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

Stalker: Clear Sky, is the stand-alone prequel for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, a first-person shooter computer game by Ukraine|Ukrainian developer GSC Game World. The game consists of a roughly 50/50 mix of new areas and old, remodeled areas from the previous game. The X-ray game engine|graphics engine has been updated to version 1.5 and includes DirectX 10 support (later patch 1.5.06 included DirectX 10.1). Additionally, the artificial intelligence|AI received an overhaul to accommodate the new faction wars feature.

Plot

Clear Sky is a prequel to the events in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.:_Shadow_of_Chernobyl.

The player assumes the role of Scar, a veteran Stalker mercenary who was injured by an energy emission while guiding a group of scientists through the Zone. Scar, the lone and somehow lucky survivor, is rescued by Clear Sky, a secret and independent Zone faction dedicated to researching and understanding the Zone in order for humanity to better understand what kind of phenomena it is facing. After attempting to help a patrol at an outpost in the swamps, a second emission occurs. Scar is the only one to survive it. The leader of Clear Sky, Lebedev, is amazed by Scar surviving and therorizes that the Zone is being disrupted by a dramatic increase in energy emissions, emanating from the Chernobyl power plant in the center of the Zone. Human activity is believed to be the cause. In other words, the emissions are part of an "immune response" the zone has. Someone has made it to the center of the zone and the zone itself is trying to consume that person in order to preserve its secrets. Besides endangering all the Stalkers in the Zone, the emissions are also interacting with Scar's body and immune system in a unique way that will eventually kill him if they continue. If it continues, the zone could eventually become highly unstable and run out of control.

Scar is tasked with finding information about any activity regarding Stalkers trying to reach the center of the zone. The first clue is that a suspicious group was found talking to a trader named Sidorovich in the Cordon, the southern boundary of the zone. After helping Clear Sky forces regain control of the swamps, Scar makes his own way to the Cordon, where he is contacted by Sidorovich. Narrowly escaping the Military outpost next to his entry point, Scar meets Sidorovich, who discusses what is happening in the Cordon. Certain events have caused Loners and Military to turn on one another. The result makes a case of loot that the Loners are delivering Sidorovich go missing. If Scar finds the case, Sidorovich will be able to shed some information. To do this, Scar works with Loners by getting the captured commander, Kheletsky, to crack the location. After eliminating key forces who would try to rescue him, the location is revealed and Scar finds the case, returning it to Sidorovich.

Sidorovich, now satisfied, confesses. He explains that the group that visited him were looking for some exotic parts. He directed them to the Garbage, where piles of old relics and unwanted objects are left lying around for looting. One of the member's name was Fang. Scar heads to the Garbage to try and find Fang, but only stumbles along a PDA that belongs to a group that Fang and his friends went to meet. After saving the messenger of the group, it is found Fang went into the Dark Valley. Scar heads to the Dark Valley to find the Freedom faction, trying to control the area from mysterious attacks and losses of numbers of comrades. Not only are bandits found being used as a smokescreen, but mercenaries sent upon Freedom by a renegade commander are behind the job. Scar helps Freedom deal with the mercenaries and the commander in order to retrieve more information. Fang returned to the Garbage shortly after visiting the Dark Valley from searching for more materials. Scar heads back and heads for the Flea Market, owned by Loners.

When he reaches the basement of the Flea Market, he is ambushed and is rendered unconscious by bandits. The bandits had laid the trap for Fang, but caught Scar instead. They take his equipment and run, leaving Scar unharmed. Lebedev wakes Scar and tells him Fang's PDA is nearby. Upon discovering it, the factions identity is revealed. The Strelok Faction, a small group of elite Stalkers, are attempting to penetrate the center of the Zone. According to the log, they have done it once before and are now going to do it again by force. Lebedev confirms that they are the ones the zone is trying to destroy, but its not clear how they got past the Brain Scorcher or why exactly they are doing this. Upon finding that they went towards Agroprom institute, Scar is tasked to pursue the team by any means possible. Before that, Scar will need to recover his equipment from the bandits who stole it.

