Crysis 2

After being really impressed with the original Crysis, I was INSANELY curious to see what the next game would bring, and boy was I happy. Not only is the story more focused, tighter, and epic in scope, not only does it has the most beautiful graphics on any platform, and not only does it has the most stellar production values, but it also has the most ballsy and entertaining action set-pieces that I've ever had the pleasure of seeing and playing through.

The new hero is a Force Recon Marine known as Alcatraz, who had the unfortunate yet coincidental task of being the last hope for humanity armed with the technology of the future; the likes of which no ordinary man, albeit a soldier as ever witnessed in the history of mankind. A physically fractured soul due to injuries sustained in battle, Alcatraz is locked and loaded, but what is the true nature of his mission and what fate does it hold for mankind? The first game's story had an action/sci-fi movie-like plot that was good, even though it left a few unanswered questions concerning it's context. Now with Crysis 2, we learn who created the Nanosuit, its origins, background information about it's original protagonists, and much more. However, Crysis 2 has a lot of dark themes in it's narrative, biological warfare, civil unrest, martial law, private military forces and their morally ambiguous agendas, and identity crisis(no pun intended). It's true that some characters may be underdeveloped, but that's saved for the sequel, which I'm sure will tie up some loose ends, but the story is actually really gripping; kept my attention for the whole duration of the game.

But Crysis 2 wouldn't be a Crysis game without action set-pieces. Out of all the FPS game's I've played, the series hands down has the most exciting and entertaining of them all. From massive destruction to some horrific scenes of human suffering and decadence, no other game in this genre has conveyed post-apocalyptic alien invasion scenarios like this one; for which I was thoroughly impressed. This no doubt helped along with the games stunningly beautiful visual effects that are so cinematic, you actually feel like you're in a Hollywood blockbuster action/sci-fi film. The sandbox style of play is back, though not as prevalent as in the previous game, but you still have many options on how to attack your enemies. The level of tactical decision making is key to your success and one of the series' finest aspects.

I'm not so sure about the multi-player. I've played several sessions(this was on Xbox Live) but I'm an old-school gamer who likes action and story, and Crysis 2 fits the bill nicely. There are glitches like enemies freezing in place and some inconsistencies with sound, but it doesn't mar the game one bit. Speaking of sound, this game has the most impressive sound effects I've ever heard; from the powerful roar of the machine guns to the massive scale destruction of the urban environment, the game is a treat for the ears, especially if you have a surround sound system cranked to the max. And it also helps if you have a widescreen TV equipped with 3D. I've never seen the game in 3D, but even without 3D, the game is still impressive and a blast to play so for those of you who have a set up, get this game to truly experience what it has to offer.

I really enjoyed Crysis 2; even more than Crysis 1. Heck, I enjoy both games, but Crysis 2 story won me over, simply because it's more epic in scope. Having beaten 2, I'm more pumped than ever for Crysis 3. No other series gave me the feeling of being a bad-ass super-soldier with the feel of a big-budget blockbuster action movie!! Kudos to Crytek for delivering one of the most ballistically entertaining FPS on the market!!

Having never played the first "Crysis," I went into "Crysis 2" without any preconceived notions, but I was familiar with its basic premise. After reading various reviews, I decided to jump into the fray, and I'm glad I did. Set in a war-torn New York City in 2023, the game weaves an intriguing narrative as you assume the role of Alcatraz, a soldier embodying a powerful nanosuit while combating an alien infestation.

The gameplay is predominantly a first-person shooter, which feels both familiar and refreshing. While the campaign has a linear design, there's enough exploration to make searching for collectibles and trinkets worthwhile. I'd describe it as a blend between "Call of Duty" and "Half-Life 2"; there's a strong focus on action and narrative, albeit sans the gravity gun. The nanosuit's different abilities enhance the experience significantly-using stealth, rushing at enemies, or creating a temporary shield can lead to some genuinely exhilarating moments. The enemies range from military soldiers to sci-fi aliens with impressive vehicles, reminiscent of "War of the Worlds," which adds a unique flair to the typical firefight.

