview build features the first-person mode as an “experimental” aspect, so it’s hoped that improvements will be made when early access begins.

Combat

If you opt for a third-person viewpoint, the game offers an engaging fusion of Souls-inspired melee combat and cover shooting. You’ll be able to perform roll dodges, launch charged attacks (effective against blocking enemies), and even sneak up on unaware opponents to strike from behind. Certain opponents also carry shields that you must destroy before dealing damage to their health.

Attributes and Skill Checks

In Chernobylite 2, character attributes play a significant role, offering diverse advantages. For instance, Strength boosts your melee power and stamina usage efficiency, whereas Perception enhances projectile damage and critical hit chance. However, these characteristics come with additional effects – increased cunning makes it simpler to gather information or deceive others. These attributes also influence the type of gear you can equip (with potential penalties if you fail to meet the prerequisites). Moreover, Attributes are useful for Skill Checks and dialogue options. For example, you might not be able to break down doors without enough Strength, but with higher Cunning, you could possibly find a way through smaller openings.

Skills

In the current version under development, Skills are categorized into three groups: Mutants, Scientists, and Mercs, each having several levels. These skills can be either passive or active. For instance, Air Control enables evasive maneuvers in mid-air, whereas Know Your Enemy allows you to analyze enemy behavior and identify potential vulnerabilities. However, for acquiring new skills, you’ll need a Trainer, which some of your teammates may assume the role of according to the Steam description.

Factions

As a devoted enthusiast of this captivating world, I can’t help but notice that those three towering trees embody the distinctive factions within the Zone – Kendall presiding over the resilient Mutants, Milena leading the intellectual Scientists, and Roy commanding the formidable Mercs. Each faction has its loyal associates, like Glyeb who you often encounter in the early stages, and they all have Reputation meters that can shift based on your choices, potentially prompting them to aid you. The Farm 51 hints at a pivotal moment when ancient disputes re-emerge, challenging us to make our stand.

Loot

In the Zone, you’ll find yourself in need of a variety of items such as ammunition, resources, valuables, currency, and consumables. This also includes loot from various armor types with varying resistances and shield strengths for weapons like revolvers, assault rifles, shotguns, and even melee weapons such as swords and the old gas pipe.

Base Building

As a passionate enthusiast, I’m thrilled to find that base building is back! Although this build may not have all the bells and whistles, the core principles remain the same. By scavenging materials throughout the Zone, you can construct rooms, starting with a compact Quarters for your Quartermaster. Then, you can set up various workstations such as a Medical Lab Table to craft an array of healing supplies. Other stations include armor crafting, a storage chest, furniture arrangement, armor repair, and more. Naturally, you’re also free to customize the layout of your base and rearrange items according to your preference.

Vitals

In terms of survival aspects, Chernobylite 2 offers various health indicators that require attention. These are categorized as Mind, Circulation, Heart, Nervous System, Skin, and Muscles. Each has distinct factors influencing them. For instance, burns may occur on your skin from fire or slashing wounds, while harming humans might impact the emotional state of your Heart. Exposure to radiation and bullet injuries will cause radiation sickness in your circulatory system, whereas using stamina can induce fatigue and affect your mental state.

Co-op

Among the latest additions is the online cooperative mode, where specialized missions are designed to run throughout the campaign. The specifics of how it functions are yet to be revealed, but from the snippets we’ve glimpsed so far, it appears that you can join forces to tackle formidable foes together.

PC Requirements

For the early access version of this game, the base hardware specifications appear modest initially, suggesting a minimum CPU such as an Intel Core i7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, 16 GB of RAM, and a graphics card like the Intel Arc A580, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, or AMD Radeon RX 580 to run at 1080p with Low settings at 30 FPS. However, the suggested hardware upgrades significantly for a smoother gaming experience at higher graphics settings. This includes a Core i5-12600K or Ryzen 5 5600 CPU, maintaining 16 GB of RAM, and an Arc A770, RTX 3060 (8 GB) or Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card for 1080p with High settings targeting a frame rate of approximately 45 FPS.

Although the preview version largely adhered to the suggested standards, it experienced significant frame rate drops, particularly in expansive areas and specific cutscenes. This happened even with DLSS activated and some settings adjusted to Medium. The team is continuing to optimize the game, so it’s important to be aware of this issue.

Early Access Content

Through their confirmation, The Farm 51 revealed that approximately one-third of the full game’s content will be available at launch with early access. Compared to its predecessor, it appears the sequel might offer more content and gameplay time. Given that Chernobylite 1 took around 14.5 hours for the main story and 24 hours for completionists (as per HowLongToBeat), we can anticipate a substantial playtime for the sequel as well.

Planned Features

Regarding features, many elements are coming based solely on the stretch goals achieved during the Kickstarter campaign. Weapons from the initial game will make a comeback and can now be customized in a first-person perspective. Additionally, the Blaster weapon will have new customization options not available in the original version. Co-op/solo play is expected to receive unique maps for added diversity. Lastly, players will be able to personalize their HUD view in both first and third person. The release date hasn’t been announced yet, but given the team’s quick work on adding a first-person mode, it might arrive sooner than anticipated.

Read More

2025-02-19 14:42