It's been over a year since IGN first stepped into the Zone, the irradiated wasteland that served as the setting for GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Considering how long that game was delayed, it was first announced back in 2001 as Oblivion Lost and shipped in March of 2007, it's surprising to see the prequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, getting ready for release so soon. And yet here it is, a preview build running on the monitor in front of IGN.
Maybe the reason this game was developed so much more quickly is because it covers a lot of the same ground. Though new territories like the Swamp starting area and Red Forest further into the zone have been included, you'll still be treading through a lot of familiar territory.
Review - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky should be seen as an expansion rather than a full prequel, but it is one that fans will enjoy nonetheless.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games have greatly influenced the Eastern European games that came later. In this, the second of a two-part miniseries exploring these influences, we investigate the gameplay mechanics that make "Stalkerlikes" what they are.
DSOGaming writes: "RemasterStudio has released the first beta version of a graphics overhaul mod for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky. STALKER Clear Sky Remaster ports the game to the latest version of the X-Ray Engine, and introduces a lot of modern-day graphical features."