Level design is solid, with various environments that keep the gameplay feeling fresh. While it may not reach the legendary heights of franchise campaigns like "Halo," it certainly does its job in holding your interest throughout.

Now, let's talk about the graphics. "Crysis 2" is over a decade old, yet it still boasts some of the best visuals in the gaming world, thanks to Crytek's powerful graphics engine. It makes the environment come to life, showcasing incredible details in the scenery and weaponry. You can't help but admire the vibrant colors and realistic textures that enhance immersion.

Soundwise, the game excels. The gun sound effects are on point, setting a gold standard for how firearms should sound in any first-person shooter. You'll feel every shot fired, which adds to the thrill of combat. Not to mention, the score is composed by none other than Hans Zimmer, elevating the game's cinematic quality to new heights.

However, "Crysis 2" does have its drawbacks. While it's a strong title, it struggles to completely match the level design and gameplay loop of its competitors. The narrative, while engaging enough, didn't fully resonate with me since my lack of background from the first game left me a bit disconnected from the story and characters. Alcatraz's journey, while exciting, could have used more depth to make it truly memorable.

The weapon system is another area where I found some frustration. There are numerous versions of the same gun, which can be overwhelming and make it challenging to determine the best option for various situations. While more choice can be good in theory, it feels a bit cluttered in practice.

Overall, "Crysis 2" is a strong 8/10-its gorgeous graphics, solid gameplay, and memorable sound effects create an enjoyable experience. I'm excited to see what "Crysis 4" has in store and whether it can build on the strengths of its predecessors. If you're looking for a compelling shooter to dive into, this one should be on your radar.

Console: PS3 Genre: First person shooter with a sci-fi premise.

Setting: New York City in lockdown mode.

Story:

The aliens of the first game are now calling New York City home! You will have to fight them and also have to deal with a human, private military firm (C.E.L.L.) which has put New York City in lockdown.

Graphics:

Excellent. From memory (been a few months since I played this, I think) you do have good resolution...i.e. you can take a closer look at text or textures and it still looks realistic. So, although I'm not one to take a close look at things like walls etc, on the one or two occasions I did do this, the textures did not go blurry quickly, like would in games on the Playstation2 console, say.

General observation:

I was kind of looking forward to this game after getting my first platinum trophy on the first game in this series beforehand (I downloaded the original game on the PlayStation Network). Sadly, I got so little out of this game that the 3rd game in this series isn't really on my radar now, even though that games crossbow kind of excited me, after that weapon became such a favourite of mine in the great Bioshock first person shooter.

Good about the game: The graphics.

Bad about the game: Enemy A.I. Just really abysmal and/or laughable. Occasionally aliens will spin around on the spot like breakdancers or look like they were literally skating around in a small circle. Worse than this, the would sometimes go right pass you (i.e. they must have been able to see you) but they keep going right past you and then try to go through a rock wall...forever. Even humans in the game can act really stupidly. Apparently the game has a mechanic like that of the Metal Gear Solid series where you can distract guards by throwing objects. Perhaps due to bad programming, the developers didn't define this very well, as I had one human soldier ignore a large gas cylinder which I threw near them...which must have made one Hell of a noise...or would do, in real life. Even more stupiderer, one human private military soldier completely ignored a comrade of theirs I had recently killed...just went past it...as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. The game does get buggy after your mission to escort the Marines to safety.

* When you are in stealth mode, your controller vibrates. This wastes your precious batteries and...is just annoying.

* The game is too long. It is interminable.

* There are too many cutscenes. A pleasure of the original was just how direct it was. With this game, there's like a cliché shopping list of things 'to do'...which really takes you out of the game and is...just annoying.

* Too many stupid trophies/achievements. There are now trophies for online play. Seeing as I hardly play online at all, this pretty much takes the achievable aim of gaining platinum out of the equation. The original had a very small set of trophies and was very doable.

* If you do decide to chase trophies or achievements (like finding certain objects) you can't resume from a previous checkpoint via the in-game menu...you must quit the game and go back in. Actually, my notes on this aren't clear...I suspect that I may mean that I would have liked to have seen a cutscene again for the information it provides or whatever, but you have to quit the game and reload in order to get that again...I think that's what I mean! * I liked the option in the original game of just using your fists to punch aliens...which you don't get in this game.

