Crysis 2 in 2020 - A much better game than I remember.

[Adam Beckett]

Crysis 2 in 2020 - A much better game than I remember.

I have not played Crysis 2 since the launch days.

There is not much I remember outside the massively annoying Hans Zimmer soundtrack loop and the 'squids in armored suits', jumping around madly.

Revisiting it in 2020 after such a long period, I am truly surprised by it's overall quality. Both, as a Single Player First Person Shooter and as a technical achievement in the technical graphics department.

https://youtu.be/RmLtDM7liWY

I liked the graphics back then (since I first saw it in the leaked DX9 PS3/PC build), but seeing it now, I am probably way more educated to appreciate the rendering effects and the artistic choices and innovation, that was inside the CryEngine 3.

https://youtu.be/hZgt4hA4-pc

Many features are now standard in FPS engines and new techniques succeeded the old ones, but overall, this game can still impress old people like me. Some aspects are still 'top tier' (this game has some of the best Bloom and Bokeh in any FPS).

Aside from the game/rendering engine, the game's vertical level design is still outstanding and thanks to the dynamic sandbox level gameplay combined with the Nano-suit, it is still fun to play. The length of the campaign feels unusual for today's shorter single player FPS campaign standards.

I can see elements in Crysis 2 which remind me of Half-Life's gameplay/campaign design. But, also things, which DICE and their Battlefield games inherited.

As I remember, many Crysis 1 fans were rather irritated - not to say 'disappointed' - by Crysis 2, since it was much more of a 'cross-platform', console-'friendly' FPS. Smaller levels (or rather 'levels' instead the (fake) 'open world'. "Gamepad support" made some PC FPS fans uneasy.

Still this game is far more enjoyable today, then I remember. I can even play it without turning off the music. Too bad that the multiplayer is no longer available. The little that I played back then was quite fun and different due to the use of the nano-suit.

These days, of course, all the 'nano-suit' abilities and mobility are part of every online FPS game out there. Even though, they are different games and extended the 'abilities' manifold.

[Ceejay]

yeah they reduced the map size to account for consoles. however as you say its still a great game really.

Its like most things with game sequels. If Devs do something different, then hardcore fans do not always give it a chance or are disappointed they did not get more of the same. That is fine really, each to their own, but I do feel some people did not give it a chance.

I am actually having fun with the 3d modes, since I have a 3d monitor. Certainly adds to the gameplay, I wish more games had the feature...(I know why they do not, but its just a wish :p )

[Adam Beckett]

Originally posted by Ceejay:

I am actually having fun with the 3d modes, since I have a 3d monitor. Certainly adds to the gameplay, I wish more games had the feature...(I know why they do not, but its just a wish :p )

I love 3D! I call it the "poor man's VR". Though, those monitors and Nvidia 3D Kits were not cheap, back in the day.

I still use a 3rd gaming PC with Windows 8.1 and the last Nvidia stereoscopic 3D driver, to be able to play all the "3D Vision Ready" games and many other compatible DX9 based titles.

You are probably aware of this (so, I might waste your time): Even though Nvidia stopped supporting 3D and Windows 10 does neither, there is a somewhat acceptable solution out there, which works with both, AMD Radeon cards and latest Nvidia drivers:

ReShade (ReShade.me)

Among their post-processing options, there is a map-based "Depth3D" implementation.

https://reshade.me/forum/shader-presentation/2128-3d-depth-map-based-stereoscopic-shader

It is not as excellent as "3D Ready" games, but with a little bit of tinkering and tweaking, it can work quite well?

[Ceejay]

Originally posted by Adam Beckett:

ReShade (ReShade.me)

Among their post-processing options, there is a map-based "Depth3D" implementation.

https://reshade.me/forum/shader-presentation/2128-3d-depth-map-based-stereoscopic-shader

It is not as excellent as "3D Ready" games, but with a little bit of tinkering and tweaking, it can work quite well?

i did not know that to be fair, I am using a passive 3d monitor.

