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

Lore & Background

The player assumes the identity of Scar, a mercenary tasked with stopping a group of Stalkers from reaching the center of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. While guiding scientists through the Zone, Scar faints during a high energy emission and is rescued by Clear Sky, a secret independent faction dedicated to researching the Zone. Scar survives further emissions, and Clear Sky leader Lebedev theorizes the Zone is reacting to a group of Stalkers (Fang, Ghost, Doc, and Strelok) attempting to reach the center. Scar tracks them, eventually disabling Strelok's psionic protection with an EM1 rifle, but the Zone releases a massive emission. Scar's fate is unknown; Strelok later appears as an amnesiac in Shadow of Chernobyl.

Reader's Guide

The game combines first-person shooter, survival horror, and role-playing elements. Key features include faction wars (factions struggle for territory; the player can join or remain neutral), weapon and armor customization, repair and modification, anomalies requiring a detector, NPCs using grenades and blind-fire, light machine guns, guides for fast-travel, and emissions that require shelter. The player is always aligned with Clear Sky but can ally with or fight Loners, Duty, Freedom, and Bandits; Renegades and Military cannot be joined.

Did You Know?

• The game introduces the faction wars system, where factions attack and defend territory.
• Scar is the only survivor of multiple emissions, exhibiting unusual abilities.
• The EM1 rifle is a prototype long-range electromagnetic weapon used to disable Strelok's psionic protection.
• The game uses much of the same regions as Shadow of Chernobyl, plus new areas like Limansk.