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

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"S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" is a first-person shooter survival horror game set in an alternate reality. Players take on the role of a mercenary in the Zone, an area containing anomalies and deadly enemies after a second nuclear disaster. The game features open-world exploration, base building, and intense combat, with a focus on survival and tactics. Clear Sky is a prequel to the original game, "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl."

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,432 reviews

story373 positive mentions

stability427 negative mentions

The game features an immersive atmosphere with improved graphics and sound design, enhancing the overall experience.
The introduction of faction warfare and weapon upgrade systems adds depth and replayability to the gameplay.
Despite its flaws, the game provides a unique perspective on the STALKER universe, expanding on the lore and character backstories.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and broken quests, which can hinder the overall experience.
The combat mechanics are frustrating, with poor weapon accuracy and overwhelming grenade spam from enemies, making encounters feel unfair.
The story feels rushed and lacks the depth of its predecessor, with a disappointing ending that fails to provide a satisfying conclusion.

story
1,777 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The story of "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" serves as a prequel to "Shadow of Chernobyl," focusing on the character Scar as he attempts to track down Strelok amidst the chaos of the Zone. While some players appreciate the deeper lore and world-building, many criticize the narrative for being linear, predictable, and riddled with bugs that disrupt mission progression. Overall, the story is seen as less engaging than its predecessor, with a mix of interesting elements overshadowed by technical issues and repetitive quests.
- “The story is explained in more depth, and it's well written.”
- “The addition of territory control and faction missions enriches the gameplay experience by providing a tangible sense of consequence and a living world that reacts to player behavior.”
- “The story is boring.”
- “The story is incredibly linear and the entire game is based around finding Strelok and stopping him from reaching the CNPP.”
- “The story is a big wet flop.”
gameplay
950 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The gameplay of "Clear Sky" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of improved mechanics from its predecessor, "Shadow of Chernobyl," alongside new elements like faction wars and weapon upgrades. While many players appreciate the immersive world and the strategic depth added by faction interactions, the game suffers from significant bugs, frustrating mechanics such as the bleeding system, and inconsistent shooting accuracy, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players find the gameplay engaging and rewarding, especially with the use of mods to enhance the experience.
- “The game expands on its predecessor by exploring the events leading up to the catastrophic situation in the zone, focusing on faction warfare and introducing new gameplay mechanics that deepen player immersion and strategic choice.”
- “The addition of territory control and faction missions enriches the gameplay experience by providing a tangible sense of consequence and a living world that reacts to player behavior.”
- “Clear Sky's gameplay is a delicate balance of survival, exploration, and tactical combat.”
- “The gameplay is absolutely horrendous.”
- “The shooting mechanics are horrible, there are no new weapons added, enemies are bullet sponges on all difficulties, they lob homing grenades at you all the time and you start bleeding from every hit.”
- “The gameplay itself is a worse version of Shadow of Chernobyl with mechanics from Call of Pripyat, with exploration and side content feeling like procedurally generated Ubisoft stuff.”
atmosphere
538 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The atmosphere in "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively capturing the eerie essence of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. While many players appreciate the improved graphics and sound design that enhance the game's ambiance, some feel that the introduction of faction warfare and a more action-oriented focus detracts from the oppressive atmosphere that characterized its predecessor, "Shadow of Chernobyl." Overall, the game maintains a strong atmospheric presence, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to earlier entries in the series.
- “Released in 2008, it invites players back into the haunting and atmospheric world of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, blending first-person shooter mechanics with survival horror and RPG elements.”
- “The atmosphere in Clear Sky is dense and foreboding, with the exclusion zone rendered in a bleak, desolate style that effectively captures the eerie and dangerous nature of the setting.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, almost rivaling the haunting ambiance of Shadow of Chernobyl.”
- “While the original immersed players in a haunting world full of horror and mystery, Clear Sky feels soulless, lacking the intense atmosphere and mutant encounters that defined its predecessor.”
- “There's far too many human beings to consider the zone desolate in this one, far too little mutants and jumpy encounters to consider it survival/horror and both of these combined just rips the atmosphere away from the game.”
