My review of Crysis 2 (single-player)
The first Crysis excelled both in audio and video department, it was a true technological marvel. With a brand-new engine and setting, and with little to no experience with consoles, Crytek actually managed to pull it off, creating one my best experiences this year.
First of all, I'd start with the tech. The lightning effects (fire, for instance) are looking way more real then before. Textures, animations and character models went through a little improvement, and the particle effects are better then in Crysis. The A.I could've used some improvement though. It's all right overall, but you can check the youtube for AI bugs, there's a ton in C2. Few minor pop-ins, but nothing serious that takes away from the experience. Also, the game is very optimised, I played through with a 2-year old rig without problems. (Full HD, maxed out)
The game also excells in audio. The original soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer, are some of the best I've heard in a video game. Filled with emotion, hostality, and blends perfectly with the atmosphere of the game. The voice acting is good, and overall the sounds are great.
As for the gameplay: the difficulty is just right. The pacing is great, and the nano-suit is a great addition. The shooting mechanics are solid, and the gunfights are impressive. There's a **** ton of collectibles which can extend the 8-10 hour campaign with a few hours. You can also upgrade your weapons and nanosuit, so you can play through the game with your own style.
Overall, the game is definetly worth the money. I can't comment on the online and the DX-11 version, I'm not much of an online player, but I've heard its a solid addition. Few holes in the story can be found, but overall the dialogues and the story was alright. Check it out.