S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky - Enhanced Edition Review Summary

Improved visuals and performance: The Enhanced Edition offers significant visual and performance improvements over the original, including better graphics, smoother gameplay, faster load times, and modern features like DirectX 12 and upscalers. The update is free for owners of the original trilogy, making it a worthwhile upgrade.

Added achievements and mod support: The Enhanced Edition adds Steam Workshop support and achievements, enhancing the modding experience and providing completionist goals. These additions were highly requested by fans and contribute to a more immersive and rewarding gameplay experience.

Improved optimization and controller support: The game features improved optimization, well-made controller support (including DualSense features), and runs well on Steam Deck. These improvements enhance accessibility and provide a smoother gameplay experience across different platforms.

Game is good overall: These points express general positive sentiments without specific details. Therefore, the importance score is reduced significantly.

Blur issue can be mitigated: Some reviewers noted a blur issue that can be mitigated by using FSR on native resolution with the highest sharpness setting or disabling internal AA and using FSR 3 in native mode. This workaround improves image quality, although it may not be perfect.

Excessive, unfixable blurriness: Many reviewers describe the game as excessively blurry, even at high resolutions and with anti-aliasing enabled or disabled. This blurriness is a major visual issue, causing eye strain and negatively impacting the overall experience. Some suggest it's due to low internal rendering resolution or poor AI upscaling implementation.

Numerous old and new bugs: Reviewers report numerous bugs and glitches, some of which were present in the original game and previously fixed by the community. The presence of these bugs, along with new issues introduced in the enhanced edition, makes the game feel unpolished and, in some cases, unplayable.

Minimal graphical improvements: Many reviewers feel that the graphical improvements in the enhanced edition are minimal and do not justify the 'remaster' label. Some even claim that the graphics are worse than the original, with a washed-out or blurry appearance.

Resolution stuck at 720p: Several reviewers report that the game's resolution is stuck at 720p or a similarly low resolution, regardless of the settings chosen. This limitation contributes to the blurry visuals and makes it impossible to achieve a sharp, clear image.

Game feels unfinished: Some reviewers express a general disappointment, stating that the game feels unfinished or that changes have made it worse. These points lack specific details but contribute to the overall negative sentiment.

Open world faction warfare: Clear Sky shifts the gameplay loop to a more open, systemic world with a greater emphasis on faction wars and player involvement. Factions actively fight, capture locations, and engage the player in their conflicts, creating a potentially infinite gameplay loop focused on living in the Zone. However, player participation in faction wars can become detrimental later on.

Challenging survival experience: The game emphasizes survival elements, often placing the player in challenging situations. Players are often alone, equipped with damaged gear, and forced to make difficult choices to survive in the Zone.

Artifact hunting system added: Clear Sky introduces a proper artifact hunting system with detectors. This is an improvement over Shadow of Chernobyl, where artifacts were found randomly.

Functional A-life and world: The game world features dynamic elements and common series features. This includes functional A-life, emissions, mutants, and anomalies.

Reasonable carry weight/economy: The game provides reasonable carry weight and functional economy. Players can carry a good amount of loot, medical supplies, ammo, and guns, and sell items for profit, unlike the original game.

Inconsistent, worsened performance reported: Many players report significantly worse performance in the enhanced edition compared to the original, with frame rates dropping by half or more on similar settings. Some players experience no issues or even improvements, while others report that the game is unoptimized, even on high-end hardware. This inconsistency suggests optimization issues that affect different systems in different ways.

Specific performance metrics: Some players report specific performance metrics in certain areas or on specific hardware. While these data points are useful, they are less broadly applicable than general performance trends.

Poor Steam Deck performance: On Steam Deck, the enhanced edition struggles to maintain 40 FPS and consumes significantly more power compared to the original game, which ran at a stable 60 FPS with lower power consumption. This indicates a regression in performance and efficiency on the platform.

Series S lacks 120 FPS mode: The Series S version of the game lacks a 120 FPS mode, which some reviewers believe the console should be capable of. The available 30 FPS mode is also questioned, suggesting dissatisfaction with the performance options on this platform.

Linux boot issue: The game requires the "-nointro" flag to boot on Linux, a problem not present in the original version. This is a specific compatibility issue affecting Linux users.

Original games preferred over remaster: Many reviewers strongly recommend sticking with the original STALKER games, especially with community mods, instead of the Enhanced Edition. They cite issues like worse graphics, poor optimization, and a lack of meaningful improvements. Some consider the Enhanced Edition a downgrade or not worth the effort.

Significant technical issues plague remaster: Numerous reviews highlight significant technical problems with the Enhanced Edition, including bugs, blurry graphics, and performance issues, especially on PC and Steam Deck. Many feel the game was released prematurely without adequate testing, leading to a disappointing experience. Some reviewers are waiting for patches before playing further.

Enjoyable for revisiting/new players: Some reviewers find the Enhanced Edition worthwhile, particularly for returning fans or newcomers who receive it for free. They appreciate the fresh look and the opportunity to revisit the Zone. Some suggest that Clear Sky was previously underrated and deserves a second chance.

Awaiting fixes for outstanding issues: Several reviewers are withholding final judgment, hoping that future patches will address the identified issues. They express optimism that the developers can improve the game and are waiting for fixes before changing their ratings to positive.

Extremely negative, hyperbolic reactions: Some reviews express strong negative sentiment, with reviewers calling the release a "scam" or "unfinished garbage." These reviews often lack specific details and use hyperbolic language, suggesting a possible element of review bombing. Therefore, the importance score is reduced.

Enhanced Edition adds features: The Enhanced Edition includes gamepad support, achievements, workshop integration, and multithreading. Gamepad support was a necessary update, and the achievements mirror the console version.

Inconsistent language elements: The game features Ukrainian voiceovers and a 'MADE IN UKRAINE' logo, but also contains Russian inscriptions within the textures. This creates an inconsistency in the game's world, which primarily features Ukrainian-speaking characters.

Mods offer limited improvements: The reviewer finds that existing mods do not significantly improve the game. They describe the mods as containing more amateurish additions than actual improvements.

Color correction is altered: The color correction has been changed in the Enhanced Edition. The reviewer notes that the change is neither good nor bad, but simply different.

Energy drink product placement: The game includes product placement of energy drinks. This is a specific detail about the game's world and presentation.