He travels to Agroprom Institute, which is in the hands of Duty, the rival of Freedom. If Scar allies with Freedom, he will find it harder to complete the next stage. The zone is being overwhelmed by very dangerous mutants and the commander of Duty is hard pressed trying to remove them. When it is found that Strelok went to the underground, Scar volunteers to head into there to rout out the mutants as a way to return the favour of information being spilled. Battling through mutants and bandits, he discovers another PDA which confirms the groups intentions of reaching the Wish Granter and the power plant. Their intentions clear, Lebedov gives Scar the undeniably difficult task of killing Strelok before he reaches the center. While Scar pursues him, Clear Sky will ambush and stop the others. After escaping the underground, Scar must head north, knowing there will be many places to get through in order to reach the NPP.

He now reaches Yantar, a Loner dominant zone. The factory near the science bunker is swarming with hordes of zombies, ordinary people whose brains have melted due to a powerful psi field there. Professor Sakharov, who is operating in the area tells Scar the faction did pass through here, notably the leader, Strelok, who volunteered to test a prototype device In return, Strelok wished to keep the device. The device itself would allow the user to completely resist and block psi emission effects, like the Brain Scorcher. To better understand this, Scar finds notes of a group of dead stalkers, who were moments ago alive, near the plant that discusses the effects of the psi-field and explains why the local emissions are happening. In order to proceed, the faulty cooling system of the psi-emitter beneath the factory must be repaired so that the psy emissions cease. Scar teams up with a Loner named Lefty and his crew who restart the coolant pumps inside the factory. Without the emissions, there should be no more zombie problems. Professor Sakharov thanks Scar for his aid before informing him that a signal from the prototype device is being detected. According to the signal, Strelok is in the Red Forest. Scar quickly proceeds forward.

Strelok is directly in plain sight. Lebedev hurries Scar to stop Strelok, who responds with death threats if the pursuit did not cease. After chasing him to a motorized bridge, an ambush springs from hired Loners and Scar must fend it off. Strelok takes advantage of this and is the sole escapee, blowing up a tunnel behind him. He assures Scar that it is no longer possible to follow him. He clearly states that he will reach the center whatever it takes. Lebedev makes contact. The tunnel was the quickest way to the plant, which is through the Brain Scorcher. Lebedev tries to think of a way over the other side of the bridge, which is raised, over highly radioactive water and controlled by bandits. The bridge is now the only viable means to the center, through a town called Limansk. Scar is directed to an old Forester in the Red forest, protected by Duty, who may know a way. Forester is regared as a well-known guide in these parts. Upon meeting Scar who navigates the forest, he tells Scar knows of a way. A group of Stalkers and Mercenaries, guided by a man called Leshiy, was attempting to reach the other side but ended up in a spatial anomaly, effectively trapped somewhere nearby Limansk. They are unable to escape, as any attempts only brings them back at the start. First, Scar visits a group of Mercenaries at the ravaged Military warehouses, who reported some radio transmissions appearing near a tower. When Scar arrives, he hears what is happening to the trapped group in the Spatial Anomaly. He then helps in recovering a unique artifact for Forester which enables him to navigate the zone. Forester believes it could to used to help guide the team out of the anomaly. One thing remains.

Scar is directed back to the Military warehouses, where he reunites with the mercenary friends of Leshy. They know of a military radio transmitter which is powerful enough to transmit the needed coordinates to Leshy's team. Unfortunately, it is guarded at a base by what is believed to be the last of the Military. The leader pairs Scar up with a small band of Freedom soldiers, who are making a raid at the same place. After fighting heavy resistance at the base, Scar powers up the transmitter and waits as Leshy and his team is freed. They are now on the other side of the bridge. Lebedev acts on this action. Convincing Leshy and his team to aid Clear Sky in reaching the other side, a large contingent of Clear Sky soldiers head to the bridge, awaiting Scar's arrival so they can make a push. When he does get there, he assists Lebedv and the Clear Sky forces to provide cover from bandits for Leshy's team while they lower the bridge. Afterwards, there are many thanks all around and the path is clear. Scar moves out with the first advance team heading into Limansk.

