The story takes place in 2023 where Ceph alien forces (Unrelated to the aliens from Crysis 1) have overrun New York City. You play Alcatraz, a marine of few words despatched by submarine to fight off the invasion. After a close call with an alien dropship, Prophet, the original nanosuit wearer rescues the half dead marine and gives him his suit to continue the war against the Ceph. The story is mainly told through conversations with characters and the occasional cutscene. The story of Crysis 2 isn't going to set the gaming world on fire and there are few links to the original game but it's the emotional tone set from the introduction video all the way through to the desperate civilians clinging to survival that give the story an edge over other games in the genre.
Unlike other recent shooters, developer Crytek has made the effort to include a good sized twelve hour campaign set entirely in Manhattan. The game is fully and disappointingly linear with the nano suit offering different options to get to the next objective. Fans of the original will be baffled by the lack of an open world in this urban jungle but the suit offers enough variation to keep the campaign fresh. The nanosuit now feature a tactical visor, allowing you to survey the battlefield and plan your approach. Want to go through shooting every enemy? Engage armour mode and open fire. Is creeping around like the predator your thing? Use the cloak to slip by unnoticed, it's completely up to you. The campaign also features collectables such as dog tags, souvenirs and audio logs for the trophy enthusiast though these won't matter to most. Vehicles have also been regulated allowing for greater focus on the nanosuit's abilities which is also slightly disappointing. The game's online options have received a large overhaul with infantry only skirmishes across fifteen maps with all players being given an upgradeable nano suit with a fifty level cap. Matches can get hectic and tense with all players using the different abilities to their advantage. Two downloadable map packs have already been released and this combined with innovation of the nanosuit helps distinguish Crysis 2 from it's competitors.
The nano suit has been optimised for console gaming in that Armour and cloaking modes are mapped to the shoulder buttons while speed kicks in when you sprint. Strength can be used to pick up and throw objects and enemies while cloak is used to sneak up on enemies for a stealth kill. Weapons feel solid to shoot and can be easily customised in game with any attachments found by holding the select button. The nano suit is well balanced due to the energy meter which recharges when no abilities are being used. The game is a challenge even on easy and enemies will mow Alcatraz down easily if the nano suit's abilities are not used efficiently. On the other hand the artificial intelligence can get quite poor and alarmingly buggy at times. Enemies will walk in circles, get stuck on the scenery and will occasionally ignore an ally dropping dead in front of them. The lacklustre AI does detract from the gameplay slightly and makes you feel less powerful as a result. Thankfully the game is fun otherwise however you choose to play. You'll generally fight the standard FPS fare Cell forces who want the nanosuit back and the agile Ceph who leap around and rush you for a melee attack. Killing these freakish foes nets you nano catalyst which can be used to enhance the different abilities of the nanosuit. This provides a good incentive to kill as many aliens as possible through the game.
Just like it's predecessor Crysis 2 is an incredible looking game. The Cry Engine 3 truly delivers an unparalleled visual experience with the PS3 version being no slouch compared with the PC. The authenticity and destruction of the big apple never looked better and both aliens and humans show great detail. A sweeping orchestral score accompanies the campaign well and the game runs smoothly despite the masses of polygons being processed in such an outstanding technical package. Computer games don't look much better than Crysis 2.
Crysis 2 is a great shooter that adds to the original while keeping the insanely amazing looking graphics intact. If you like first person shooters and want a more varied approach, Crysis 2 has you covered.
Rating: 8.5/10
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