Console: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Players: Single / Multi
Release Date: 22nd February 2013
Developers: Crytek UK
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Genre: 1st Person Shooter
Price: €54.99
It had won awards even before the gaming community eve had a chance to play it, it was listed as one of the most highly anticipated games of 2013 and this weekend gamers all over Europe finally got their chance to once more don the suit and take on the roll of Prophet. Crysis 3 is the direct sequel to the 2011 game and obviously the third game in the series with the first Crysis released all the way back in 2007 (for the record I’m not counting the spin-off titles!).
Crysis 2 didn’t live up to the expectations of many PC gamers with many people calling out developers for their choice in sacrificing visuals for gameplay, taking that on board the team behind Crysis 3 and Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli stated that the PC version of Crysis 3 would “melt down PCs” (he was obviously joking about ruining computers) because they were going to push for some of the best defined graphics in any game ever… they weren’t lying!
Anyway on with the review and I’ll get back to the visuals later… trust me they are not easily ignored!
Crysis 3 follows on from the events of Crysis 2, Prophet awakens twenty fours later in the year 2047 to a world he barely recognises. A group of insurgents are responsible for his rescue/awakening and they are led by a familiar face, ‘Psycho’ who has been stripped of his Nano Suit. Prophet learns that CELL, the people originally responsible for his suit, have driven the world into despair, driving countries and their people into debt, effectively forcing them into slave labour while the organisation’s control over the Earth only grows and spreads further and further. Alongside his old ally Prophet joins the Resistance and begins an assault against CELL that takes him back to New York, a city transformed into a rain forest, encased by a Nanodome. The fate of mankind lies solely in the hands of Prophet but with each passing moment, his own humanity slips further away, can he hold onto it long enough to save us all?
Don’t blame yourself if you find that you’re drifting in and out of the story, it’s not hard to get distracted by the world around you, Crysis 3 or Graphics 3 as it’s affectionately known as since the weekend is without a doubt one of the most breathtaking games I’ve ever played. Once you find your way off the ship and make your way into the Nanodome you might find you don’t want to leave, the world you are in is almost more beautiful than the real world. Everything from the grass plains, rusted out city transport, roaring rivers, terrifying Ceph stalkers are pristine, detailed and something to behold. The backdrop of ruined New York now a playground for nature looks fantastic and as you traverse the terrain do take the time to stop and smell the roses (while you fire off an arrow or hail of bullets!).
So what an interesting and well scripted story, beautiful worlds that make the view out your window pale in comparison, does Crysis 3 have it all sewn up? Yes and No! There are some problem with the game, but look no one is perfect! Controls at first feel rather simple and the HUD is fairly easy to navigate but with a myriad of input commands from the Visor, Nano Visor, Weapon Select, Zoom, Focus, Steady Aim, Trigger, Weapon Mod, Suit Mod and everything else I’ve forgotten it can be a bit of a workout for your fingers and no matter how dextrous you might be it’s still a challenge.
The AI in the game feels very hit and miss, I’ve found soldiers are smart enough to open fire on the area or lob a few few explosives in the direction they just saw me ‘Cloak’ in (something that took me by surprise…smart b*st*rds!) but at the same time, I’ve encountered soldiers who are impeded by invisible body and don’t react at all (probably shouldn’t be griping about this because I’d have been killed).
While I did mention the control system is a little finicky I should point out that the customization and range of abilities and mods that are at your disposal is quite impressive. In particular the Nanosuit upgrades are interesting, in particular on they can impact on you and the difficulty of the stage, having developed two loadouts, the first one put together with some thought and the second slung together because I went on a spending spree (you will find upgrade kits throughout the city) I quickly saw how the mods can work together to impede or improve your game. Weapon modding is also open to you, with new accessories from bullet heads to different barrels and clipons added at your whim, silencers for taking down patrols or incendiary devices to let them go out with bang!
My adventures in Crysis 3 found myself crouched, cloaked and with a constant arrow drawn for maximum damage, turning the hunted Prophet into a hunter!
To summarize Crysis 3 is a banquet for the eyes, while it’s not perfect, no one can find fault with the visuals in the game and if they can clearly the problem is with their vision and not the game! Fans of the series and Prophet will not be disappointed by Crysis 3 by any means, in fact it’s a real treat and fits in perfectly as the next instalment in the world of CELL and Ceph! New to the series? Then don’t worry you can pick up the game without worrying about catching up with the history and backstory as you are given enough information to piece it together. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some soldiers to go hunting…
Good Points
Did I mention the graphics?
Plenty of customization
Bad Points
Clunky controls
Clunkier AI
Rating: 8.5 / 10 Arrows
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
