Overrated but nevertheless good (Crysis (PC))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Crysis (PC)
Date:	05/09/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great graphics, nice open-ended gameplay

Disadvantages: Brutal system requirements

Crysis is a game that was developed by Crytek, the same team behind the brilliant game Far Cry. Much hype surrounded this game's release, particularly in relation to the stupendously high system requirements needed to play the game, and resultingly the superb graphics and general presentation.

It's a typical science fiction story in which an alien spacecraft is discovered in the Phillipines. You play a man sent to investigate - United States Delta Force operator Jake Dunn - and you are also kitted out in a special suit that gives you numerous rather awesome augmentations, such as super-speed, super strength, and even a temporary cloaking mechanism. This is all too useful, considering the North Koreans show up and aren't too pleased, and of course, the alien entities that emerge from the ship also are rather hostile little beasties.

Much like Far Cry, Crysis puts an emphasis on being open-ended, and allowing the player numerous ways to complete their mission objectives. The map is HUGE, and thanks to the visuals, offers some wonderful sights of beaches and long, expansive vistas which, of course, you'll probably blow to smithereens most of the time. The non-linear aspect is enhanced somewhat by the suit your character wears - it means you can be evasive and use your invisibility to hide from enemies, or simply dive in with a gun and blow everyone to Hell. This is compounded by some very clever AI that won't make it easy for you - they will remember where you last stood, and will patrol around nervously for a long time after you make an appearance.

Crysis is undoubtedly a fun gaming, but I found myself rather bewildered by the brutal system requirements needed to play the game to even a good standard. It means casual gamers are going to have a hard time playing it at anything over 20FPS, and even then, you seem to need a Nuclear Power Station just to run the damn thing. That said, if you can run it well, you'll get an exciting and refreshingly open FPS that doesn't really justify its running cost, and is definitely overrated, but nevertheless quite a fun little shooter.

Summary: Needs a lot to run, but a good game