Desert Stalker is awesome game. Everything is on the highest level of quality. I have played a lot of adult games (and I mean it... I can name at least 20 which are in progress of development and I follow them for new updates... besides these, I actualy played more then 100 and tryed or considered at least 5 times more... yes, I like adult games) and I must say that this one is on entire new level. For me playing this game was such a great experience that it sets my own standarts at completely new heights, because if this games deserves 5 stars, than every other adult game I played before will have to move to 4 or even 3 stars rating.
Now allow me to explain why I think so and what you can find in this piece of art.
1. First of all it is story.
Very deep and carefully created world and by this I want to say that author have put a lot of work and thought into creation of the world in which story of the game takes place. You can see it in every part of the story as everything here is logical. Author thought through all the laws, morality and entire society of the world, and not only for a small part of it at which story takes place, but even outside.
Library actualy helps a lot in undarstanding how things work in the society around main character.
Puting postapocaliptic seting into Egypt was also unexpectadly great idea, it suits very well.
Also player is never left with too many questions wondering "what is all this about" even when author tryes to keep something as secret temporarily, there are always some explanation in one or other form. It is a huge plus, not many authors are capable of doing this.
Language and style which are used to write the story are very rare for adult games. You feel like you are reading an actual book. Here I will also include another one thing which made me happy - obscene lexic is used very rarely and only in situations where it is needed or where it suits the scenary. Usualy in adult games there is too much of obscene lexic and I do not like this, but author of this game did good work by avoiding it as much as possible.
As for the story itself, it is awesome. At some point you go so deep into events that you do not care about adult content anymore and this is what turns a "just good" adult game into an "awesome" game where adult content is a logical part of the story and not it purpose.
All the characters in the game have their own soul and this says everything about this. There are no characters without individuality, they are all Persons with their past and expiriences. They all have their own style and the way of thinking.
There are no situations without logic (the big problem of many adult games). All characters act and react in right way, matching their storyes, goals and nature. There is logic even in actions of characters who seems psychopathic or maniac.
2. Image.
You know all these games with realistic 3D where characters are looking weird or even ugly, with expressions from horror movies? Well, I do not know what programms are used to create this, but I can tell that the same programs were used for this game. But you know what? I never saw such a great realistic 3D in adult games before. Characters are alive, but they are also pretty or even beautyful (haha, it isnt about decayed by the way), they look like normal humans with normal face expressions. You actualy like what you see.
There was a lot of work done about the scens as well. Background is always full of many different objects and other "random" people. Everything looks natural, not like in a huge ammount of other adult games, where most of objects are looking like they were just croped from other images and placed randomly in the background without any editing making scenes unrealistic. But not only this. There are a lot of places in this game which have just stuning views which you could take and use as a background for your device, so cool these views are.
Ofcourse I cant ignore sex scenes in my review as well and I must say that this VN have the best sex scenes out of all adult games I have played. Not only they are made in the way so you can literaly feel every part of the scene (like when MC is groping girl's breast you can literaly feel it softness), but also I can say that author have a very good imagination using a great variety of poses and acts (no more of the one and same poses and acts with only difference in locations or situations).
3. Music, Sounds and Atmosphere.
What can I say here... just perfect. Music is good and it always matches the places and events, creating the perfect atmosphere to expirience scenes and events to the fullest.
There is a lot of serious and tragic situations with right dark and depressing atmosphere, but there are also peaceful and wholesome events with matching light and calm atmosphere.
4. Gameplay.
It is classic VN with a huge ammount of decisions and options for you to act in the way you want to, not in the way you are forced to. You must pay attention to every dialog and replyes you give, they may have a dramatic effect towards future events. Your decisions matter, that it.
Some parts of "free exploration" is included too, but I wish there could be more of this. I gues some ammount of light grind (exploring ruins or going through repeatable events) could make this game even better. The rewards could be used to expand your house or strenghtening it defense. No, seriously, MC's house could use some work and upgrades. It is literaly a house out in the open, far from city and without any protection what could make it a target for anyone who is interested in free goods and womens, like raiders or decayed. Anyone could come and take whatever he wants as even gates are made of wood and look like they can be broken easely. Ofcourse the fact that this house belongs to Stalker is a protection itself, but there always could be some people who just doesnt care. I think some improvement here are neccesary and this could be done by inventing a money grinding system (not too hard or challenging, maybe without a need to grind too much, but still...) with home upgrades options.
5. Main Character.
He is cool. He is brutal (no, he is not a gigachad bodybuilder, but still when you look at him you undarstand that this cant be underastimated). He is confident and mature. He knows his way with sword. But not only this. He have a lot of knowledge about different things and he is intelligent. He can solve problems using different actions. If it fight - he can fight and will not hesitate to kill his enemy. If it is a dialog - he knows his way with words and can solve problems diplomaticaly. Yes, this is the kind of MC whose role you will enjoy. This is what 90 percent of adult games lacks. Aaaaand, no, MC is not overpowered. He is just a normal human who is not afraid of problems or awkward situations and who is intelligent enough to not look like a dumb monkey with muscles, who thinks only with his dick.
Yes, I have written a lot as I had a lot of things to mention, but if you want me to describe this game with one word, then is will be "Perfect". This game deserves every star in the 5 star rating I gave it.
If you are reading this review and consider trying this game, then I would definetely recommend to do it. I think everyone will find something here to enjoy. But remember one thing - this is not your usual adult game "about sex". It is a game with awesome and deep story, which I would recommend to take seriously from the very begining.
P.S. Thank you developer for creating this piece of art. Im definetely your fan now. Also special thanks for creating such character like Ivy, she is my favorite one here. Dont get me wrong, I like all the characters in this game (even Queen have here specific charm), but Ivy/Yuna is definetely special one.
P.P.S. Sorry for my English. I know it is very far from perfect, but I did my best to explain my thoughts about "Desert Stalker".
