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S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

(2007, Video Games - First Person Shooter, Rated M, Play it on: Windows)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    A creepy, mature, first-person sci-fi shooter.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    You play as a mercenary in a radioactive zone trying to recover magical artifacts.
  • Violence :

    As a violent and gory first-person shooter, players see bodies torn apart, lots of characters and animals bleeding profusely, and chunks of flesh flying. Realistic weapons are used and shots to the head rewarded. Knifing an opponent is also praised.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    While not excessive, near the beginning of the game you'll hear "s--t" and "bulls--t."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Liquor (most notably vodka) can be located and consumed all throughout the single-player campaign. It reduces radiation and applies a limited "drunk" effect.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Parents need to know that the extreme violence and gore in this game make it an adults-only affair. Anomalies tear bodies apart, characters and animals bleed profusely when shot, and chunks of flesh fly freely when hit by more powerful attacks. It is possible to shoot others in the head, which results in a reward during multiplayer gameplay. This game offers online play, which Common Sense Media does not recommend for anyone under 12.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how this game is purely science fiction. While it takes place at Chernobyl, years after the real-life nuclear disaster there, you are primarily shooting radioactive creatures and other baddies. Why do you think producers chose to use a real-life disaster as the setting? With mature teens who play this game, you may want to discuss what happens to people and vegetation near a nuclear accident or bombing.
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Our Members Say

Do You Play It? Review It!

  • What did you think about S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl?
  •  I think this game is

    for ages

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  •  Love it? Hate it?

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See all 8 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    DID YOU ACTUALLY PLAY IT!!!

    HAVING COMPLETED THE GAME, I CAN TELL THAT COMMON SENSE HASN'T. HONESTLY, CALLING THE ARTIFACTS MAGICAL, ANYBODY WHO HAS REALLY PLAYED THE GAME WOULD TELL YOU OTHER WISE. a REALLY BIG MISTAKE IN THE COMMON SINCE REVIEW IS SAYING THAT THE GAME TAKES PLACE AROUND THE TINE OF THE ORIGINAL DISASTER, RIGHT OFF THE BAT CHARACTERS STATE THE THE DATE IS NEARLY 30 YEARS LATER ALSO, THE BODIES AREN'T DESTRUCTIBLE, IN OTHER WORDS THEY DON'T BLOW INTO CHUNKS, YOU CAN LAY 1000 ROUNDS INTO A CORPS ALONG WITH A GRENADE OR 2 AND THEY WON'T FLY APART. FURTHERMORE, THE GAME HAS HUGE AMOUNTS OF FACTS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL DISASTER AND THE GAME MAP IS BASED OFF THE REAL EXCLUSION ZONE, DOES THAT NOT QUALIFY IT AS AT LEAST MODERATELY EDUCATIONAL, YOU GUY'S REALLY NEED TO BE MORE ACCURATE.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 5.0

    awesome game for adults

    A good game with decent graphics

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    Abortion

    This is a russian made game, that features charactors drinking whiskey to gain health. Unfortunately the game designers probably drank too much themselves. The game is an absolute abortion, from start to finish. And the game designers have been leaving super positive reviews on any media they can find. The game was never finished after 5 years of 'work' on it. It was rushed out to beat all the directX 10 games to market. It's Just a fustrating experience and a total waste of money.

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Anonymous
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    fools

    Once again commonsense, you are brain dead fools. this game isn't even over-the-top violent. and the blood level of this game isn't high either. it's almost as if you people just look at the back of the box and write crap about what you think the game is like. This game has moments where it'll scare you, but does that make it mature? The graphics aren't that great so the violence is not even as realistic as you think. Common sense, get some real reviewers...

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Anonymous
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Some iffy content, but should be ok for a mature gamer.

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