PS5

Published on June 18th, 2025 | by Nay Clark

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition (PS5)

Step into a world where bullets are scarce, danger lurks behind every anomaly, and survival depends on your wits as much as your aim. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition is a haunting return to one of gaming’s most atmospheric and unforgiving wastelands. On May 20th, 2025, GSC Game World released S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S; a comprehensive and visually upgraded bundle of three cult classic titles: Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. These games, rooted in an alternate-history take on the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, blend haunting atmosphere, survival mechanics, tactical FPS gameplay, and light RPG elements into a uniquely punishing and immersive experience. With the Enhanced Edition, the trilogy is brought into the modern era through substantial visual improvements, next-gen console optimizations, and broader modding support, making it more accessible and enticing for both returning veterans and new players alike.

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series has always stood apart from other FPS titles, even during its original 2000s-era releases. The games are inspired by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s novel Roadside Picnic and the 1979 film Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky, and that DNA is felt in every eerie corridor, abandoned research facility, and windswept anomaly field. These are not fast-paced shooters or bombastic action romps; they’re methodical, haunting explorations of a corrupted landscape filled with mutants, deadly radiation, and desperate humans all vying to survive or exploit the Zone. The Enhanced Edition retains all of that thematic weight while making the experience far more palatable for modern gamers, though not without a few technical caveats.

The most immediately noticeable improvement is the visual overhaul. The Enhanced Edition introduces global illumination, screen space reflections, dynamic godrays, and new skyboxes, all of which dramatically increase the sense of immersion and realism within the game world. The lighting, especially during sunrise or in the depths of underground labs, contributes enormously to the mood and tension the series is known for. NPCs, weapons, and environments have all been upscaled or rebuilt with higher-resolution textures and more detailed models. Though these enhancements don’t bring the games up to the level of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (released in 2024), they breathe new life into what are otherwise aging games from 2007 to 2009. Cinematics have been re-rendered for modern resolutions, and while they may still feel dated in style and tone, their upgraded quality avoids the jarring drop in fidelity common in other remastered collections.

Console optimization is another welcome addition. The Enhanced Edition supports multiple graphics modes on both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, including 30, 40, 60, and even 120 FPS options, each with its own trade-offs in visual fidelity and performance. That said, the performance isn’t perfect. The 30 and 40 FPS modes suffer from uneven frame pacing, and the 120 FPS mode can feel unstable or inconsistent in heavier environments. This sort of performance variability isn’t uncommon in remastered packages, but given the age of these games and the power of modern hardware, it’s disappointing to still encounter such issues in a rerelease.

Despite these technical hiccups, it’s a delight to revisit these games with a controller. Historically, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was a PC-only franchise, with mouse-and-keyboard precision essential for navigating its unforgiving world. The Enhanced Edition implements a respectable controller scheme, and while it’s not as precise as its PC counterpart, particularly during intense firefights or item management, it’s surprisingly effective once you acclimate. Inventory management, aiming, and movement are all functional and mostly intuitive. Auto-aim is present but finicky, and I found it easier to play when disabled. Still, for a franchise once thought too niche or technical for consoles, this port feels like a significant milestone.

Modding support is also dramatically improved across all platforms, allowing console players to participate in the rich, dedicated fan mod scene that’s kept the PC versions of these games alive for nearly two decades. While mods remain most robust and flexible on PC, this edition includes systems designed to facilitate future mod development and distribution across consoles. It’s not quite Bethesda-tier modding ease, but it’s a huge leap forward for this series and will undoubtedly extend the games’ lifespans even further.

One of the best aspects of the Enhanced Edition is its generous upgrade policy. If you already own S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S, you receive the Enhanced Edition for free. Likewise, if you buy the Enhanced Edition, you’ll also receive the original versions which is a thoughtful gesture for preservationists and modding purists. The trilogy is available as a $40 bundle or $20 per individual title, making it a solid value for dozens of hours of content.

Gameplay-wise, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. loop remains as distinctive and challenging as ever. You’ll explore semi-open world zones, carefully navigating anomalies, environmental hazards that range from whirlwinds to gravity wells, and scavenging for supplies. Your carry weight is limited, your guns degrade, and enemies, both human and mutant, are relentless. Saving often is essential, especially given the lack of modern autosave features. In fact, undoubtedly a fair criticism of the Enhanced Edition is that many of the games’ archaic systems, like manual saving and minimal guidance, have not been modernized. For purists, this is a blessing. For newcomers, it can be frustrating and alienating.

Each game in the trilogy brings its own flavor. Shadow of Chernobyl, the original, is still regarded as the most atmospheric, with a strong narrative and an iconic opening sequence that sets the tone for the entire series. Clear Sky, often seen as the weakest entry, attempted to expand on faction dynamics and introduced more RPG-style progression, though it also introduced significant bugs and balance issues upon original release, many of which are thankfully addressed here. Call of Pripyat, the final entry, is arguably the most polished, with improved systems, better pacing, and a refined version of the series’ blend of survival and shooter mechanics.

Across all three games, sound design remains a highlight, albeit one with mixed execution in this release. The Enhanced Edition has some glaring audio issues: ambient sound levels spike unexpectedly, certain effects (like distant gunfire, crows, or even moments in dialogue) are inexplicably loud, and there are no granular audio sliders to independently adjust dialogue, effects, or music. This can lead to sudden, jarring moments where you’ll scramble for your remote just to avoid blowing out your speakers. It’s a fixable problem in future patches, but it’s disappointing nonetheless, especially given how integral audio is to the oppressive atmosphere of the Zone.

For all its faults, the Enhanced Edition succeeds in rekindling what made S.T.A.L.K.E.R. such a memorable and important franchise. The games are moody, brutal, and unrelenting, but they reward patience and immersion in ways few other series do. There’s no hand-holding. You are a vulnerable scavenger, not a super soldier, and the world is indifferent to your survival. You’ll spend your first hours pumping a half-dozen rounds into a single enemy with a rusted pistol, scrounging for food, or limping to a safe zone with a bleeding status effect while mutants close in. But when you crest a hill and see the setting sun filtering through a rusted industrial skeleton, or when you hear the whisper of wind through the trees right before a blowout storm hits, those moments are irreplaceable. The trilogy’s lack of fast travel, weighty inventory system, and harsh penalties for dying may be too punishing for some players, especially in an era of convenience-first design. But for those craving a throwback to when games challenged you to learn their systems and master them, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition is one of the most rewarding survival FPS experiences available today.

Final Thoughts?

While not flawless, this remastered collection is a loving tribute to a series that helped define atmospheric shooters in the 2000s. Its technical blemishes, especially the inconsistent performance modes, outdated UI quirks, and inconsistent audio, can be grating, and hopefully will be patched in the near future, but underneath those surface issues is a rich, methodical, and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan revisiting the Zone with a controller in hand or a newcomer curious about one of gaming’s most unique cult classics, this is an essential pickup, especially at the fair price point and generous upgrade policy. Just remember: save often, watch your weight, and never trust the quiet in the Zone.

About the Author

Nay Clark Gaming holds a special place in my heart and I never stop talking about video games. I really love all types of games and have an interest in games that have complicated stories and lore because I enjoy untangling the mystery of it all. When I'm not gaming, I unsuccessfully try to control three amazing and incredibly bright kids.

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