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

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a first-person shooter with heavy role-playing game elements developed by Ukrainian game developer GSC Game World released on the PC. It was first announced by GSC Game World in 2001 and eventually released in 2007. It is heavily inspired by the film Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky as well as original novel The Roadside Picnic by Strugatski Brothers on which the film was based. The game itself was successful on both domestic and international game markets. Developers really traveled to Chernobyl to gain inspiration for the game and get ideas for production design.
The game features a semi-realistic ballistic model, incorporating such details as bullet drop and ricochets, but the majority of weapons are modeled with ejection ports, charging handles and other working parts transplanted to the left side of every gun, in the manner of Counter-Strike and Far Cry 2. The developers have stated that this was done because brass ejecting across the player's field of view felt more 'dynamic.' Many of the weapons were modeled with considerable detail, often using textures made from photographs of real examples. Nearly all of these textures were replaced with sanitized skins lacking trademarks and model numbers just before release, probably at the request of publisher THQ. The original, accurate textures were restored in the stand-alone prequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, and mostly retained in the sequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. The latter game, however, omits the most prominent marks on a few of the pistols and rifles (e.g. the Beretta logo on the Beretta 92FS's grips). All three games use obfuscated or fictionalized names for the weapons.
Weapons degrade and jam over time, and must eventually be replaced. Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat feature mechanic characters who repair weapons and upgrade their performance. Most weapons are capable of mounting various attachments, though many of them are disabled in the configuration files for balance reasons. NPCs are capable of using any weapons available to the player, though the default AI cannot use attachments or grenades and tends to eagerly commit suicide if equipped with explosive weapons.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy was released in 2024 and is a port of all three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games (available as a bundle or separately) to consoles. This version notably has some small gameplay changes and renames many in-game locations and characters to use Ukrainian spelling instead of the original Russian used in the English translation (such as the game itself being renamed to Shadow of Chornobyl).
=Pistols=
==Beretta 92FS==
The Beretta 92FS appears in the game as the "Martha". The Beretta was originally intended to be a common sidearm among mercenaries in the cut Dead City level. In the final game it appears only once, carried by a Duty member who must be rescued from bandits in the Dark Valley. Due to erroneous configuration parameters, the Beretta's condition degrades absurdly fast and deals much higher damage than the other 9x19mm pistols. Beretta pistols appear regularly in Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat.
Notably design documents for Clear Sky list the Beretta as a "new weapon" (alongside the other functional but unused weapons present in Shadow of Chernoby's files) indicating that it still being available was a mistake. In the Legends of the Zone release of the game, obtaining the Martha unlocks an achievement.
==Browning Hi-Power Mark III==
Another weapon which was apparently cut at the last minute for unknown reasons, the Browning Hi-Power Mark III is in the game, fully functioning, but isn't found anywhere and so can't be used. Activating the weapon requires modification of the game to add it to trader inventories so it can be purchased. It appears in all the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games as the "HPSS-1m".
==Colt M1911==
The Colt M1911 appears in the game as the "Kora-919". It is relatively rare, only being able to be acquired through stashes or bought at the 100 Rads bar. A unique version with a non-removable silencer is carried by a stalker named Sparrow. It is the weakest .45 ACP handgun in the game.
==Desert Eagle Mark XIX==
The Desert Eagle Mark XIX appears in the game in two versions: the standard "Black Kite" using .45 ACP ammunition, and the unique "Big Ben" firing 9x39mm. It can be fitted with a silencer. Both variants are found in the Wild Territory near the body of Gordon Freeman, protagonist of the Half-Life series; this is an Easter egg. A second "Black Kite" is promised by Freedom stalker Max as a quest reward, but a bugged script results in him giving a Walther P99 instead. The use of .45 ACP ammunition is unrealistic, as the Desert Eagle has never been offered in that chambering, but it was probably made to simplify the game and avoiding to create a cartridge for a single gun. The version firing 9x39mm is an even more unlikely device; though big-bore pistols using rifle cartridges do exist, it is unlikely a gunsmith could convert a Desert Eagle to fire such a round and still have it look the same afterwards.
==Fort-12==
The Fort-12 appears in the game as the "Fort-12Mk2". It is used by members of the Ukrainian military and a few rookie stalkers. A unique 15-round version called the "Fort-15" is carried by an army officer, Major Kuznetsov, and is the subject of a cut item retrieval quest. It can also be fitted with a silencer.
==Heckler & Koch USP Compact==
The Heckler & Koch USP Compact appears in the game as the "UDP Compact". It is often used by members of the Freedom and Monolith factions, and can be bought from Skinflint at the Freedom base.
