Xbox Gaming in South Africa

The first Crysis game had an almost insatiable lust for top of the range hardware, breaking the back of many a PC. A very good but not great shooter was elevated beyond all others because almost nobody could play it and thus everybody wanted to play it. Luckily for us the sequel is out on consoles and that means you don’t have to spend the extra hard earned cash just to get the game running. One thing everybody can agree on is that it looks stunning, but now that it’s more accessible to everybody (PC and console gamers alike), will it be recognized for more than just a graphical wonder and stand on its own two FPS legs? We round-up early impressions to try and find out:

• 1UP: "Crysis 2 is a beautifully realized game that delivers impressive environments, simplified controls, and a plethora of tactical combat options. The game empowers you to make gameplay choices that complement your play style both in single- and mulitplayer." - A-
• Eurogamer: "It's challenging, facilitates and then demands the use of tactics, and is more generous in scale than almost any other first-person shooter of the past few years." - 8/10
• Gamespot: "Crysis was a superb game, and it wasn't so just because of the astounding technology that brought it to life. Crysis 2 doesn't make as strong of a mark, but in a sea of me-too shooters, it feels unique and offers an exciting journey that's as much your own making as that of the developer." - 8.5/10
• IGN: "It mixes destruction with beauty, and manages to deliver a more focused experience than its predecessor while retaining the building blocks of what made the original Crysis unique." - 9/10
• Joystiq: "I came for the pretty graphics, was happy with the solid shooter underneath them and am pretty much beside myself with how unexpectedly good the online play is." - 4/5 stars
• Metacritic: 87/100

Seems Crytek has something special on its hands with Crysis 2, combining jaw dropping visuals with strong single- and multiplayer elements. You can check it out for yourself when it hits local stores this Friday, 25 March.