"Chernobylite is an excellent RPG held back by edgy writing, excessive profanity and overconfident developers who react unfavourably to negative feedback and criticism"
One recruitable character, Mikhail, openly admits to being a rapist during the recruitment scene, something that is unacceptable in 2023. Rape is not funny, and it should never be used as a joke, especially when Mikhail, for all his faults, is presented as a “loveable jerk.”
I understand the developers may have wanted to create a similar character to Far Cry’s loveable oaf Hurk, but by belittling rape, they show a lack of maturity and sensitivity toward an issue that affects millions of people each year.
I reached out to various members of the development team about this but received no reply.
Chernobylite runs buttery smooth, maintaining a steady 110 fps or more even during combat on max settings at 1080p using an RX 5700 XT. It is likely that 4K at 60 fps is achievable for those with a comparable or better GPU.
Chernobylite is visually stunning, often surprising with just how good the world and its inhabitants look. The lighting effects would not look out of place in a AAA release, setting a new bar for affordable indie titles and giving future competitors something to aspire to.
The setting of Chernobylite requires that most characters wear survival gear, often covering their faces. Despite that, the developers succeeded in making each character memorable through distinctive accessories and personal touches, from flashy capes to shamanic furs. The addition of photorealistic portraits further reinforces each character’s identity.
I did not expect much from Chernobylite in terms of narrative, as smaller studios often struggle in that area. Considering it is a largely Russian-centric story that might not always translate well to Western audiences, the creative team at The Farm 51 has done an exceptional job.
Following Igor as he struggles with the disappearance of his fiancée after the Chornobyl disaster creates a compelling tale of love, loss, and sanity that feels both human and unique.
Chernobylite alternates between excellent dialogue with solid voice acting and weaker scenes with poor delivery. Fortunately, the latter are rare, and most of the voice work is on par with a quality television production.
However, the writing often overuses profanity. Certain characters swear so frequently that it becomes a distraction. While some harsh language makes sense in a world as bleak as Chernobylite’s, the constant cursing sometimes borders on parody.
Excessive profanity aside, the writing handles mature themes well, but a reduction in swearing would make for more believable dialogue overall.
The Farm 51 are obsessed with creepy dolls, many of which were 3D-scanned from toys found in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Their unsettling movements when the lights go out are more frightening than most of the monsters in Chernobylite or even Resident Evil.
Chernobylite allows players to change past decisions and alter the future, an excellent mechanic for correcting early mistakes or reviving fallen allies.
Chernobylite is one of the few games that requires players to maintain both physical and mental health. Cruel actions and harsh conditions can erode sanity, leading to hallucinations and impaired judgment.
The crafting system in Chernobylite is one of the deepest in the survival-horror genre, letting players build weapons, attachments, ammo, armor, medicine, furniture, and machinery for their base. It is robust and satisfying, providing a real sense of progression.
Chernobylite is a role playing game developed by The Farm 51 and published by All In! Games, it released on 28 July 2021, and is available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
The developers of Chernobylite were very transparent during early access, releasing over 80 weekly community updates and maintaining an active presence on Steam. However, the community liaison sometimes became defensive in player interactions, often responding to criticism with “Our way is better.”
While The Farm 51 are talented, transparent, and dedicated, they could improve their communication and humility when engaging with the player base.
Chernobylite supports the following peripherals:
Chernobylite is rated PEGI 18+ and contains:
I like Chernobylite a lot and consider it one of the better RPGs in recent memory, but I cannot look past the developer’s lax attitude toward rape. I do not believe anyone at The Farm 51 condones such behavior, but they seem unaware of the seriousness of the issue. Nearly 100,000 people are affected by rape in the UK each year (source ↪), and making light of it is unacceptable.
If the developers remove the dialogue that trivializes sexual assault and stop presenting a rapist as a “loveable rogue,” I will change my recommendation. Until then, in respect for the millions of people who experience sexual violence worldwide, I cannot recommend it at this time.
For those who wish to play Chernobylite without Mikhail, it is possible to kick him from the party permanently or avoid recruiting him entirely.
We found Chernobylite to be a good game, meaning it is likely to be enjoyable for most players, despite having a few areas that could be improved upon.
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