Released on 25/03/2011

• Crysis 2

  Don't Cry For Me...

  Crysis was such a bewilderingly beautiful and immensely juice draining game that it looked like the franchise would remain exclusive to PC power-houses for a long time. That is until now anyway.

  The urban jungle

  The open jungle, nano-enhanced, FPS shooter that was Crysis is widely considered one of the most beautiful titles in gaming history. That alone would make Crysis 2 one of the most anticipate sequels of the moment. The fact that the brains at Crytek seem to have managed to take Crysis and cram it onto consoles for Crysis 2, however, kicks the hype to a whole new level.

  It's the classic tale of an alien adventure and one man's quest to send them packing again.

  There's one key difference between Crysis 2 and its predecessor though: This time the action has been lifted from the sweaty jungles to the smoky city, Manhattan to be precise. It's an over-used location for games yes, but considering the job Crytek managed to do when recreating sprawling jungles, putting your faith in the studio when it comes to recreating the world's most famous urban jungle wouldn't be a bad idea.

  New York City is beautiful, there's no doubt about it, and the plot sets the city up for some awesome action. It's the classic tale of an alien adventure and one man's quest to send them packing again. Players get to don the famous Nanosuit again, which, as usual, augments his body in different ways.

  Shoot, sneak and smash

  Shooting is still the key-stone of the game but there's also plenty of stealth and close combat thrown into the mix and the Nanosuit can help out by boosting your strength, making you faster and more agile, cloaking you from the enemy in stealth mode, or targeting the enemy in tactical mode.

  Players used to be restricted to one 'power' mode at a time and were forced to use their noggin to plan an approach. Now the separation of powers is gone and instead players have to choose from various 'styles', although it's still yet to be seen how this will manifest itself.

  With the agility of the Nanosuit cranked to the max players can scale buildings for some always satisfying death from above.

  A tactical approach is still the way to go though and the new setting has an impact here as well. Now players have to think not only in terms of moving horizontally, but also how they can take advantage of up and down. Although the city doesn't provide as much freedom in terms of open spaces as the jungles of the original Crysis, it does have a brand new axis to play on. With the agility of the Nanosuit cranked to the max players can scale buildings for some always satisfying death from above.

  That's why the niggling worry that Crysis 2 might feel a little bit claustrophobic probably shouldn't concern you too much. The sequel certainly looks like it will be centred around the main idea of looking at a situation from a vantage point and really planning your next move. This has always been a hallmark of the Crysis series and it looks like it's been emphasised even more this time.

  Epic Battle

  But you only need to have a snoop around the internet at some of the gameplay videos Crytek's released so far to see that Crysis 2 isn't going to be bogged down in pondering and strategy, this is a big-budget, AAA action FPS based around a super soldier facing off against giant mechanically equipped aliens. That's where the visual prowess of the CryEngine really comes to the fore as mechs crash in through the side of Grand Central Station, brickwork, metal and glass splintering across the screen. It's epic set-pieces like this that make you think Crytek is about to do it all over again.

  Preview by: Tom 'Nano' Ivan
  Version Tested: Xbox 360
  Preview Published: 29.09.10

  Published: 29/09/2010

• Crysis can be a CoD beater?

  Chances are you've put this week aside to get stuck into Call of Duty: Black Ops, which is out now for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. So have we. But Crytek reckons its shooter series Crysis could be just as big some day.

  "We say why not?" executive producer Nathan Camarillo said, when asked by Eurogamer last week, months before the release of Crysis 2.

  "Obviously with Crysis 2 we have to set a high quality bar and get everyone's attention across all platforms. That's our goal with the title. As the franchise grows down the line, there's no reason it can't be as big. It's very appealing in that it's a near future military setting. It appeals to sci-fi gamers as well because of the sci-tech, science fiction elements.

  It's not a space opera. It's not set 300 years in the future. It's 13 years in the future. It's something people identify with and can take this small leap of faith to get into this world and this universe. By offering a great single-player campaign, a great multiplayer experience and giving people something fresh and different than a normal soldier can do with the Nanosuit - it's a pretty powerful feeling."

  Crysis 2 will throw players into a New York being decimated by alien attacks. Armed with the brilliant Nanosuit 2.0, which provides powers like extra strength, shielding, and invisibility, you?ll be battling huge monsters, engaging in brutal street fighting, and even taking on mysterious human special forces opponents. We can?t wait.

