Arrived in the mail today and gave it a quick start. Not sure if I am really mentally in the mood for it, but I did at least want to take it for a spin right quick.
First, the good news: Pistols are no longer garbage.
Well, let me clarify that. In Clear Skies, the devs (for some unknowable reason) felt it would be better to not have the zoom-button look down the sights of the pistols, but instead to just shrink the FOV a bit. So for those of us who don't use crosshairs, they were essentially useless. Yeah...
Call of Pripyat lets you look down the sights again, so they go back to fall-back weapons.
As for upgrading: I didn't get too far into Clear Skies, but it looks like they are taking a more tree-based upgrade system (hence, the tech-tree...). Still not sure how I am going to feel about getting married to my guns (I liked snapping off 'nade launchers and scopes and tossing the broken guns in SoC :p). So yeah.
And something nifty that I didn't see in my few minutes of CS before I got pissed at the pistols sucking: You can give Nimble money and he'll find you a new gun. You can specify the category, so that is something. Not sure if that will be worth it for anything other than launchers and snipers, but whatever.
There is also sleeping and a doctor.
You now need to repair items to sell them. But you always sell for more than it costs to repair (from what I have seen), so it is just a two-step process now. I am sure it made sense in the design doc :p
More as I suck it up and play some Russian-awesomeness.

Theres a third STALKER?

This already came out?!

The game doesn't suck any more?

Actually, STALKER SoC and CoP are the only real STALKERs, CS was a mistake and should be avoided like the plague.

Oh no! I missed Clear Skies due to all of the bad press but given that I'm a huge fan of the original 'Stalker', in my opinion one of the most atmospheric PC games ever, I'll be darned sure to pick this game up as I've heard very good things about it.
Best get saving for a new PC then :(

actually i heard this runs a lot better than soc or cs on the same computer. it's still using the same engine but by now it's quite a bit tighter, so if you aren't trying to crank the new dx10 (or 11?) effects there should be no problem.

Is this sandboxy goodnes or not?

I hope it will come to Steam soon.

Depends what you mean. It's open world, but there are three separate zones to explore.
It's pretty much a better version of Fallout 3, but as a shooter instead of an RPG. Very enjoyable, deep and atmospheric, and should be an instant buy for everyone who likes intelligent shooters.

Is there by any chance a collector's ed of this? I have the collector's ed for SoC, great stuff. Nice solid metal box.

Sounds great. I'll be getting it too!

Ah, cheers for the heads up on that, good news indeed - can't wait to get my hands on this now!! ^^
As for the collectors edition, I too have the special edition of the original Stalker and would be happy enough to get my hands on the CE of the sequel. To all you UK forumites out there my sources tell me that Play.com deliver the CE as standard.

And cheap too! �17.99 is less than most regular games costs...
http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/10296375/S-T-A-L-K-E-R-Call-Of-Pripyat-Special-Edition/Product.html
Contents:
# S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat game
# Art Cards
# Zone Map
# Soundtrack CD
# Game features:
# Experience the photorealistic, recreated areas around the Chernobyl reactor
# Explore three vast areas: the Pripyat River basin, Jupiter industrial complex and the city of Pripyat
# Extensive open game world where every action has a reaction
# A thrilling background story with over 70 side-quests
Though I can't see myself listening to the soundtrack, it's too spooky.