S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Review (Maneki)
Clear Sky is the middle child of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy. It's the one that tried some new things, some of which worked, some of which... didn't, and all of which are covered in a thick layer of jank. You play as Scar, a mercenary with a mysterious ability to survive anomalies that would turn a lesser man into a fine, irradiated mist.
It is a prequel, meaning it takes place before Shadow of Chernobyl. Think of it as the "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." equivalent of Solo: A Star Wars Story, but with more radiation and less Han Solo. It attempts to expand on the world established in the first game, and it does so in some... interesting ways.
What Clear Sky Tried to Improve (and Sometimes Did):
Faction Wars: Clear Sky introduced large-scale faction wars, where different groups of Stalkers battled for territory. This could have been epic. In practice, it often devolved into you running back and forth between capture points, wondering why your allies were all standing around a campfire instead of, you know, fighting. When it worked, it was chaotic and thrilling. When it didn't... well, at least the scenery was pretty.
Weapon Upgrades: Remember how in Shadow of Chernobyl, your guns degraded faster than a politician's promises? Clear Sky let you upgrade them! This was a genuinely good addition, allowing you to customize your boomsticks and keep them in (somewhat) reliable condition. Finally, a reason to visit those shady mechanics besides buying more vodka and medkits.
Graphics: Clear Sky is arguably the prettiest of the original trilogy. The Zone looks even more hauntingly beautiful, with improved lighting, textures, and particle effects. It's like they took the already stunning environments of Shadow of Chernobyl and gave them a makeover... with a generous application of post-Soviet grit.
What Clear Sky... Didn't Quite Improve:
The Bugs: Clear Sky launched with a reputation for being even buggier than its predecessor, which is a bit like saying a black hole is "a bit dark." Crashes, broken quests, AI that would spontaneously decide to stop working – it was a wild ride. Patches helped, but Clear Sky will forever be known as the janky one.
The Difficulty Curve: Clear Sky's difficulty curve is less of a curve and more of a vertical cliff face. You go from "exploring spooky ruins" to "being swarmed by an army of heavily armed bandits who apparently have aimbot installed in their eyeballs" in about five minutes. Prepare to die. A lot.
The Story: While Clear Sky's story attempts to be more coherent than Shadow of Chernobyl's amnesiac adventure, it's... less memorable. It's there, it involves factions and a mysterious artifact, but it lacks the same haunting, personal touch of its predecessor. It's like the story is wearing a slightly less interesting tracksuit than usual.
In conclusion, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a flawed but fascinating game. It tried to expand the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. formula with some ambitious new features, and while it didn't always succeed, it's still a unique and atmospheric experience. Just be prepared for a little bit of a bumpy ride, and remember to save often.