- “The atmosphere doesn't feel as oppressive, and there are too many people around, so you don't feel as alone and helpless as in the first game.”
graphics
448 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The graphics in "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" are generally praised as a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Shadow of Chernobyl," showcasing impressive lighting, textures, and atmospheric effects for a game released in 2008. While some players note that the graphics have aged and can feel dated compared to modern titles, many agree that the artistic direction and immersive environment still hold up well, especially when enhanced with community mods. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's bleak and oppressive atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some technical issues.
- “Despite being released over a decade ago, Clear Sky's graphics hold up remarkably well, thanks to its attention to detail and art direction.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere shine, immersing players in a bleak, radioactive world brimming with danger.”
- “The graphics are a big step up compared to Shadow of Chernobyl, it actually looks quite good at times.”
- “The graphics didn't get much of an update.”
- “Graphically they feel dated for the time they came out in.”
- “The graphics seem outdated, but I feel like they add to the rusting, decaying aspect of the zone.”
stability
435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The stability of "Clear Sky" is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly during the endgame and faction war mechanics. Many reviewers recommend using mods, such as the Sky Reclamation Project, to mitigate these issues, as the base game is often described as a "buggy mess" that can lead to frustrating experiences, including game-breaking glitches and crashes. Despite these problems, some players still find enjoyment in the game, highlighting its atmosphere and gameplay mechanics when functioning properly.
- “Game looks great for its age and is mostly bug free.”
- “I had a bug free experience playing with the complete mod.”
- “So far it's been an amazingly good game and almost completely bug free.”
- “The game is extremely buggy and I personally did not care for the gameplay either.”
- “The final mission is an extremely buggy mess where the final boss won't move, takes no damage, or instantly dies for no reason.”
- “This game is a buggy broken mess of a game.”
music
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The music in "Clear Sky" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and the haunting soundtrack that enhances the game's eerie environment. While some players enjoy the dynamic combat music and faction-specific tracks, others find it disruptive and feel it detracts from immersion, particularly when it fails to turn off after battles. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its quality, but opinions vary on its fit within the game's tone and experience.
- “The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the eerie silence of the zone.”
- “The musical score, composed by Mooze, perfectly complements the game's mood, shifting between haunting melodies and adrenaline-pumping tracks during intense moments.”
- “The bandits blissfully unaware listening to their music as you prepare to lob a grenade in there - or the stalkers huddled around a barrel fire singing along to a guitar or joking with each other, it all gives off this amazingly depressive yet immersive feeling of being in a terrible place like the zone, which is one of the reasons I think this game holds up better than others in its genre.”
- “Dynamic music is garbage and doesn't turn off once the fight is over...”
- “I hated the 'matrix'-style early 2000’s music that would play for every firefight you get into.”
- “The music is terrible and often breaks if you turn on the option to make it dynamic for the action bits.”
optimization
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
58%
31%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting numerous bugs, performance drops, and stuttering issues, particularly at launch. While some players have found improvements through mods like the "Stalker Clear Sky Complete" and "Sky Reclamation Project," the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, especially compared to its predecessors. Despite its atmospheric qualities, the game's performance issues can detract from the experience, making it challenging to enjoy without modifications.
- “I recommend installing the Stalker Clear Sky Complete mod because it fixes a lot of bugs and performance is higher in my case.”
- “It is well optimized, I think, and now, in 2023, even older APUs can play it.”
- “I have installed a couple of mods (including the Complete mod and other performance, balance, or bug-fixing mods) because I wanted to have the best experience possible, and I think that it must have worked - it was absolutely amazing.”
- “Oh and it's unoptimized, and that's an understatement.”
- “The optimization for this game is horrible; I can't even run it in DirectX 10 at a playable framerate.”
- “This game is poorly optimized, poor mechanics, and poor story.”
grinding
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
9%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with players often feeling overwhelmed by the need to repeatedly engage in monotonous tasks to progress. Many reviews highlight issues such as limited resources, buggy mechanics, and a lack of meaningful rewards, leading to a gameplay experience that feels like a slog rather than an engaging challenge. Overall, the consensus is that the grinding detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game, making it a chore rather than a rewarding endeavor.
