STALKER PC Game is the entire game gloomy and dark?

[Luthien]

So, I bought the stalker pc game and have everything on the best graphic and really high resolution and man is the game dark and gloomy. Before I get into the game I would like to know if the entire game is gloomy like that. I mean the visuals in games like Half Life and FEAR and even DOOM are much nicer looking. It seems really hard to see in Stalker.

So, if the entire game is like that or most of it I don't think I want to play it. I just don't like the ambiance.