Ever since the launch of Crysis in 2007, gaming industry witnessed the dawn of pioneering graphics engine which soon became a trend-setter. Of course by that time Crytek had established itself as a prominent player in the industry with its successful launch of Far Cry; one of the best FPS (First Person Shooter) game ever. Developed on CryEngine 2 Crysis was not just a visual feat but a gaming phenomenon. Its engaging story & pacing made it even more special. This is a kind of game which you would like to show your family & friends.
The story in Crysis begins in 2020 when a team of American archeologists send out a distress call from a fictional Lingshan Island, near the coast of East Philippines. The signal also indicates about a breakthrough of something bizarre which might bring radical change to the entire world. When North Korean forces take control of the island; U.S. Army Delta Force dispatches its Raptor Team to locate & evacuate the American hostages. In game you will assume the role of First Lieutenant Jake Dunn a.k.a Nomad; one of the operator of the five men Raptor Team under the leadership of Major Laurence Barnes codenamed Prophet. As your team starts exploring the island you will soon realize that other than the presence of Korean forces there is another foreign entity which is far more lethal & beyond comprehension.
The enticing part in this game is the Nano Suit; a futuristic military outfit capable of providing extra strength, armour, speed & cloak. However all these features are drawn from the suit’s energy & when it gets depleted the player gets more susceptible to attacks & damages. Real time customization of weapons within the game makes the experience even more challenging. Once you set foot within the game, take some time to appreciate the graphics. This is one of the best looking games I have played till date. Impressive visuals & great texture sets the bar even higher for all the future games. Change of environment from lush green vegetation to zero gravity alien structure keeps the momentum well balanced. The enemy A.I. has been substantially improved over its predecessor Far Cry.
Before you can enjoy the world of Crysis make sure that your rig is capable of running this game. The system requirements are quite high & any mid level system will just bleed dry.
After the grand de tour with Crysis, Crytek presented us with even more action. Released in 2008 Crysis Warhead serves as an expansion pack to its original story. The timeline in Warhead runs parallel to that of Nomad’s, our earlier protagonist in Crysis. The player assumes the role of Sergeant Michael Sykes codenamed Psycho, a former British SAS operative who became the member of the newly formed Raptor Team. Once again you will require the Nano Suit technology which will provide you super human abilities to survive the hostile environment of Lingshan Island. Warhead is more action oriented & the story is far more coherent than it’s original. Single player campaign is tight while open environment offers each player to take a different approach to finish the game.
After a long wait, Crysis 2 finally made it. Being the most anticipated game of 2011, everyone had been fervently waiting for its release in late March.
Crysis 2 follows the story three years after the events of the first game. The entire campaign takes place within the ruins of New York City. The game begins with news footage detailing a bio-disaster caused by an outbreak of ‘Manhattan’ virus which causes complete cellular breakdown. Biohazard resulted to total anarchy among the civil population. News about alien invasion brought the city admin to complete halt. Social disorder initiated the activation of Martial Law within greater New York under the umbrella of privately funded Military Corporation run by CryNet. Once the game starts, the player assumes the role of U.S. Recon Marine codenamed Alcatraz. When the player becomes the only survivor of a failed insertion in New York City by a submarine USS Nautilus, Major Laurence a.k.a Prophet (whom we have met earlier in Crysis) saves Alcatraz. Being infected with the virus himself, Prophet decides to sacrifice self in order to provide ownership of the Nano Suit to Alcatraz.
Since CryNet Corporation was trying to hunt down Prophet for being infected, as soon as you assume the role in the Nanosuit you become the new target. Other than fighting horde of alien race Ceph, you will still have to make a stand against the private army of CryNet.
As informed earlier by Crytek about the newly designed Nanosuit 2.0, it provides us more freedom for upgrade & simultaneous use whenever required. Enhanced time before power drain offers flexibility to switch in between multiple modes. Developed on heavily modified CryEngine 3, Crysis 2 is the best looking game in the market, today. System requirements have been substantially brought down so that it can be enjoyed by many gamers who have had trouble with its forerunners. The story might be a bit confusing for those who have not played its earlier titles, as the direct link to the original has been kept minimal.
Crysis 2 offers tough A.I., if you are playing at moderate difficulty you will need to strategize your move before getting into action with guns blazing. This is a beautiful game & will keep you engrossed for hours. Even if you are not an avid gamer you will still be awe stuck with whatever the world of Crysis has to offer.
Note : Crysis & Crysis WARHEAD are available in PC format only.
Crysis 2 is available in following formats : PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Overall Rating : 9/10
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