S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
PC | Shooter
Released on March 20, 2007.
Published by THQ.
Developed by GSC Game World.
The game begins with an unconscious, wounded stalker (the player character) being brought to Sidorovich, a black-market trader operating inside the Zone of alienation (or simply "The Zone"). Sid is able to save his life, but the wounded stalker is amnesic; the only clues to his identity are a tattoo on his arm of the acronym "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." and his PDA which contains only one entry in the to-do list: "Kill Strelok." The amnesiac stalker is dubbed "Marked One" by Sid.
Why? Because mutant creatures. Radiation, real world with a twist. People trying to make a ruble!
Why? I only happened upon this game by chance when I read about a reference to Half Life 2 but I bought it and was amazed and pleased with the story and the way the worked the anomalies and artifacts in. Also the weapons are really handled well for an engine from this time period. Mods are nice too.