* It seems that there is no ability to choose to grab or stealth kill an alien. I like the former ability but it only seems to become possible to do if you are discovered by the enemy. In other words, I would like to be able to use that ability at other points in the game.

* As with the first game, there is part of the game which has an impenetrable route to someplace else...maze like, with no apparent or understandable exit. If you love maps where you can get lost, this is for you! Conclusion: I really like the no nonsense original Crysis. This sequel is very missable.

Not being a hardcore first person shooter fan myself, I must put in a good word for Bioshock...a first person shooter for people who don't like first person shooters! It also has some sci-fi elements.

To me Crysis 2 is one of the best games I've ever played. The storyline is a 10/10, the music is a 10/10 (I believe it won best storyline and music for a video game of the year). The main song is in fact on my music playlist as I am addicted to it - as are thousands of other fans. I only wish that you could run around the map a little bit more (it's not an open world style), it's just too specific for me. The graphics are a 10/10 just like all other Crytek games. I thoroughly enjoyed it and actually like it better than Crysis 1. It's a must play in my mind. The storyline however is quite short so don't expect to play for weeks. If your going to play it then go for PC version, it's not as resource heavy as the first Crysis and will run easily on most modern computers. So yeah...Enjoy!

It had been a while since I had played a 'new' game and one of the good things about not being overly bothered about keeping up with the brand new big titles or new consoles, is that I have the pick of older games that I have not played but do not need to pay £40 for. In this case I had heard positive things about this series and also enjoy shooters and stealth games, so decided it was worth the £5 I paid. The story picks up from the first game although it really doesn't matter too much if you haven't played it. Basically you end up inside a powerful nanosuit in the middle of a New York which is under attack from aliens while also on lockdown by a military contractor. With guidance from your new allies, you have to battle your way through New York while also trying to find out the secret power that the suit can have as a weapon in the bigger picture fight against the aliens.

I have used a lot of words there to describe the plot, and the game also uses a lot of cutscenes and dialogue to do the same, but I must confess that I found myself rather detached from the narrative. Maybe it was because I hadn't played the first game, but also I didn't really get a feel for the players involved, the stakes and the specifics. Too much of the story was 'go here, go there', which comes with the video game genre, but it wasn't particularly well thought out as a story – too often it just felt like the writers were working out how to create levels within the basic frame of the story.

The action works pretty well though. You have choices as to whether you blast your way though using shields to absorb damage, or sneak your way through using the electronic cloaking device – or of course you can do a bit of both. None of the combinations or options are without faults but mostly they are fun to play and I really didn't find any part of the game frustrating. It would have been nice to have felt more of a contest though – mostly you feel like you are playing against yourself, so as long as I didn't do anything dumb, the game was not really too hard. The enemy AI was a bit off – sometimes not really seeming smart, but then other times able to track me based off nothing. It does still work though and in fairness there was decent variety in the play if you wanted it – and even if you didn't there were times where it really made sense to proceed a certain way.

Visually the game is very impressive; the New York is well designed as sets and the characters look and move well. The issue I have is that it does feel like 'sets' as opposed to a world. You very much are in contained locations where you do not always have a massive range of movement – not quite a straight line shooter perhaps, but no matter how big the 'rooms' are, you are basically moving through the rooms the game wants you to go through. The bigger action sequences look great, with big sci-fi moments, but the problem tends to be that they happen in cut scenes or moments where the player is out of the game so that the graphics can deliver their big moment. I am a sucker for big cinematic action in FPS games (I enjoy this aspect of the COD:MW games) but here I felt like I was outside of it rather than really in the middle – which is a shame.

Crysis 2 is fun if you like shooters, and it does give you options as to how to play, but it has weaknesses in the narrative and the use of cut scenes. These weaknesses and others kept me from really getting into the game and getting caught up in the action of it all. It was fun to play and I enjoyed it for what it was, but it didn't do enough to make me want to pick up more of the franchise – and not being able to skip the cut scenes is limited my desire to jump back into it again, but maybe that will change with time.