==Makarov PB==
The Makarov PB silenced pistol appears in the game as the "Noiseless pistol (PB1s)". It is used occasionally by rookie and experienced stalkers. Like the PM, the in-game PB can fire PMM ammunition. It is not very powerful, but is the first silenced weapon the player will come across.
==Makarov PM==
A two-tone Makarov PM with black grips appears in the game as the "PMm". It is the most common handgun in the first half of the game, used by rookie stalkers, bandits, Ukrainian troops and low-rank Duty members. Unlike a real Soviet-vintage Makarov, the in-game PM can digest hot-loaded 9x18mm PMM ammunition with no trouble.
==SIG-Sauer P220==
The SIG-Sauer P220 appears in the game as the "SIP-t M200". It is sometimes used by more experienced members of the Duty faction. The P220 also appears in the holsters of all the characters that wear armours that have one, regardless of the sidearm they actually carry.
==Walther P99==
The Walther P99 pistol appears in the game as the "Walker P9m". It is one of the most common weapons in the Zone and is often carried by experienced stalkers of many factions. A stalker called Mole carries a unique variant firing 9x18mm Makarov ammunition, though the player can acquire it only if Mole dies during his brief appearance at the Agroprom.
=Shotguns=
==Franchi SPAS-12==
The Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun appears in the game as the "SPSA14". It is a rare weapon, found in a stash and carried by a few zombies and by Monolith troops inside the Chernobyl NPP. A unique variant with a rifled barrel is carried by a bandit named Poker, the target of a bugged quest which was impossible to complete until after the game was patched.
==Maverick Model 88==
The Maverick Model 88 appears as the "Chaser 13". It is common in the later parts of the game, unlike the SPAS-12. The "Combat Chaser", a unique variant which does more damage at the expense of magazine capacity, is carried by a master Stalker called Father Diodor. The developers seem to have confused the Maverick 88 with the Winchester 1300, as this shotgun is internally given the misspelled name "wpn_wincheaster1300", and its in-game name is also derived from the Winchester 1300. The Winchester label is sometimes erroneously retained by end-user mods correcting the fake weapon names.
==TOZ-34==
The TOZ-34, an over and under hunting shotgun, was featured in some pre-release media, but the weapon doesn't actually appear anywhere in the single player game despite existing, fully functional, in the game's files. Many game modifications add it to trader inventories so it can be bought. It functions much like the sawed-off TOZ-66, but is considerably more accurate; the unmodified stats also make it incredibly powerful, far more so than the other shotguns. The TOZ-34 is restored in Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat under the names "Hunting rifle" and "Hunting shotgun", appearing as a common weapon among rookie stalkers and bandits; in these games the damage has been reduced to a more sensible level.
==TOZ-66 Sawed-off==
The most common shotgun in the game is a sawn-off TOZ-66. It is frequently used by rookie stalkers, bandits, and, on one occasion, Duty. Like the other shotguns in the game, it can fire shot, slug and dart ammunition. The game's English translation often refers to shotguns as "rifles", making one mission involving this weapon extremely confusing. The description for the shotgun describes it as a sawn-off version of the "BM 17", which is an obfuscated version of its internal name, "wpn_bm16"; this name likely originates from the TOZ-BM, of which 16 gauge was the most common chambering. A full-length version was present in alpha builds of the game.
=Submachine Guns=
==Heckler & Koch MP5A3==
The Heckler & Koch MP5A3 appears in the game as the "Viper 5". It is often used by rookie stalkers and bandits, and is depicted with the early non-curved box magazine and a ficional handguard (Which looks like narrower version of the tropicalhandguard). A unique variant firing 9x18mm ammunition can be found on the body of a dead stalker in the Garbage, while a stalker named Vampire carries a version with a permanently attached silencer. The standard MP5 is one of the few weapons which can mount the regular silencer without mods. Rather strangely, it includes single-shot, 2- and 3-round burst and full-auto firing modes, despite being modeled with a 0-1 trigger group.
thumb|none|450px|Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with original "slimline" handguard and straight "waffle"-style magazine - 9x19mm Parabellum
=Assault Rifles=
==AKMSU==
The AKMSU appears in the game as the "Akm 74/2U". It is carried by stalkers, bandits, soldiers and Duty members in the early levels. A stalker called Bes (original) or Bis (Legends of the Zone) carries a unique silenced version (called the Akm 74/2U Special in most translations or Akm 74/2U Spetsnaz in Russian) which doesn't have the 20% accuracy penalty for suppressors and much increased durability. While in-game it fires 5.45x39mm ammo, it is modeled with a stamped steel 7.62x39mm magazine. Also noteworthy is that it has a polymer fore-end in gameplay, while in the pre-rendered cutscenes the player character is seen firing one with wooden furniture.