The pressure is on at this stage. Limansk has been turned into a street war between bandits, remaining Military forces and, if Scar did not encounter them in the Military Warehouses, the Monolith faction. Clear Sky helps Scar push through the war-torn, having to face many problems. From clearing out a machinegun nest, Scar has to survive Monolith ambushes until one particular ambush where he ventures alone through a multi-story building being heavily entrenched by Monolith. After making it out, he helps cut power to electrical fences blocking the way out of Limansk. After he has made it through, the only thing that's left is the underground past an abandoned hospital. Another advance team is pinned down by Monolith, who are swarming in the hospital. Scar and Clear Sky forces work together to make a push through the hospital so they can get to the NPP, on the other side. There is harsh resistance, but Scar pulls through. But during the process, a Mi-24 Hind controlled by the Military appears. It opens fire on everyone in the Hospital, including Scar. Scar defeats the helicopter alone while the team catches. As they reach the tunnels, the team stays behind, giving Scar a windown to reach the NPP.

The final battle is at hand. Strelok is within the vicinity, defending himself from both Monolith, Clear Sky and surprisingly Duty, who also took up arms to fight. Lebedev thanks Scar for helping them reach the center and now needs his help to settle the score once and for all. Given a prototype Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Gauss Rifle, Scar must use it to disrupt the psy-blocker device on Strelok. Without the aid of the device, Strelok will not last much longer from the psi emissions. The activity in the zone is also believed to stabalise after Strelok is defeated. Fighting his way through Monolith, Scar uses the Gauss rifle to disrupt the device which he succeeds in doing. Strelok is defeated and readings are taken to see if the stabilising is beginning. But suddenly, an unexpected and massive emission occurs, reaching levels beyond the norm. Everyone within radius of the plant, Duty, Clear Sky or otherwise are hit and begins succumbing to the effects of the emission. During the Outro, they can be seen shaking unnaturally, crowded in the corridors where brief and blurry black and white images on screens flash in their faces. These signs indicate that those whose lives weren't taken from the blast end up with a worse fate. They would seem to be in the process of being brainwashed to become part of the Monolith forces, or, like Strelok, become unwitting agents of the C-Consciousness.

From there, it is obvious that the Shadow of Chernobyl version of the zone unfolds and the story continues as seen in Strelok's eyes in Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl.

Gameplay

This game combines elements of survival horror (ammo scavenging, frightening atmosphere with powerful monsters), first-person shooters ("twitch-based" aiming, i.e. no leveling system or "skillsets"), and role-playing games|RPGs (inventory management, quests, character interaction, armors and defense stats).

The most significant gameplay addition since Shadow of Chernobyl is the faction wars system. Different factions will struggle for territory, attacking to gain territory and then defending to keep it, while others then try to retake it. The player will be able to join and help factions in their battles. The stronger a faction becomes, the better equipment the traders can provide and their soldiers can use. The player character is a mercenary and may do missions for any faction, or remain completely neutral, without consequence. Each of the main factions provide services, most importantly access to a trader and an engineer. Some factions, such as the military, cannot be joined.

While Scar is always aligned with Clear Sky, and his ultimate goal is to defeat the Strelok Faction, he can fight against or ally with the four other factions in the Zone (Loners, Duty, Freedom and Bandits). The Swamp-dwelling Renegade or the Military factions cannot be joined.

Other gameplay advancements since the first game include a deepened weapon customization system with the ability to repair damaged gear. Anomalies are harder to notice and now contain the artifacts in the game, which require a detector to locate. NPCs are given the ability to use hand grenades, take cover dynamically and use "blind-fire" techniques. Light machine guns have been introduced. There are NPC guides in the zone that will provide fast-travel for a fee.

Factions

Army - The Ukrainian armed forces, in the zone to prevent any stalker-activities, hostile to all.

Clear Sky - Trying to understand the zone and learn about it. The first Faction the player encounters in the game.

Renegade - Bandits at war with Clear Sky.

Loners - Your average stalkers trying to live in the zone.

Bandits - At war with the Stalkers and considered hostile to Duty.

Duty - A para-military group trying to "kill" the Zone, and stop it from spreading. Considers the Zone evil and alive.

Freedom - A faction of people trying to make the zone available for everyone, so that mankind can understand this wonder. At war with Duty.

Mercenaries - Carry out different tasks for money, basically for anyone.

Monolith - A faction that has religious interests of the zone, hostile to all.

Military - Loners hired by the Army, hostile to all, and will shoot everyone in their sights.

