By Cody Heintz

With the demands of both PC and console gamers, Crytek Studios delivers a game that not only pushes the limits of PC hardware, but also challenges Call of Duty as the primary console first-person shooter.  Crysis 2 takes place three years after the original game and, unlike Crytek’s previous games in the Crysis and Far-cry series, Crysis 2 doesn’t take place in a jungle, but in a futuristic and war-torn New York City or “urban jungle.”  In this game the player controls a U.S. Marine named Alcatraz who takes control of a living nano-suit while having to fight a two-sided battle against both the Cephaloids (Ceph) and the corrupt CELL PMC.

The story of Crysis 2 is about as well done as any other shooter game on the market.   

The graphics in Crysis 2 are a sight to behold and set the bar for any new and upcoming shooter.  The creation of the destroyed Big Apple is reason enough for anyone to at least rent Crysis 2. The city is beautiful to look at, but also has many details to draw you in such as a destroyed Statue of Liberty in the middle of Manhattan Island.  Also, there is a high level of immersion in Crysis 2 due to the menu and upgrade system.  You never break from the first-person point of view during game play and this makes you believe that you are actually Alcatraz.  

The gameplay of Crysis 2 is on par with Killzone and is better than any new shooter.  What adds variety to the gameplay is the nano-suit. It has three different modes that a player can transition from and the transitions from each mode are quick and painless, which allows for many different options in combat. The three different modes players can choose from are power, armor and stealth.  Stealth allows players to be practically invisible and allows for easy infiltration; Power allows players to have increased speed and strength, which gives the player the ability to see enemies through windows and buildings; and Armor makes the player a walking tank and nearly impervious to most fire.  Also, unlike other shooter games, the gameplay for Crysis 2 adds another dimension to combat, as players will have to deal with foes that appear from both above and below them.

Crysis 2 is the complete package and anybody that is a FPS fan should pick this up. Crysis 2 is available in 3-D for those that have compatible TVs.