- “I'm a massive hoarder, so don't tell me I wasn't grinding, because damn, I was always teetering around, unable to move with encumbrance to sell my loot.”
- “This game is very tedious in aspects like that, so compared to Stalker: SoC, it does not come close for me. 7.8/10 - very buggy, less fun than the last game, and way more tedious. Also, your guns jam way too much; I don't get people who complain about the easy weapon maintenance in Far Cry 2 when this game exists.”
- “The difficulty of the game revolves around increased damage taken and grenade spam by AI, which makes the endgame especially tedious.”
- “In SoC it was relatively easy, but in Clear Sky you can spend hours grinding for a few thousand rubles, and even then the value of decent gear is more than likely out of your reach.”
humor
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in "Clear Sky" is characterized by a blend of unintentional comedy, quirky NPC interactions, and absurd glitches that create a uniquely entertaining experience. Players find themselves laughing at the game's janky mechanics, bizarre AI behavior, and the darkly humorous situations that arise in its post-apocalyptic setting. While some aspects may frustrate, the overall absurdity and charm of the game's humor make it a memorable part of the experience.
- “It's a world where the unexpected becomes the norm, and where even the most carefully planned strategies can be thwarted by hilarious glitches and bizarre AI decisions.”
- “From witnessing NPCs hilariously glitching through walls to watching mutants engage in slapstick battles with each other, the game is filled with moments that will have you laughing out loud.”
- “The faction wars were interesting as well; it was hilarious to watch as two groups clashed in brutal battle, and I'd just stand off to the side as a neutral observer, maybe chuck a few hand grenades, then loot everyone after all the fighting stopped.”
- “Unfunny and cannot launch the game without using share screen in windowed mode with 640x240 resolution on a problematic PC.”
- “In single player, it has a nice story like all the others, but it's not funny enough compared to Shadow of Chernobyl or Call of Pripyat.”
replayability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its non-linear structure, dynamic faction wars, and the ability to choose different factions, which influence gameplay and story outcomes. While some players noted a lack of variety in enemy encounters, many appreciated the depth provided by weapon modifications and multiple playthrough options, leading to a consensus of high replay value. However, a few reviews mentioned that certain aspects, like bugs and a lackluster finale, could detract from the overall experience.
- “The ability to choose a faction and participate in their conflicts adds depth and replayability.”
- “Clear Sky offers significant replay value thanks to its non-linear structure and multiple endings.”
- “The fact that the faction you choose becomes a major player in the story adds not only an incredible amount of fun roleplaying opportunities but also untold levels of replay value.”
- “Not much replay value.”
- “The replay value is mediocre overall, but for the budget price of 10€ and overall solid quality, I can definitely recommend buying for full price.”
- “The only downside is it doesn't have much replay value.”
monetization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
6%
82%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, which contrasts with many modern titles. However, there are concerns about the game's perceived cash grab nature and limited content, particularly regarding the functionality of certain weapons like pistols and grenade launchers. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of earlier titles, players feel it could benefit from additional content and improvements.
- “I put on a few mods to update the graphics. If only modern games were as good as this: no microtransactions, no loot boxes, just pure amazing gameplay with some of the best atmosphere ever.”
- “One major turn off for me was the pistol aim down sights (ADS) - like seriously, GSC, what was that all about?”
- “It was a last minute cash grab if you ask me, so short and limited.”
- “I saw an article say 'get Stalker 2 for free thanks to AMD' - I knew instantly that was a lie, but it was an actual article from a gaming journal... just advertising AMD hardware coming with a copy of Stalker 2.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and engagement in the storyline, which feels rushed and underdeveloped. While some moments are described as heartwarming, the overall narrative fails to resonate, leading to disappointment among fans of the series. Many express frustration over the game's inability to deliver a compelling emotional experience, overshadowed by gameplay and technical issues.
- “Heartwarming: local mercenary out-eats his 30th arterial bleed and fails to find bandages again.”
- “Certain plot elements felt rushed or underdeveloped, leaving me yearning for a more fleshed-out and emotionally engaging storyline.”
- “Cop retains none of the interesting narrative bits of either SOC/CS, and has an otherwise pretty boring story with great gameplay, quests, and environments.”
- “Tl;dr - mediocre prequel to Shadow of Chernobyl, more bugs, more crashes, same maps, boring story, less endings.”
- “Well... to not make a long and boring story short, I had to reload a lot to get past the first hours.”