Weapons

Pistols, Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, all included in the game. For a list: (Weapons)

X-Ray 1.5 Engine

Advancements made in 1.5 include Volumetric lighting|volumetric light (a.k.a. 'Crepuscular rays|God-rays'), volumetric smoke, volumetric fire, soft water, dynamic wet surfaces (with water streaming down the sides of surfaces), depth-of-field blur, DirectX 10 support, SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) and more. However, the game will maintain the same minimum system requirements as Shadow of Chernobyl, and is scalable enough to run on outdated DirectX 8 hardware.

Version 1.5.03 of the game supports Multisample anti-aliasing|MSAA for DirectX 10, while version 1.5.06 adds support for DirectX 10.1.

Reception

Reception for Clear Sky has been generally positive. PC Zone UK and Games Master UK have both given Clear Sky a score of 88 out of 100, while Edge Magazine gave 7/10 saying the game "turns the best and worst of PC gaming into something extraordinary". GamesTM gave the game 90/100 saying "Clear Sky chiefly succeeds because it transforms grim fantasy into a startlingly real-world experience". PCGamer UK however, awarded the game 68% saying it is "The disappointment of the year", particularly criticizing the increased difficulty and that the atmosphere of the zone was not as well delivered as the original.

X-play's review was generally unfavorable at 60%, citing boring environments, glitches, and antiquated gameplay. GameSpot gave it 7.0/10 due the glitches, and hoping the patches will fix some major things. In GameSpot's "Best of 2008" the game was nominated in just one category, in "Best atmosphere" but it lost to Dead Space (video game).

Bug Reports

Clear Sky was released upon the 22nd August 2008 in Russia, with a patch being available at release (Patch (computing)|Patch version 1.5.03 for the International version, said to be identical to the Russian version 1.01 patch). It was soon after reported, on the GSC-gaming official forum among other places, that both the unpatched and patched Russian version suffered from severe stability issues. These included Crashes to Desktop (CtD), BSOD|Blue Screens of Death (BSOD), bugs that made the game unplayable and a general poor performance of the game even on high end systems. These reports were not unanimous however, and several other members of the boards reported that they had few or no issues with stability, even if bugs in-game remained prevalent. Though these were suspect, given the change logs from GSC that have accompanied subsequent patches identify many script errors being fixed. These script errors always result in a CtD, which the forums were consistently reporting.

On September 5th 2008 the game was officially released in the rest of the world, except in North America and on various online distributors. Reports of poor performance are still prevalent around the official forum and some of the fansites. Since then the game has been patched several times and the latest is now currently 1.5.08, fixing most of the gamebreaking bugs that were present upon release. However some players are continuing to report severe bugs with the game, including severe graphical issues that were not present in 1.5.04. One of the new now potentially game-breaking gameplay bugs is the crash to desktop that happens when attempting to talk to wounded characters.

Some players reported problems with game's StarForce and Tagès copy protection that prevented game from starting even when the original DVD was inserted.

Limited Editions

Separate limited edition versions of the game were released in conjunction with the standard version.

The Russian limited edition is presented in a larger box and contains the game disc, a bonus disc, two kerchiefs, an A2-sized map of the Zone, several patches with logos of the game's factions, a dog tag, a custom lighter and a little white ball called "The Clear Sky Artifact".

The second limited edition, released in the rest of the world, is presented in a metal box and also contains a bonus disc filled with extras (such as bonus artwork, screen savers, making of videos and the soundtrack) and the A2-sized map of the Zone.

Polish limited edition, presented in medkit-like bag with game's logo contains game disc, soundtrack, patch with logo of one the game's factions, stickers with logos, small map of the Zone, t-shirt with game's logo on chest and inscription "Сделано в Чернобыле" ("Made in Chernobyl") on back.

Digital Rights Management

Stalker: Clear Sky uses the digital rights management (DRM) software Tagès as copy prevention. Some versions can only be installed on a limited number of machines (5) .

Many people are also experiencing issues registering the game at all. Tagés offers two ways of registering the product, an Automatic Mode, which automatically communicates with the Verification Server, and a Manual Mode, where one can access a code via a web browser.

External links

• Stalker: Clear Sky official site
• Stalker: Clear Sky Deep Silver site with international patch downloads