S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky - Preview @ Strategy Informer

Strategy Informer posts a preview of GSC's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. prequel Clear Sky, with emphasis on the gameplay:

The player’s role in Clear Skies isn’t too dissimilar from the main character in the first game, only this time you won’t be spending so much time fighting by yourself. There’s a new emphasis placed on squad-based combat, and many missions will see you joined by a band of NPC mercenaries who you’re able to order around, though they seem fairly adept at looking after themselves if you haven’t got the patience for keeping an eye on them during a firefight. These temporary squad-mates aren’t the only mercenaries knocking around in the Zone – the player’s character is somewhat of a freelancer too, and you’re welcome to take missions from a variety of factions, though you have to be mindful of how this will affect your relationships with the other factions every time you help a certain faction out. Luckily, this is relatively easy to manage due to the game’s faction relationship screen, which gives you a summary of who’s friends with who, or who’s likely to try and shoot your face off if you take that next mission you’ve got your eye on.