==AKS-74==
The AKS-74 appears in the game as the "Akm 74/2". It is the most common assault rifle in the game, being used by Ukrainian soldiers, Mercenary snipers, experienced stalkers, members of the Duty faction and occasionally members of the Monolith faction. It can be fitted with a silencer, a PSO-1 scope and a GP-25 grenade launcher. It has a strange green handguard with vents exposing the gas tube (though these vents are quite clearly a flat texture) and Bulgarian "waffle" magazine. A unique variant with a boosted rate of fire, reduced recoil, and increased durability can be found in Strelok's hideout in the Agroprom Underground.
==AN-94==
The AN-94 appears as the "Obokan", but is also referred to as the "ON-94" in the description of the armour-piercing 5.45 rounds. It is often carried by members of the Duty faction, by Monolith troops and by Ukrainian Spetsnaz. It cannot be fitted with a grenade launcher, but it can mount a PSO-1 scope. A version with a grenade launcher is carried by a bandit named Friar and is the target of a quest. Another variant with a permanently mounted scope is carried by a stalker called Oleg "Fiend" Gusarov.
==AS Val==
The AS Val appears in the game as the "VLA special assault rifle". It is carried by some Duty members. A unique version with a scope mount is given by Duty's General Voronin as a quest reward. 
==Enfield L85A1==
The Enfield L85A1 appears in the game as the "IL 86". It is described in-game as appearing on the black market after being retired by the British military, and is one of the more common NATO rifles. True to its reputation, it is very unreliable, jamming frequently and deteriorating faster than other rifles. It cannot be fitted with a grenade launcher in the unmodified game, despite the claims of its inventory text, but is fitted with a 4x SUSAT scope. Two unique variants are carried by expert stalkers Scarecrow and Master, having reduced recoil and the other a suppressor, respectively. The weapon is shown with the muzzle cover attached. Its inventory icon is of an L85A2, as noted by the bolt handle.
==FN F2000==
The FN F2000 appears in the game as the "FT 200M". It is used by a combatant in the Arena and primarily by Monolith members inside the Chernobyl NPP, and cannot be found earlier. It has a high rate of fire, an integrated scope and permanently-attached FN GL-1 grenade launcher.
==Heckler & Koch SL8-1==
The "GP 37" in-game is a Heckler & Koch SL8-1 that has been modified to resemble a military G36 rifle. It can be identified as an SL8 by the length from the pistol grip to the stock. It is fitted with a ZF 3x4° dual optical scope, though only the telescopic sight can be used. It is used by veteran members of the Freedom Faction. As with the L85, the inventory text erroneously states that it can mount a grenade launcher. It is a fairly common weapon in the last third of the game, and is accurate and powerful. In a reversal of the hybrid G36 from Far Cry, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. G36 has a full six-vent handguard with the barrel from a G36K. Its appearance in the Zone alongside the other high-end NATO rifles is likely due to it being stolen from NATO stockpiles or being purchased on the black market.
==OTs-14-4A Groza==
The OTs-14-4A Groza appears in the game as the "Tunder S14". The weapon has an incorrect RPK-style receiver instead of the AKS-74-type receiver of the real weapon. It is often carried by members of the Duty faction. One Dutyer, Barin, carries a unique 5.45x39mm version, which can also be bought from Sidorovich the trader under certain conditions. "Groza" is Russian for "thunderstorm", hence the weapon's obfuscated name.
==SIG SG 550==
The SIG SG 550 appears in the game as the "SGI 5k". The in-game gun is an early model, featuring a different lower receiver. Its 20-round magazine incorrectly holds 30 rounds in-game. Like the LR-300, it is most commonly carried by mercs and Freedom members. The SG 550 can mount a grenade launcher, and two guards at the Freedom base carry unique versions with scopes. Another unique variant with reduced weight but no attachment points was implemented, but cannot be found in the finished game.
==Z-M LR 300ML-A==
The Z-M LR 300ML-A appears in the game as the "TRs 301". It is the most common NATO rifle in the game, widely used by mercenaries and Freedom members, and one of the only weapons which can mount all three types of attachment by default. A unique sniper version can be found at a Mercenary outpost near the Army Warehouses and is the subject of a Duty quest. 
=Sniper Rifles=
==Dragunov SVD==
The Dragunov SVD appears in the game as the "Sniper rifle (SVDm 2)". It is used by Monolith snipers. The player cannot sprint while it is equipped. A unique version with greater zoom and reduced recoil exists in the game's files, but cannot be acquired without mods; it was to be the target of a scrapped item retrieval quest given by Freedom. An SVD with wooden furniture is featured as a static prop on the main menu.
