Ok, now that I have stopped drooling over my copy of Crysis I guess it is time to review it. Just before I got the game, I was thinking about how many reviewers are whores for graphics and are therefore saying it was great for just that reason. When I got the dough to buy it myself, I realized that was not the case-- but I can now piss over the console crowd with Crysis. (not that I have not been pissing on you, it is just that I have a bigger reason to now, if you remember my Gears of War review.)
Crysis is a game that features a squad of elite US Army Special Forces troops in cool-looking nanosuits which have the power to enhance everything from strength to speed. They're flown in to the Lingshan Islands (in the Philippine Sea) to rescue a research team that the North Koreans have captured and done horrible things to. The plot goes on, and aliens appear for a good arse fuck somewhere around halfway through the game. It then has a shitty cliff-hanger ending that I hate, for the record. Well, that is basically the story in a nutshell.
Right, for the good. Crysis stands out in just everything, from a believable story (aside from it being too close to the present day) to well drawn characters and AI. If you realize, I tend to give less word count in the review to graphics, as I feel that it is not as important as AI, story or gameplay. Don’t worry, it will stay the same this week. The graphics are great, everything looks like how they do in real life, and it is the kind of stuff graphics whores will love… yes, that’s all I will say about it.
Now for the game play.
Controls are top notch, with more than enough bindings and with a keyboard and mouse, headshots are easy as usual. But this time, all the controls are overhauled to give PC players a fun experience. A good example is The Witcher which is not like some horrible console port (see Medal of Honor: Airborne), which features too much pandering to the dirty underlings of the console world, not giving the heavenly PC players what they deserve. AI is also close to perfect, with the Korean bastards who try to kill you using proper squad tactics and therefore, making the whole game a satisfying challenge from one fight to another. The world is vastly open ended, with endless paths into enemy camps to do all sorts of things. My preferred method is to turn invisible for a short time with my nanosuit and give the Koreans a nasty surprise from behind, something stalkers will enjoy. THE GAME ALSO HAS A FUCKING GOOD SHOTGUN. Something I love, if you have read my Gears of War review.
Still, there are things that fuck up a game, no matter how good.
For one, Crysis has a horrible cliff hanger ending that I hate so much, because I see these things as a gimmick to milk the series for even more money. Another thing is the horrible treatment of my computer system. I wanted to go to the United Nations for international crimes against my computer, but knowing how useless they are I just turned down the graphics even more. Don’t get me wrong, the game still looks better that all others in the market now even with medium graphical setting.
One level is also fucked up. At one point, you are to go into an alien ship with zero gravity. It is easy to get lost, as everywhere looks the same. I call it the "Halo series” syndrome, where areas are identical to each other and the level designer is just crazy.
Still, BUY THIS GAME. It is the best of 2007 and I doubt anything in 2008 is going to top it. Ok, fine, except Brothers in Arms 3, but SHUT UP I am trying to make a point here. Even if your computer is not powerful, you will still have great fun, although you will be missing out on the lovely graphics. But that's about it.
Now... the H.O.N.O.U.R. system. (http://grace-and-salt.blogspot.com/2007/12/oms-and-airborne.html at the bottom of the post).
H – Honesty
9/10. All in the story is great, except the shitty ending.
O – Originality
8/10. Cool new nanosuit idea never used in a game before but same shooter mechanics as before. Nothing wrong with that but it just docks the “O” score a little.
N – N-joyment
9.9/10. The whole game is DAMN FUN, one of the best of the year. Only slight problems with one mission, but nothing to stop you from buying it.
O – Overhype
10/10. All that was promised was delivered. Nothing to shit on here.
U – User-friendliness
10/10. Perfect controls, well done user interface and cool nanosuit powers.
R – Revisitability
9/10. Just something you cannot get tired of playing. Thrashing North Koreans never gets old.
Overall rating: 9.9/10. Almost perfect. Not there yet, but then again, who is, except maybe John McCain.
Credits:
Review by: Isaac Lu
Imaginary background music: Isaac Lu
Idea for reviews: Isaac Lu and Lu Zheng Ping
Gracefully hosted by: Lu Zheng Ping
H.O.N.O.U.R. system by: Lu Zheng Ping
Smashed down and reassembled by: Lu Zheng Ping
Ask me why I spit on console players the same way Indians of a higher caste do on lower ones at: isaacluzr@gmail.com
Now, I am getting tired of saying this but please FILL UP THE COMMENTS PAGE!! It is the least you can do after all the work I put in.
JOHN McCAIN FOR PRESIDENT!! http://johnmccain.com/
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