S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky

MrQ

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Apr 29, 2008
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Hey,

I just recently purchased this game due to the great gameplay in STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl (A 20 bucks its a steal and a great game). Unfortunately a few gameplay elements and bugs have really...no, not floored, but rather disappointed, me. Don't get me wrong, it is a good game, but not like its predecessor.

But first an overview:

"S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is set in 2011, one year prior to the events of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game.


A group of stalkers, for the first time, reaches the very heart of the Zone-the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant-and triggers a cataclysm on the brink of a catastrophe. An immense blast of anomalous energy transforms the Zone: the once reliable and relatively safe roads are no longer so, the landscape is wiped clean by outbursts of anomalies, and previously unknown areas appear on the Zone map. Stalkers and expeditions perish or end up isolated within the lost territories.

With the anomalous activity at its maximum, the unstable Zone continues to tremor with outbursts. The transformation of the Zone map destabilizes the fragile balance of forces in the Zone. Hostilities for the new territories, artifact fields and spheres of influence flare up among groups. There are no more old enemies or friends - now, everyone watches out only for themselves. The Factions War has begun.

The protagonist is a mercenary who appeared at the edge of the opposition between stalker factions, Strelok and even the Zone itself. The main character experiences the key role in the events that led to the creation of the Zone right up to the point from which the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game begins.

What new challenges await stalkers within the depths of the new zone? Why do anomalous outbursts continue to rattle the Zone, and what can be done to stop them? Which faction will take the upper hand in the Factions War? These and many other questions will be answered in the official prequel - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky."


Well, now brought up to speed, I can finally try and present the pros and cons of this game.

Pros-
  • Beautiful graphics engine, great details.
  • New Weapon models
  • You can now upgrade weapons and armor
  • NPC interactions are more life-like
  • Weapon animations are much better

Cons-
  • Buggy like heck
  • Player's energy drains a lot faster in this prequel than in SoC
  • When player bleeds, bandages are required 9 out of 10 times to stop you from dying; medkits only add life not stop bleeding.
  • Gameplay is tougher
  • NPC talk is full of foul language. Repetitive and annoying after a while.
  • The storyline lacks depth. You still have to get to the center of the Zone. Hohumm...
  • Clear Sky reuses about 90% of the gameplay levels in SoC
Look into it yes, but don't buy it till the bugs are worked out AND definitely not when it still costs 40 bucks.

My 2 cents
 
I got it, and its full of language on NPC in some parts, graphics are great, but the tornado in the beginning was really harsh, and I didn't knew I had a bolt to begin with... (I never played ANY! stalker game D: ).
 
STALKER:SoC is still a pretty buggy game, don't expect CSG to get around to fixing the bugs for CS anytime soon. You're better off hoping a mod will fix them, honestly.

Haven't played CS yet though. Does anything beyond static lighting still hurt the framerate a lot or did they optimize it to work better in CS?
 
I agree with everything you stated. The entire time in the game I was either having the scares/time of my life or I was ripping my hair out due to the bugs and it being WAY too tough.
 
i really enjoy clear sky. I have beaten it and am doing so again. My only problem is my video card. I have an msi gts8800 640mb OC'd but its still nowhere near enough. I need a second one or a 4870X2!argh

With the 1.5.05 patch installed it works alright.

good game, could be a lot less buggy though

-Blue Stealth
 

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