The finest open-world games often boast an ensemble of intriguing characters, whether it’s the protagonist, the villain, a trusty AI sidekick, or just the everyday NPC handing out quests. “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl” is a perfect example of this, offering up a rich cast of vivid characters, from unlikely heroes and dastardly villains to everyday folks just trying to make it through an unforgiving world.
In the unforgiving Zone of Alienation, encircling the ruined Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, danger is ever-present as mutants roam freely and death waits at every turn. Given this setting, you might expect the characters in “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl” to be grim and somber, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. However, the game is also filled with some truly charismatic, larger-than-life identities, including Strelok, the original protagonist of the franchise, who stands out as one of its most unforgettable figures.
### The Lore Behind STALKER 2’s Strelok Explained
#### Strelok’s First Mission Into The Chornobyl Power Plant
A few years after the fictional second Chornobyl Disaster in 2006, a group of scavengers dared to enter the Zone surrounding the plant. Their goal? To recover potent artifacts and profit from their rare finds. Dubbed “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s,” Strelok emerged as one of the earliest of these adventurers. On one such expedition, he unearthed plans for an underground pathway leading directly to the plant’s heart.
Normally, the Zone’s inner sanctum was off-limits to humans due to the Monolith faction’s formidable Brain Scorcher device. This contraption would seize control of anyone who wandered too near, bending them to the will of the Common Consciousness, a collective of seven scientists who had fused their minds. With these underground blueprints, Strelok assembled a group to outmaneuver the Brain Scorcher.
Together with fellow S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, Fang and Ghost, Strelok managed to reach the Chornobyl Power Plant—an achievement in itself. But their journey hit a snag when they came upon a sealed door requiring a passcode. They managed to escape, but the Common Consciousness unleashed a powerful Emission to thwart them.
The Emission took its toll, severely injuring Strelok, while his team barely managed to pull him from the plant’s clutches. Eventually overwhelmed by Monolith forces, Strelok was loaded onto a Death Truck—a Monolith vehicle meant to carry brainwashed soldiers back into the Zone.
#### Strelok Becomes The “Marked One” In Shadow of Chornobyl
The truck transporting Strelok encountered an Anomaly, leading to his rescue by a passing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Upon waking, Strelok had no recollection of his past or mission, save for a PDA directive that read, “Kill Strelok.” Presuming it to be his purpose, Strelok, now known as the “Marked One,” ventured into the Zone to hunt down Strelok.
Through interactions with Doc, a former teammate, Strelok began piecing together his lost memories. Armed with the knowledge of a decoder capable of unlocking the Power Plant’s sealed door, the Marked One set off to breach it once more.
Strelok fought back against waves of mind-controlled Monolith soldiers, ultimately confronting the C-Consciousness inside Reactor 4’s Sarcophagus. Despite their offer of alliance, he refused, and after a fierce battle, he found himself face-to-face with the seven scientists’ stasis chambers. Strelok chose to destroy the chambers, effectively ending the C-Consciousness.
#### Strelok Helps The Military’s Evacuation of the Zone in Call of Pripyat
In “STALKER: Call of Pripyat,” Strelok takes on a less central role, but his presence is felt in the later stages of the game. After advising the military on how to safely introduce helicopters to the Zone, Strelok assists in evacuating Pripyat. By the game’s conclusion, Strelok transitions to a new role, serving as an advisor to researchers in the Zone.
Overall, “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl” delivers a dynamic tale set in a vividly realized world, populated with a diverse array of characters that bring the game’s harrowing environment to life. Whether forging alliances or battling relentless foes, players will find themselves fully immersed in this gripping narrative adventure.
