Ever hear of the Brain Scorcher? That thing spells real trouble. You can't see it, you can't touch it and you sure as hell can't kill it, while it has no problem doing its nasty business on you.
― Random dialogue
The Brain Scorcher is a major location in the Red Forest in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. It is also mentioned in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
History[]
While superficially appearing as a massive radar installation, the Scorcher was from the beginning, created as a massive mind-altering antenna, designed to suppress aggression (codenamed Rainbow). Its design was created in Lab X-8, in Pripyat[1].
After the Soviet Union's dissolution, the Group continued the research started in Lab X-8 and adapted the installation at the Scorcher, most importantly, Lab X-10 located in an old bunker underneath the facility. A total of five antennas were constructed, although by 2012, one antenna has sustained extensive damage of unknown origin, rendering it non-functional.
When the Zone was created, the Scorcher was activated by the Common Consciousness in order to obstruct the way into the center of the Zone. The psi-emissions generated by the installation were effective at mind controlling trespassers and subjecting them to the will of the collective, creating mindless zombified stalkers out of some and raw recruits for the Monolith faction out of others.
While the majority of stalkers who came too close to the Brain Scorcher became zombies, Strelok's Group were able to slip past the Brain Scorcher, most likely with the help of Guide and reach the center of the Zone. The path to the Brain Scorcher and the installation itself is heavily guarded by a large number of Monolith soldiers.
Appearances[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
The Brain Scorcher is the target of most of the main storyline, which requires the player to shut it down in order to allow passage towards the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. After gathering documents from Lab X-18 and Lab X-16, the Marked One is instructed by Barkeep to turn it off, using the Psi-helmet acquired from Sakharov. The Brain Scorcher is located at the heart of a facility found in the northwestern corner of the level.
Members of the Monolith faction are deployed on all of the roads in the Red Forest, leading up to the Brain Scorcher and Pripyat. Alternatively, instead of the direct route via the road, one can also take the forest route, but it is filled with pockets of radiation and anomalies. Dangerous mutants and Zombified Stalkers also inhabit the area, making this area hazardous to travel through. While in the vicinity of the Scorcher, the player will be constantly "attacked" by apparitions, until the antennas have been shut down.
The entrance to the lab is hidden in a railroad tunnel, in a very large and well defended base. The external base has only two entrances; the road to the main entrance is guarded by a Monolith sniper. The other entrance is a blown out wall surrounded by radiation levels that are off the charts. Both entrances are guarded, and all areas around the base are monitored by snipers.
After the Brain Scorcher is turned off, the facility is assaulted by the Military, which will engage the remaining Monolith guards at the site. In addition, Loners will spawn on the road to the Scorcher.
Clear Sky[]
The Brain Scorcher is mentioned several times in dialogue in Clear Sky. Its effects can be felt if the player travels through the Barrier towards what used to be the passage to the Red Forest in Shadow of Chernobyl, where they will start taking heavy psychic damage.
Call of Pripyat[]
A small replica of the Brain Scorcher can be found inside Lab X-8. Images of the Brain Scorcher can also be seen in the introduction and ending slides.
Loot[]
The caravans within the facility hold multiple items: one near the railroad holds two Monolith suits, another near the campfire to the southeast holds a Guardian of Freedom suit. The house in the facility contains some 9x39mm SP-5 and 5.45x39mm BP ammunition.
The following stashes can be found in this location:
Gallery[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
Call of Pripyat[]
Trivia[]
- The giant antenna structure for the Brain Scorcher was inspired by the Russian Woodpecker, a former Soviet military over-the-horizon radar system designated Duga-1 (NATO reporting name 'Steel Yard'). The facility was part of the Soviet ABM early-warning network and consisted of a gigantic radar array as well as a large nuclear bunker reaching several levels below ground. In addition to the rumor, caused by the secrecy around the facility, that the facility was the real cause of the Chernobyl disaster, the BBC documentary The Mysterious Mr. Tesla speculated that the Duga-1 installation could in fact be a Soviet mind-control transmitter, imposing on people's ability to think rationally and stay calm.
- The Brain Scorcher ambience sounds are reused in the hallways of the Chernobyl NPP in Shadow of Chernobyl[2].
- A Monolith sniper is located at the top of the southernmost antenna. His weapon is very difficult to acquire in good condition, let alone acquiring it alone. In the unpatched versions of the game, he carries a Gauss rifle.
References[]
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