Crysis 2

When Crytek first announced that Crysis 2 was to be released on consoles as well as PC, there were naturally a few concerned gamers. The original Crysis was universally regarded as a ravenous system hog unlike anything that had come before it, so the news that the sequel would be able to run on current generation console hardware came across as ambitious, to say the least. Now, after having thrashed through Crysis 2's relentless and captivating campaign, together with a surprisingly engrossing multiplayer component, it's clear that we needn't have worried: this sequel manages to fill the first games' gargantuan Nanosuit boots with style.

The original was probably better known for its ridiculous system requirements than it was for actual gameplay and storyline, regarded by some as an impressive technical showpiece more than anything else. Crysis picked up criticism for being derivative and uninspired, with too little innovation to back up the admittedly breathtaking graphics. The same can not be said for Crysis 2, however, because for the sequel the developers have tweaked the key elements of the first game to craft a far more competent overall package. Yes, Crysis 2 is awe-inspiring to look at, but this time around it's not a one-trick pony.

If you missed out on Crysis, fear not - the overarching plot may follow on for this sequel but by no means is your enjoyment of Crysis 2 dependent on you having played the first. Kicking off more or less right after the ending of the original, Crysis 2 takes the alien invasion story out of the jungles of a remote island and into the streets of New York City. The alien threat, together with the spread of the deadly Manhattan virus, has led to a total lock-down of Manhattan Island. A Marine Recon team is sent into the hot zone on a search and rescue mission, looking for a CryNet scientist who supposedly has vital information regarding the alien attackers. When the recon team's submarine is ripped apart by an alien craft, it's only our hero Alcatraz who survives - just barely - among the debris on the beach.

It's here that we meet Prophet, the team leader from the original Crysis, resplendent in his Nanosuit as he fights off the alien ship and saves Alcatraz from certain doom. Battle-weary and broken, Prophet can't fight any longer and so the Nanosuit is handed over to you, along with the responsibility that comes with it. Yes, you guessed it: it's up to Alcatraz to save humanity. As cliched as that may sound, Crysis 2 is a far deeper and more intimate tale than the original, giving much more insight into not just the aliens but also the Nanosuit itself and the integral part it plays in the whole saga. The story is stylishly and dramatically presented, really giving you a sense of being part of something bigger than your typical "Marine vs. Aliens" scenario as the plot twists and grows.

An early criticism that can't be ignored is that Crysis 2 takes far too long to build up speed. The first few missions seem more like an introduction to the main game, feeling very much like the generic shooter we all hoped this game would not turn out to be. Enemy AI feels lazy and the levels feel somewhat uninspired, making for a somewhat boring start to the game. The problem is that there is just no sense of urgency during early levels. You are almost funnelled along through the first hour of gameplay, using the suits powers because you know you are supposed to, not because you are reacting dynamically to what is going on around you. Push through the first few missions though, and things soon improve dramatically. The gameplay intensifies, the story gains momentum and it doesn't let up from there.

Enemy AI becomes far more believable once the alien Ceph enter the fray. A casual 'run and gun' attitude may get you through those first unimaginative missions, but you will soon have to up your game significantly, using Alcatraz's full skill set just to survive. The scale of it all can be quite astounding by this point, as the world around you starts to fall apart - the earth trembles as huge stretches of highway give way beneath your feet; towering skyscrapers collapse to the ground as the ground shakes; at one point the whole area is flooded as an immense tidal wave tears through the streets. Everything is experienced from a first person perspective, and it's a really absorbing experience. The fact that it all looks so amazing just makes it all the more believable and intense for the player.

As hard as it must have been to follow a game like Crysis, heralded for its sublime visuals and the powerful engine that drove it all, it must be said that Crytek has outdone themselves from a graphical perspective. The original is still a sight to behold on a properly spec'd PC, but it's quite amazing to see just how much has been squeezed out of the Xbox 360 to deliver this sequel in all its glory. Granted, there were times when the frame rate dropped slightly, but these were rare occasions. There is stunning detail to every element of the game world, from the breath-taking lighting effects to the architecture and environmental design, all helping to make this version of Manhattan feel so real and beautifully decayed. There aren't all that many different enemy classes to deal with for either the human or alien factions, but those that are here are fluidly animated and look great.

