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Spearheading the technical superiority of the PC in 2007, Crysis is finally reaching its sequel, this time on PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. A very different result which does not lack interest.

A true gem in 2007 on PC graphics, Crysis had capsized and all retinas configs’ of the time without everyone happy with his play background Four years later, Crytek is the cross-platform play with Crysis 2: If few PC gamers fear consolisation license, many hope a revival still level gameplay . For better or worse, Crysis 2 is very different from its predecessor: this is our test.

A history of Nanosuit

2023. New York is in quarantine : Following the spread of a strange virus, the Big Apple is under the control of the Cell, a private military company (PMC). Alcatraz is a Marine came to secure the area: aircraft which spits impromptu following an attack of an unknown opponent, teammates dead or lost, it looks very bad match for him.

Fortunately, a Prophet comes to her aid, even giving him his strange combination before shooting himself in the middle of pear. Bearer Nanosuit , Alcatraz, so personally involved in a dispute between the army, the SMP and a small group alien who does not really landed on the side of Manhattan to go shopping on 5th Avenue.

This and more nervous than in the original, the story of Crysis 2 is generally pleasant to follow , despite the effects of staging false cradingue the Prototype largely dispensable for coat. Alcatraz is dumb as a prisoner (prisoner Alcatraz. .. here … here …) in a plot that goes beyond and above all a combination that has never sought, and which seems to gradually take control of his body and his mind. Until the outcome almost as classy as the last line of Casino Royale, will be followed with some interest the various twists of history accessible (even to those who have not played the first part) and consistent. But after all, the interests of Crysis is elsewhere.

Farewell, open world

We suspected a bit is now a fact: Crysis open world abandons the formula to propose a sequence of corridors and more traditional areas (very) open. The result is a style of game less free and unfettered, but also a narrative more involved in the gameplay and especially an interesting variety of situations. If you forget quickly the few uninteresting corridors allowing the player to simply blow and Alcatraz to join the next open area, open spaces provide a more interesting challenge

In each case his or her particulars: in beginning of zone, it is advisable to scan the surroundings . In addition to targeting and mark enemies on the radar, this moment of respite also identifies the various alternatives available to us. Efforts to start to follow the indications thus gleaned, but the mastery of progressive gameplay allow us to quickly cordon off the area to our sauce. Thus, if the game tells us a place conducive to discretion (say, on the right of map) or another more straight forward with turret (on the left), it is advisable to trust their instincts and adapt to the evolution of the situation and the number of opponents.

This avoids the side box of the game too, which will chase away the regulars of the series as it is in complete opposition to the essence of the recipe Crysis, but we will especially benefit from the extreme flexibility of the gameplay offered by the Nanosuit . Cleverly constructed and occupied by the enemy, these open areas are still not wide enough to let us play that Crytek with vehicles in them whatsoever. A fact probably attributable to technical limitations of the console versions, which nevertheless did not hurt that the gameplay of the series, including the use of Nanosuit.

Crysis 2, Nanosuit (e)?

Framed more broadly accessible than before, the game system based on the flexibility of using the combination will put a time to prove its effectiveness. Past the disappointment of having access to two different modes , against four in the first part, the gameplay of Crysis 2 is particularly enjoyable. Only the stealth and defense can be activated manually. The strength and speed for running, jumping, sliding or moving heavy objects (read: kicking a car) are done automatically, pumping is a direct gauge your energy.

So, it is now possible to jump high or run very fast while remaining invisible , the combination of these two powers still using a lot of energy in a short time. As in the first part, but this time with more ease, it will therefore be assayed using this power gauge , which charges much faster than in 2007, but in any case require any your attention, especially in the middle of the infiltration attempt. You may have already seen in the videos released by Electronic Arts: the potential fun is pretty huge, because even if the enemies are a little less fools in the first episode, they still remain largely disadvantaged relative to opportunities hallucinating the Nanosuit.

Skip next to an enemy silently to chase remaining invisible to pass under a truck mode and make a slip now kill keeps quiet about next is downright fun, especially completely “improvisation” in the moment. It’s a little magic with what is Crysis 2, less demanding in terms of maneuverability , but equally rewarding at the game fun, especially when big risk taking. Succeed without panic movement difficult, but extremely effective class, it always looks so good, especially when it results in a deluge of graphical effects on screen.

As in the previous installment, Crysis 2 allows us to customize their weapons as their combination. At the 22 available pop-guns (silencers, special finder, laser pointer …) not much new compared to the first aspect: their style and type perfectly accompany your travels in New York. With the resources gleaned from the bodies of various alien enemies – but the slimy creatures resistant metal armor – Alcatraz will therefore evolve its Nanosuit : footsteps muffled, lower consumption of power or beep sound in case of enemy presence close will still improve your playing conditions

A new technical standard?

Under very engaging with, we said, a particularly inventive construction levels , which takes advantage of the verticality of the buildings in New York to Alcatraz a budding Altair. Environments and situations recur over time enough for that feeling of deja vu is not too far, your play also adapting to meet the enemy. Aliens and humans do not fight the same way ; while the strength of humans is their ability to react in a group, which is not too badly transcribed by artificial intelligence (AI) in general, the alien has the capability and weapons making it much beefier and mobile. Preference will be given the discretion of course his last cons, especially when backed by a giant robot.