=="Gauss rifle"==
A fictional sniper rifle based heavily on the Gauss Rifle of Fallout 2. Its ingame model, sporting several coils along its barrel, suggests it is a type of coilgun powered by processed Flash artifacts, with a ten-round magazine and unsurpassed penetration and stopping power. It is a rare weapon, appearing only in the hands of Monolith snipers in Pripyat and the NPP in Shadow of Chernobyl, though a group of Stalkers in the Dark Valley pretend to have one for sale as part of a scam. Its prototype form appears in Clear Sky, and it is more easily obtained in Call of Pripyat, where the player is tasked with tracing the origins of the weapon. Its caliber was originally given as 9mm, changed to 2.54 mm in Clear Sky (which is consistent with the caliber of the Fallout Gauss Rifle). It is fitted with a SUSAT scope, but also has a set of never-used iron sights. It also appears to have a few parts from real weapons, such as the pistol grip, stock, trigger and trigger guard from a Heckler & Koch G36.
==SVU==
The SVU appears in the game as the "SVUmk2". It is used by Freedom and Monolith snipers. Like the SVD, the player cannot sprint while wielding it.
==VSS Vintorez==
The VSS Vintorez appears in the game as the "Vintar BC". It can be found in the Freedom base, received as a quest reward from Duty or taken from Charon, the leader of Monolith in Pripyat. It is relatively lightweight and allows sprinting and fully automatic fire, but its ammunition is heavy and not the easiest to find.
=Launchers=
==FN GL-1==
The FN GL-1 is permanently attached to the FN F2000.
==GP-25==
The GP-25 appears in the game as the "GP-25 Kostyer". By default it can only be mounted to the AKS-74, but the "Storming" variant of the AN-94 has one permanently affixed.
==GP-30==
The GP-30 is mounted as part of the OTs-14 Groza.
==RG-6==
The RG-6 appears in the game as the "Bulldog 6". It appears twice in the game, found either in the Freedom base armory or in a house in the nearby bloodsucker village, and is the target of one of Duty's first quests. A unique version firing M203 ammunition was implemented, but cannot be accessed in the unaltered game.
thumb|none|450px|RG-6 Grenade Launcher - 40mm VOG-25.
==RPG-7==
The RPG-7 also makes an appearance in the game. It is used by Monolith members in the Red Forest, Pripyat and at the NPP, and by a mercenary in the Wild Territory. The launcher can also be found in the Dark Valley and in X18. It is powerful, but the launcher and ammo are both quite heavy. Its rockets are incorrectly referred to as OG-7V warheads, while it is actually a PG-7VL.
==SIG GL 5040==
The SIG GL 5040 appears in-game, incorrectly referred to as the "M203". It can be mounted to the SIG SG 550 and the Z-M LR 300.
=Grenades=
==F-1==
The second most common (and only other) hand grenades in the game are F-1 hand grenades. They have a larger radius of blast damage than the RGD-5.
==RGD-5==
The most common hand grenades in the game are RGD-5 hand grenades. They have a small radius of blast damage. NPCs were able to throw grenades in alpha versions of Shadow of Chernobyl, an ability restored in subsequent games and can be restored in Shadow of Chernobyl with mods.
===Smoke grenade===
This smoke grenade is only present in the multiplayer modes of all three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games. As it was not intended for use in singleplayer, its smoke has no effect on the game AI, though the grenade itself does cause the AI to treat it like an explosive grenade. Its model is simply an RGD-5 with a new texture marking it as a "DG-05" grenade.
=Others=
==Heckler & Koch HK53==
The Heckler & Koch HK53 is featured as the inventory icon for the "Viper 5 9x18". In pre-release builds of the game, this icon was also used for the regular Viper 5, but was apparently overlooked in the final game for the unique 9x18mm version.
==KPVT==
The BTR-70s are also equipped with a KPVT Heavy Machine Gun. Some mods make it possible to drive the BTR (as was originally planned) with the vehicle having usable weapons and acting as a mobile stash, though it is rather buggy.
Shadow of Chernobyl is notably the only game in the original trilogy where the KPVT is seen firing; during the final push to the Chernobyl NPP, there are hostile BTR-70s used by the military who will fire their KPVT machine guns at player. 
==Mosin Nagant M91/30==
A large poster seen at the north Cordon checkpoint and inside the 100 Rads Bar depicts a WW2-era Soviet soldier inspecting the bore of his Mosin Nagant M91/30.
==PKT==
The PKT can be seen as the coaxial armament of BTR-70 APCs found in the Zone.
==Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B==
The Mi-24 gunships which patrol the Zone carry the 12.7x108mm Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B four-barrel Gatling gun.
Category:Video Game
Category:First-Person Shooter
Category:Science-Fiction
Category:Post Apocalyptic
Category:Ukrainian Produced