Crysis is 3 games in one: a FarCry sequel, an Alien invasion, and a quest to tweak your rig...
And, so it seems, as did the fun when I emerged on the snowy hillside and unloaded on the alien hordes.
Which came around just when I'd had my fill of the North Korean regulars.
Gameplay: 10
I wasn't a huge FarCry fan. The checkpoints, constant search for ammo and health packs, bungling AI, and feeling that I was being hunted didn't appeal to me.
Crysis has none of these issues. It improves on the original FarCry in just about every way. The checkpoints are still there, but they are very well placed and I never once had that "been here already" boredom that I felt with FarCry. The ammo is available at just the right times during the campaign and health packs are obsolete with the ingenious Nano Suit element to the gameplay. The AI plays much smarter than it did in FarCry, and in Crysis it is clear that although outnumbered, YOU ARE THE HUNTER. Sweet.
Graphics: 10
It took research and effort to get Crysis looking and playing the way I wanted it to look on my system. This is something that I enjoy in and of itself. If tweaking config files, upgrading the older components in your system, and stretching your performance to its max doesn't appeal to you (and you don't have a $5K rig), you likely won't get those "10" graphics.
Sound: 9
The sound of the action is well done - particularly the explosions in the game. Even the suit sound, which is played over and over again throughout the mission as you are constantly switching modes, doesn't get annoying.
The voice acting is a bit stiff, but on the whole the production values, including the sound production, is quite good. The cutscenes are a big step up from FarCry.
Value: 9
The single player mission is a good length - and none of it feels repetitive or comes off as "filler material". Adding to the value is the total shift in gameplay that arrives with the alien hordes. Crysis turns from a sandbox full of toy soldiers into a scene straight out of Alien vs. Predator. The strategy you use evolves with your new enemy, and the fury of automatic weaponry builds to great satisfaction.
There is good replay value in this game. The open nature of the beginning missions, and the visceral thrill of the alien missions are worth another look after completing the game for the first time - and I, for one, found myself wanting more.
Tilt: 10
In the end its all about fun - and in Crysis, there's plenty to be had. Never dull and constant in putting you into the action, Crysis is money well spent.