Review: Crysis (X360)

6 Nov, 2011

Title: Crysis
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3 (Reviewed on Xbox 360)
Developer: Crytek Frankfurt
Publisher: Electronic Arts
TL;DR: Compelling and atmospheric – a must for all FPS fans
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Crysis has been around for almost four years already, having first been released as a PC only title in 2007. Back then you needed a PC with very impressive specs to enjoy Crysis and so although the game is very well known a lot of players couldn’t afford the necessary hardware to play their own copy. It has recently made the transition from PC to consoles in a download only format through the Playstation Network and Xbox Live and this has introduced the original Crysis to a much larger audience. So how has it aged, and do its best features survive the transition?

For those who are unfamiliar with the game allow me to begin with the basic storyline: the year is 2020 you are part of an elite military team dropped, quite literally, onto a remote island in the Pacific which is occupied by North Koreans. A group of U.S. scientists had been carrying out research on the island, and managed to communicate that they had made a world changing discovery just before contact is lost. You play Nomad, part of Team Raptor, sent in to investigate and rescue the hostages. As you would expect the mission doesn’t go as planned and before long you find yourself not only fighting a large number of angry North Koreans but aliens, too. From the get-go you will feel as if you are part of a big budget 80′s action sci-fi movie.

Each zone is absolutely huge and there is always more than one route to your objective, as with Far Cry. You have a ton of choices when it comes to the way you dispatch your foes when you do reach them, too. Are you a charge in with fists and guns blazing type of player, or do you prefer to sneak around the perimeter and pick off your enemies one by one? Either way you it’s up to you to decide; each play through really can be unique in this game.

Which brings me to the real showpiece of this game: your futuristic military armour, or Nano Suit. It comes with various modes for you to choose from: speed, armour, cloak and strength. You are encouraged to pick and choose which best suits your combat style. Guns can be modified with items and come with various add-ons; they come in all shapes and sizes and there’s even a hand-held nuclear grenade launcher.

In addition to swimming, walking, running, crouching and sprinting you can also take command of a variety of vehicles to help you along your way, and this really helps the game stay fresh and interesting. Variety really is the key feature of Crysis.

Something you should note is that the different difficulty levels aren’t as linear or clear cut as you would expect and instead you lose capabilities on ‘harder levels’, such as no weapon indicator or crosshair. Also, the North Koreans will actually speak Korean on the very ‘hardest’ level. It’s not a simple case of your enemies being more numerous and badass as is usually the case.

The graphics haven’t aged a lot although they can seem a tad unremarkable when compared to very recent games, but considering how long ago the game was made and the fact it’s been transitioned from PC that’s to be expected. You will probably spot a few glitches throughout the course of a single gameplay, most likely when approaching items. They were however infrequent enough not to affect my enjoyment of the game. The sound effects remain impressive, and provides the game with a hefty dose of realism. The voice acting and script are nothing to write home about, but there’s nothing too cringe worthy either.

Although Crysis is a very good game overall, it does have its shortcomings. For a start, there’s no multiplayer mode on the console versions. My only major irritant with the game was the sometimes soul destroying checkpoint system. There is no quick-save option, and so I often saw twenty minutes of painstaking progress obliterated in the space of a few seconds. You will need to be patient with Crysis to fully enjoy it.

Whereas the first half of the game is excellent, the second half becomes far more linear and your enemies can actually become easier to beat. At times the last few hours will feel like a bit of a grind and, dare I say it, a drag. But despite its flaws Crysis is a must for all FPS fans and is likely to hold the interest of other gamers right through to the end.

The indisputably great thing about this game is the price. For a budget price you’re getting a very good deal indeed. Crysis will probably give you around ten hours of gameplay, more if you haven’t played a lot of FPS’s.

The Good:

• Fitting and compelling atmosphere
• Graphics and sound are both of a very good standard
• Large zones make the game more variable

The Bad:

• Frustrating checkpoint system
• No multiplayer mode

Family Focus
Crysis contains a lot of violence and horror and as such is absolutely not suitable for children. The game is rated ESRB: M and PEGI: 16.