The Ceph, the alien adversary making a return from the first game, are a nasty bunch to do battle with, and offer a totally different play experience compared to the human enemies. Whereas the humans - on Alcatraz's trail to retrieve the Nanosuit by any means necessary - are clumsy and prone to AI pattern bugs, the aliens are faster, smarter, and react to the environment in a much more realistic way. The more agile aliens can flank you without you knowing it, suddenly ganging up on you if you're not careful, and making for a much more tense fight. Human AI fares better later on when you team up with them to take on the Ceph, resulting in some astonishing large scale battles. It's these moments, when in full swing, US Marines and Ceph going at it, bullets whizzing overhead, that Crysis 2 really shines. Even at its most intense, the original Crysis was a far cry from the havoc that ensues once this sequel finds its groove.

The Nanosuit - a core piece of the whole Crysis narrative - plays a vital role in both the story and the action itself. The suit powers may be the same as that of the first game, but the implementation is somewhat different and more streamlined. You still have your cloak and maximum armour abilities - mapped to the shoulder buttons - but the speed and power options have been better integrated into the standard controls. Want to leap over a bus? Just hold in the jump button. Similarly, to power kick a parked car into an unsuspecting enemy, hold in that melee button for extra strength. It works brilliantly and is far more intuitive than having to remember even more complicated button combinations. The Nanosuit is also upgradeable, so you can improve your energy recharge time, suppress the sound of your footsteps, and all manner of other tweaks to suit your style.

Using the Nanosuit to the full, which goes hand in hand with carefully selecting the right suit upgrades for the job, becomes a major factor in deciding how a mission should be tackled. Most of the time it's up to you whether you want to play the stealthy creeper or the deadly war machine, and while many games offer this opportunity to "play it how you want to", it's not just marketing nonsense in this case. It's possible to completely circumnavigate large groups of enemies with some careful planning and suit energy management, just as it is possible to go in guns ablazing and tear the place up. As a general guideline though, a mix of both stealth and aggression is your best bet, because taking on multiple adversaries head on can prove quite fatal if unplanned.

Just as important as the Nanosuit is to the single-player campaign, it also goes a long way to add a new dimension to the multiplayer modes on offer. What would otherwise be just another deathmatch or capture-the-flag mode, suddenly takes on a whole different angle when the suit powers come into play. In honesty, the multiplayer aspect of Crysis 2 was not something I was looking forward to - sometimes it seems like developers just slap a few multiplayer modes onto their game to keep the punters happy, even when it doesn't actually suit the game in question. How pleasantly surprised I was then, to find that Crysis 2 - with it's own take on a few traditional multiplayer modes - is a real blast to play online. The level design is diverse, with a good mix between claustrophobic interior sections and wide open terrain, made all he more entertaining by the gameplay options that the Nanosuit powers bring to the action. Taking a page out of the Call of Duty book, there are killstreak-like perks to strive for, and customizable load-outs to suit your play style, all adding up to a robust and exciting multiplayer component.

As entertaining as the multiplayer may be, in stark contrast to many of today's blockbuster shooters, it's the gritty and relentless single-player adventure which is the real star of the show. The slow start is unfortunate but forgivable, as are the other minor bugs which dot the otherwise spectacular Crysis 2 landscape. There are occasional sound issues - one section was accompanied by a loud buzzing noise which only went away at the end of the level - but overall the explosive sound effects and emotive soundtrack compliment the stunning visuals and intense gameplay. Crysis 2 may not offer much in the way of innovation, but it's a solid shooter with well developed underlying mechanics and an arresting narrative which demands your attention. Just give it a fair chance to get under your skin.

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