  Crysis 2 is out for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 next March.

• Crysis 2 novel on the way

  Crysis 2 novel on the way

  If you're as excited about us at the prospect of Crysis 2, you might be interested to hear that the series is expanding beyond videogames, with Del Rey Books announcing there's a novel in the works.

  The novel's called Crysis: Legion, according to Eurogamer, and it will fill in a bit more of the details surrounding the events of the forthcoming sci-fi shooter.

  What's the synopsis? How about this: "Terrifying armoured alien invaders stalk the streets of New York, while a nightmare plague strikes down its human population with brutal speed. Just to survive in this inferno will require technology and armor beyond anything any modern soldier has ever seen. One man will inherit that means to survive. His mission: shake off death, carry the fight to the aliens, and drive them back." That's what Crytek, the game's developer, is saying, anyway.

  Crysis: Legion is being written by famed sci-fi author Peter Watts, and will be out in early 2011. Crysis 2, meanwhile, will hit shelves on 25th March, and will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. We're excited.
  

• Crysis 2 Review

  Crytek's flagship first-person shooter wowed everyone who experienced it. But those people were few in number. The PC-only shooter made such heavy demands on its player PC that only those with the most powerful machines were capable of slipping into the main character suit. Those who did, however, found a smart, meticulous video game, a debut from which it seemed a series was certain to emerge.

  
  

  Four years on and we have that sequel, a game that exhibits no less of the stunning visuals that defined its predecessor, but which is now playable not only on high-end PCs but also Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
  It's difficult to convey quite how astonishing the New York of the game is. While this is a city under military siege and alien attack, with buildings crumbling, taxis overturned and thick radiation hanging on every street corner, you will stop to take in the detail and scope of the world long after that first injection of excitement fades.

  
  

  It's in the spray of a fountain, or the licking flames of a burst gas pipe. It's in the rustle of treetops, or the reflection of the sun on the surface of the Hudson River. Crysis 2 is an exceptional-looking video game. This Manhattan may not be a place you like to live any more, but it demands virtual tourism. It's astonishing.

  
  

  Dressed to Kill

  You play as a soldier known as Alcatraz. But your character is far less important that the clothes he wears. Crysis 2 is a game about a suit. This futuristic weave of unseen technology defines not only the story but also the game mechanics. Strip away the Nanosuit and you have a basic first-person shooter. You can carry just two guns at any one time, a la Halo, and you must duck, cover and shoot enemies either Cell soldiers or the invading aliens before they shoot you.

  
  

  But the Nanosuit transforms the game into something fresh and exciting. In its default powersetting, the suit enables you to sprint at twice the speed of a man and leap at twice his height. Meanwhile, squeeze the L-bumper and you'll activate its armourmode. Here the suit fabric stiffens to allow you to take more damage, at the cost of speed and maneuverability.

  
  

  Finally, the R-bumper will activate stealthmode, blending you into your surroundings and, providing you walk quietly, letting you creep up on foes undetected for a silent takedown.

  
  

  Silent but Deadly

  These three modes allow you to tackle any given situation in a variety of strategic ways: rushing in guns blazing or creeping around like Solid Snake. To scale back the power fantasy a little, you must manage the suit power gauge.

  
  

  Every special action you take in the game drains the suit power bar and, if it fully depletes, you'll need to pause till it recharges after a few seconds. The suit power also depletes more quickly the more of its abilities you use at any given time. Slide along the ground while in stealth mode, for example, and it'll empty in seconds.

  
  

  As a result, you'll need to carefully plan and execute attacks with foresight; a welcome demand for players bored with the predictability, and prescribed play of so many corridor shooters. As you collect Nano catalyst from downed aliens, it even possible to upgrade the suit capabilities, providing added incentive to check the bodies of everyone you takedown.

  
  

  Beauty in Brokeness

  Less engaging is the game story, which fails to inspire across the generous amount of time it takes to complete the main campaign. There are few sympathetic characters in this world, and your motivation to keep pushing towards the endgame location of Central Park is fuzzy. Likewise, the character in your suit is cold and mechanical, efficient but essentially unlikeable, making this journey a lonely one.

