PC: Crysis

I've waited years for this game, salivating over the graphics in the magazines and on-line, heck I even re-purchased Far Cry to get a quick fix a few months back. Sadly time hasn't been good to Far Cry and while the graphics still stand up, the enemy AI is rather lacking, compared with F.E.A.R. and other such games out recently. Still this isn't about Far Cry, it's about Crysis, the latest game from the people that made Far Cry and also pretty much the sole reason for having a DX 10 card at the moment.

I thank my blessing for having a DX10 card because this game is just glorious to look at. Sure it looks great in DX9 but It's glorious in DX10. The scenery is breathtaking, the forest suitably murky and light striking through the trees just sublime. It's everything the screen shots promised. Sadly I can't say the same for the rest of the game.



The cracks appear when you realise this is just a very, very pretty Far Cry - you're running round an island paradise, fighting mercenary's and eventually aliens. Let me recap for you if you've never played Far Cry - you run round an island paradise, fighting mercenary's and eventually Transmutigens, might as well be aliens.

Like Far Cry the maps are very free form and a credit to the designers. You are led towards your objectives in what is an open environment you could easily get lost in, bar the alien ship which was confusing. Villages are a suitable size and placed well in the environment and some fun can be had mowing down wooden supporting poles and also trees with gun fire however it rarely serves any purpose other than alerting the enemy to where you are, so you'll quickly bore of it, though it does look good during fire fights in the jungle if your watching someone play, you don't notice it as much if your focusing on killing someone.



There are some differences from Far Cry though - you have a power suit with some neat abilities, enhanced armour/healing, stealth/invisibility, speed, strength and you'll find yourself using them often, they give you super powers which you need because the mercenary's in the game have rather godlike armour and health, rarely will one shot take a guy down. In fact it's more like a clip of ammo per guy. So you'll find yourself shooting, hoping to kill one guy then stealth and hiding till the enemy AI shrugs and give up looking for you or you get a bead on one and let rip another clip. This becomes highly annoying because after playing games like Call Of Duty 4 you realise that mortality is a very fragile thing and a couple of shots from an AK or M4 will send most people on a dirt nap, not so here. As the realism breaks down, I realise the irony here as you end up fighting aliens, you start to enjoy the game less. Sure there are some lovely moments in this game but nearly all of them are brought about by the graphics, when the island get wrapped in snow the change is stunning but all this spit and polish can't cover, what for me is an average FPS. Sure you get to drive tanks, Jeep's and even a plane at one point but these don't really increase the enjoyment of the game.



Multiplayer sees you with two styles of game, Death Match and team based. You get to play with the super powers but they aren't as effective as in the single player. Cloak burns power quicker and you can see the shimmer a la Predator. Team Play see you having to take objectives and you really have to play as a team to win, I can't see it being a casual playing experience nor the Death Match tearing me away from Call of Duty 4.

In summery, the story is clichéd, the AI is adequate in most parts, slightly better in some parts and darn thick in others, the graphics to die for, the options open to you are rather varied and the ending screams sequel which I'll probably play. Maybe I'm just bitter because the graphics promised so much and I feel let down by the game play not living up to the same level. While I've moaned a fair bit in this review I guess I have to say it's a decent game, you'll probably get a good level of enjoyment out of it, especially if your not as picky as me but just don't expect something as good as COD 4 or even Half Life, but then I thought HL2 wasn't that good either, so what do I know.

[Hammer]

It looks really really pretty, but I'm avoiding it (assuming I had a decent rig to play it on ) simply because Far Cry actually bored me shitless.

[Ghostsuit]

If Farcry bored you then I dare say this would too, I must admit I only played on to finish it not really because I was overly enjoying the game, story didn't really captivate me and the combat wasn't any where near as enjoyable as COD 4.

[Killah_Villa]

Farcry bored me and I fucking love this game. I'm playing it on DELTA first time through with all the enemys wearing Ironarmor etc etc. Ghostsuit I'v had no problem taking out anybody with one shot, its just depending on where you are and how far away you are!

[Ghostsuit]

Originally Posted by Killah_Villa

Farcry bored me and I fucking love this game. I'm playing it on DELTA first time through with all the enemys wearing Ironarmor etc etc. Ghostsuit I'v had no problem taking out anybody with one shot, its just depending on where you are and how far away you are!

I think I was the other way around, I liked Farcry because at the time there seemed to be a drought of decent FPS and it felt alot more open than the ones currently around this on the other hand came along when we've plenty to choose from and other than the graphic I just felt it didn't stand out, decent enough just not gold material.

It's certainly not impossible to get head shots it's just appeared to me to a little less than honest about it at times and the 'ironarmor' issue just plain annoyed me.

[Killah_Villa]

Its the future though! The suit makes the game stand out and its still pretty much freeroaming! I'm having so much fun in the game just pretending I am predator. They should bring a mod out!