Unfortunately, it is clear that the penalty bestiary greatly to renew itself and that some sequences are more of a gadget from a specification that real creative inspiration. Thus, it was not until the very end of the game to confront opponents also taking advantage of the invisibility and the few vehicles seem sequences added to rush so as not remove too much from the first component. Similarly, the consistency of environments (really, there are a lot of green in New York!) And the reactions of the AI of an enemy only remind us that we are facing a simple game and not THE Thurs some may be waiting.

In addition to an overall design much more inspired than the first part (the alien Predator divide so probably, personally I agree), Crysis 2 is technically flawless . You touch a word on the different versions at the end of the article, but know this: whatever the medium, Crytek has once again blessed effects of light. The sequences of daylight in the city are simply superb and if the depth of field is necessarily more limited than on Lingshan Islands, the scenery remains simply stunning.

Broken glass, facial animations, demolition of the environment : we really regret the relatively small environments that prevents us from making the same battery of technical tests in 2007. I bet that the PC version will be sufficiently “open” to allow more resourceful to make mods as much fun on the first album. To return to the game, some night sequences are considerably less convincing than in daylight. Without doubt push you to the discretion, Crytek has indeed chosen to propose sequences in the evening too dull (especially on consoles). One appreciates then quickly find the sun reflecting beautifully on the buildings.

The multi classical and effective

The single player campaign of Crysis 2, generally shorter than the first part, you busy for about 9am on Hard . This is not huge, but it will inevitably be tempted to do it again in the wake (at least the best missions) in the last level of difficulty, while enjoying the bonus achieved during our first run . This makes the second adventure much easier but also more fun given the level of mastery of the combination thus obtained.

Like its predecessor, this second component has different multiplayer modes. If we must unfortunately say goodbye to very inspired mode Power Struggle , which was the charm of Crysis, we can rejoice this time of a system of progression by gaining experience in the classical form, but necessary in the background, including improvements at the Nanosuit. Of the six game modes present, only the mode Assault deserves an explanation: the two opposing teams, one that is composed of agents of the Cell, but devoid of Nanosuit present in excess. They must protect computer access points that players embodying Nanoporteurs must hack, which takes a little time.

It feels a bit helpless when it embodies the human classic , which brings a bit of stress clashes and of course leads us to play as a team. The other modes are more traditional, but overall fun, especially with the intelligence level designers at Crytek. Sometimes narrow the twelve cards (three arrive in DLC) are full of hot spots and corners, while enjoying themselves as the verticality inherent in the urban environment of New York. Big regret: Crytek has “forgotten” to create a gameplay specific to aliens that would have authorized “parties in three” interesting. The multiplayer is very classic, but not uninteresting provided with opportunities of Nanosuit.

For the rest, this is the multiplayer Crysis 2 abstract figures:

• 12 cards
• 6 modes: Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, Capture relay Extraction (tick aliens !), Assault and Capture Zone
• 7 game options: Standard (12 players), Beginner (rank below 10), Pro (equivalent Hardcore), Classic (without Nanosuit), Fast Rounds (less distance between two runs), Solo (not accepted Teams) and Single Life (single life).
• 12 cards
• 4 predefined classes, 5 to customize
• Nanosuit of 21 modules (7 modes for each Armor, Strength, and Discretion)
• 3 bonus series of victims (not customizable) and 6 support (collection of Dog Tags on the corpses of enemies killed)

A word about the different versions

On the PC, Crysis has always been a technology showcase and the fact that this is not the case with Crysis 2. The game exploits currently not DirectX 11 and is satisfied with a graphic design level of its illustrious big brother. That said, this is not necessarily a bad thing: Crysis 2 remains a graphic marvel and its relative limitations allow it to run on machines more accessible than Crysis first name.

Since 2007, no title has really supplanted Crysis and we take so once again eyes full, while Crytek still bothered to develop his thinking about the title 3Dvision NVIDIA: the result is very nice in single player with a sight which is practically not hindered by the 3D Stereoscopic while urban environments – already very successful at depth – still earn in relief.

The console versions largely comparable, however, remain down compared to this version “queen”, while providing a record permissible widely compared to the competition. It is certainly not at a Killzone 3 or Uncharted 2 on Playstation 3, but overall is generally satisfactory. Note that the Playstation 3, the 3D does not at all convinced . The graphics look dull and the game slightly less fluid once put the 3D glasses on our nose. The time is probably not yet the stereoscopic 3D on consoles.

Conclusion

The facts are quite simple: those who appreciate the recipe Crysis but regrets the dispersal of the first component should be completely won over by this sequel. On the other hand, strong supporters of the extreme freedom of the original may well become disillusioned with Crysis 2, while simplifying the use of Nanosuit favors crazy combos. Always by his side as interesting laboratory for gameplay conducive to experimentation, Crytek’s latest production does not sacrifice this time over his world for the benefit of his system of play more consistent, but also much shorter than its predecessor, Crysis 2 is ultimately a very exciting development of a strong and refreshing concept, which opens this time to console players more accustomed to the cramped corridors to the joy of the outdoors. Nothing to spoil this beautiful second Crysis remains a PC (very nice console, but the difference is still significant) even if it digs through the gap over the competition appears much narrower than in 2007.