  
  

  But despite these reservations, Crysis 2 is an outstanding shooter. A well-formed Modern Warfare-esque multiplayer component sees almost all of the suit capabilities translated to team-based and Last Man Standing deathmatches, and as you can level your character through playing online, there is longevity long after the main campaign is spent.

  
  

  Beautiful, smart and bleak, Crysis 2 is worth your time, both for the exceptional views it offers and the experiences available within them.

  

  Spices:
  + Unreal visuals.
  + Accomplished voice acting.
  + Suit modes supremely well balanced.

  Crises:
  - Weak story.
  - Bland main character.
  - Two-weapon system feels limiting.

• Crysis 2 - Review

  
  

  

  Crytek's flagship first-person shooter Crysis wowed everyone who experienced it. But those people were few in number. The PC-only shooter made such heavy demands on its player PC that only those with the most powerful machines were capable of slipping into the main character suit. Those who did, however, found a smart, meticulous video game, a debut from which it seemed a series was certain to emerge.

  Four years on and we have that sequel. Crysis 2 is a game that exhibits no less of the stunning visuals that defined its predecessor, but which is now playable not only on high-end PCs but also Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

  It's difficult to convey quite how astonishing the New York of the game is. While this is a city under military siege and alien attack, with buildings crumbling, taxis overturned and thick radiation hanging on every street corner, you will stop to take in the detail and scope of the world long after that first injection of excitement fades.

  It's in the spray of a fountain, or the licking flames of a burst gas pipe. It's in the rustle of treetops, or the reflection of the sun on the surface of the Hudson River. Crysis 2 is an exceptional-looking video game. This Manhattan may not be a place you like to live any more, but it demands virtual tourism. It's astonishing.

  Dressed to Kill

  You play as a soldier known as Alcatraz. But your character is far less important that the clothes he wears. Crysis 2 is a game about a suit. This futuristic weave of unseen technology defines not only the story but also the game mechanics. Strip away the Nanosuit and you have a basic first-person shooter. You can carry just two guns at any one time, a la Halo, and you must duck, cover and shoot enemies either Cell soldiers or the invading aliens before they shoot you.

  

  But the Nanosuit transforms the game into something fresh and exciting. In its default powersetting, the suit enables you to sprint at twice the speed of a man and leap at twice his height. Meanwhile, squeeze the L-bumper and you'll activate its armourmode. Here the suit fabric stiffens to allow you to take more damage, at the cost of speed and maneuverability.

  Finally, the R-bumper will activate stealthmode, blending you into your surroundings and, providing you walk quietly, letting you creep up on foes undetected for a silent takedown.

  Silent but Deadly

  These three modes allow you to tackle any given situation in a variety of strategic ways: rushing in guns blazing or creeping around like Solid Snake. To scale back the power fantasy a little, you must manage the suit power gauge.

  Every special action you take in the game drains the suit power bar and, if it fully depletes, you'll need to pause till it recharges after a few seconds. The suit power also depletes more quickly the more of its abilities you use at any given time. Slide along the ground while in stealth mode, for example, and it'll empty in seconds.

  

  As a result, you'll need to carefully plan and execute attacks with foresight; a welcome demand for players bored with the predictability, and prescribed play of so many corridor shooters. As you collect Nano catalyst from downed aliens, it even possible to upgrade the suit capabilities, providing added incentive to check the bodies of everyone you takedown.

  Beauty in Brokeness

  Less engaging is the game story, which fails to inspire across the generous amount of time it takes to complete the main campaign. There are few sympathetic characters in this world, and your motivation to keep pushing towards the endgame location of Central Park is fuzzy. Likewise, the character in your suit is cold and mechanical, efficient but essentially unlikeable, making this journey a lonely one.

  But despite these reservations, Crysis 2 is an outstanding shooter. A well-formed Modern Warfare-esque multiplayer component sees almost all of the suit capabilities translated to team-based and Last Man Standing deathmatches, and as you can level your character through playing online, there is longevity long after the main campaign is spent.

  Beautiful, smart and bleak, Crysis 2 is worth your time, both for the exceptional views it offers and the experiences available within them.

  GAME's Verdict

  The Good:

  • Unreal visuals.
  • Accomplished voice acting.
  • Suit modes supremely well balanced.

  The Bad:

  • Weak story.
  • SBland main character.
  • Two-weapon system feels limiting.

  Published: 24/03/2011

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