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

It's ironic how much effort and polish went into the graphical and sound assets of the game. Even worse, the faction wars system and the massive, well-designed levels, in theory, give the player a wide range of activities in the zone. Which would make the great system of equipment and overhauled artifacts a lot of use. It is well presented, looks like it has great potential, and very tempting. The gameplay, sadly, consists of not experiencing that design. I say that because a gunfight is instant failure, which, like your average JRPG (unexpected from a STALKER game), falls down to sheer stat difference. It can then be logically deduced that the game is devoid of gameplay. Artifact hunting is infuriating. This is due to most artifacts being hidden in damage-over-time areas. Moreover, the artifacts "wander" around their resident anomaly. Instead of being handled like a puzzle, artifact hunting has been handled like an idle clicker game, with the reward usually being presented after pressing quick load enough times. I recommend this game to you if you love chores and pain, but I can't help recommending a simpler and cheaper alternative, like a pair of pliers, a dull shaving razor, or just a plain old sewing needle.

This game has a lot of problems with its engine and gamedesign. - It generates microfreezes even on modern hardware, when videocard is at 30% of load capacity on max settings. - Campfires do not work properly on DX10. - Enemy A.I. is bad designed. Thea always throw grenades with 100% precition, see you through the wall or in total darkness, but most of the time behaves stupidly. - Flashlight is so bad that you can not see anything in the darkness. Fixed it by editing game items configs files. - Bleeding mechanics is broken. You got bleeding all the time and bandages are never enough. Basic medkit do not stop bleeding (wtf?). Fixed it too by editing actor config file. - Gun jamming mechanics also broken. New weapon in full condition starts to jam after few mags, and it jams often EVERY 1-5 ROUNDS. Just rediculous. Fixed it too in configs. - Final missions have difficulty curve problem. Enemies almost do not have medkits on them and bandages, alfo there are no traders who has supplies, so if you run out of meds and do not have save file before that missions, you probably need to start the game from the beginnign, or, again, fix your health draining via config files editing. - Ending is just dissapointing So, game can be sometimes fun, but you need to fix a lot of gameplay issues by yourself or to use mods in order to be able to feel pleasure playing it.

After almost 10 painful hours, I have to give up (temporarely) at the Train Station Depot, I'm really fed up with the stupid "faction wars" mechanic that completely ruins your experience. On paper, it looks a good idea as it can be seen as a guild or a covenant with rewards, safer (or unsafer) turfs, defending sectors...but in reality it's a total mess, thanks to the AI and the stupid scripted events... For example, I just cleared the Depot, which is supposed to stop the spawning of bandits, but in the same time, I'm a called to defend a small camp and the allies won't move until I'm there...and of course another group of bandits come from nowhere to reclaim the Depot. Sure it brings rythm, but on the other you have absolutely no time to loot for ammos (or simply claiming your rewards !) as you are constantly moving for one point to another. SoC was scarce but tense in gunfights (usually against no more than 3 bandits), here you have to clear areas with 10 enemies by yourself because your supposed "friends" won't move until it's safe for them. And in case of a counter attack, don't rely on them, they will simply stand still like target dummies while being shot at and, if by any chance they ripost, they'll make Stormtroopers look like sharpshooter... I'm not against some changes in the gameplay, but not when it's implanted so badly, without any coherence, trying to give a non stop action feeling while the strength of SoC was the oppressing but mesmerizing atmosphere of the Zone. Maybe I've not approached the game correctly, maybe I'll give it another chance later but for now, I'll take a break from this one. In case you're wondering why 2 stars : 1 for the enemies IA (even if their leather jackets are in adamantium and their accuracy could put to shame an eagle), they throw grenades to make you move, try to flank you...It's still solid. The other is from what I've seen of the story, which offers an interesting other perspective of the events.

Although Clear Sky is the third game, it is the prequel to Shadow of Chernobyl, so I played it first. I was a bit disappointed with the story. It didn't really help me understand Shadow of Chernobyl at all. The ending had several, which I don't like. I like perhaps different paths that head to the same ending. Nothing worse than slogging through a game only to find you did something wrong and the ending you've received is not the "real" one. But still, a good opening game to the series, if you did as I did, and play it first. I'm going back to this game and writing this review having now finished the series. Clear Sky is the weakest of the three. For a better idea of in game play, check out this trailer. https://youtu.be/yBLxKwbyouw

...after the first instalment, and that is this games greatest asset. Far from being a bad game, it was in my estimation the weakest of the three. Still very worthwile to play.