Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, or CNPP, is a real-life location as well as a plot-making location featured in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky.

History

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is where it all started. On the 26th of April 1986, a reactor meltdown led to radioactive elements from the exposed reactor core irradiating and rendering hazardous a 30 km-wide area now known as the Zone of Alienation. Following the incident, the Zone was evacuated and the disaster reactor was sealed in a concrete Sarcophagus.

Stuff of legends

In the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, the NPP is a place of myth and is believed to be the very heart of The Zone. Following the second incident in 2006 and the emergence of The Zone as seen in the games, the power plant became inaccessible. Almost impassable obstacles such as the Brain Scorcher or the Monolith faction combined with the vivid imaginations of prospecting Stalkers caused wild rumors to begin spreading about what one might find in the Chernobyl NPP. The most well known tale is that of the Wish Granter, a monolithic crystal of unknown origin that makes one's wishes come true. Other rumors surrounding the NPP involve extra-terrestrials, treasure troves of artifacts, the Oasis and other folklore.

Facts

Chernobyl 2 — Outside of the NPP, near the exit from the Secret Lab

Through the storyline of the games, it is eventually revealed that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is the base of operations for the enigmatic C-Consciousness, a Soviet experiment in merging human minds in order to try and affect the Noosphere. The NPP was specifically chosen for the experiment because of its remote location. The Wish Granter is nothing but a fly-trap for these few who make it into the center of the Zone, either killing them or brainwashing them into members of the Monolith, and the Brain Scorcher is a man-made experimental Kaymanov emitter and main defense of C-Consciousness against the flow of Stalkers. The Emissions are explained to be a defensive mechanism of The Zone itself against intrusions.

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Front

The player will arrive at the NPP to find it a place of heavy combat between the Monolith and the Military. Gunships, snipers, APCs and regular soldiers on both sides will attack the player and once one makes it far enough into the area, a timer will start for an approaching emission. If the player does not make it inside within the time limit, the emission will quickly overwhelm even the most well equipped Stalker.

Inside

Inside of the NPP is a brutal close quarters combat against Monolith's finest with the Monolith itself constantly calling for the player to claim it. As if that wasn't enough the entire area is radioactive, so the player needs to strike a balance between a good combat and a good "environment" suit. The destroyed Reactor #4 where Monolith is located is especially deadly.

Outside

If the player found the decoder in Pripyat and used it to confront C-Consciousness - and declined the offer to join them - he will have to fight his way out of the NPP, with various parts of it connected by teleporters. It's a gauntlet section where Monolith will relentlessly attack the player with snipers, regular soldiers and Exoskeleton equipped Masters.

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

Upon leaving Limansk the player will arrive outside of the CNPP, with fighting between Clear Sky and Monolith forces already underway. After a short conversation with Lebedev the player is given a prototype EM1 Rifle, and tasked with disabling Strelok's psi-protection field. The player must quickly incapacitate Strelok, while fighting through groups of teleporting monolithians. This must be done quickly, as Strelok will escape into the power plant if too much time is taken. After all is said and done, the player resumes at ground level, outside, with the entire area empty, except for Scar.

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

Contents