Thank you for the info. that is a great link :)

[Vassago Rain]

It wasn't really reduced for consoles, or the multiplayer maps would have been equally as "small," which they're not. They could have made it big if they wanted, but they wanted vertical, with lots of vectors for approach, some emergent gameplay, options. They wanted a jungle. The 'jungle' became an urban jungle, and you're framed as a very precious, rare, dangerous prey animal. Everybody wants you, but no one explains why until the last moment.

Crysis 2 and 3 are so heavily underrated, it's sad.

[Ceejay]

I cannot find it at the moment, but I am positive I read an interview with the devs, where they actually stated the game was limited due to consoles. There could be other reasons multiplayer maps are different sizes (less objects, less ai needing resources etc). i could be wrong mind.

I do agree the 2nd is underated (I have replayed it multiple times). I have still yet to replay the 3rd, it bored me the first time through, perhaps I was just not in the right mindset at the time.

[fenderjaguar]

we were expecting Crysis/Warhead, but it being where you could move around in a city. Maybe not quite like GTA IV, but at least a little more like that.

What we got was more like the earlier part of half life 2, whoever said that was spot on. It was also pretty long, fairy interesting story, that was quite engaging and had a few twists and turns.

It's a pretty good game, but nothing like as good as either Crysis or Crysis warhead, or even the original Far Cry for that matter (although I mostly speak from nostalgia on that one, and I'm sure it hasn't aged very well).

Also, the graphics losing all their sharpness and clarity, in a haze of blurry post processing effects, and the consolisation of the controls and gameplay was pretty much unforgivable. The highly effective weapon wheel from the original because an unresponsive afterthought that didn't work properly.

The DX11 patch, that came way later was a joke. The tessellation is unoptimised in the true sense of the word

https://techreport.com/review/21404/crysis-2-tessellation-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

[Vassago Rain]

Originally posted by blockywinkle:

we were expecting Crysis/Warhead, but it being where you could move around in a city. Maybe not quite like GTA IV, but at least a little more like that.

What we got was more like the earlier part of half life 2, whoever said that was spot on. It was also pretty long, fairy interesting story, that was quite engaging and had a few twists and turns.

It's a pretty good game, but nothing like as good as either Crysis or Crysis warhead, or even the original Far Cry for that matter (although I mostly speak from nostalgia on that one, and I'm sure it hasn't aged very well).

Also, the graphics losing all their sharpness and clarity, in a haze of blurry post processing effects, and the consolisation of the controls and gameplay was pretty much unforgivable. The highly effective weapon wheel from the original because an unresponsive afterthought that didn't work properly.

The DX11 patch, that came way later was a joke. The tessellation is unoptimised in the true sense of the word

https://techreport.com/review/21404/crysis-2-tessellation-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

The weapon and suit wheels are both there. You enable them in the options, but as they were never used by actual players in the old games, they C2 and C3 default to quickbuttons. Like every other game ever. You can still turn on a silly radial menu that toggles your CLOAK or MAXIMUM ARMOR in C3, but why would you? Even in C1, using that radial in actual combat got you killed, and you got that stuff bound instantly.

[Ceejay]

Originally posted by blockywinkle:

or even the original Far Cry for that matter (although I mostly speak from nostalgia on that one, and I'm sure it hasn't aged very well).

I must admit I still like to play the original far cry once in a while, It has aged, but Its still fun to play. :)

[fenderjaguar]

Originally posted by Vassago Rain:

The weapon and suit wheels are both there. You enable them in the options, but as they were never used by actual players in the old games

I know they are there in c2 and c3, and they are terrible, not because the weapon wheel isn't good, but because it doesn't work properly/not implemented properly.

And they were used in the old games, jesus christ, they were excellent in crysis and warhead, so responsive.

[RoyaleWare_X51]

Crysis 1 and Warhead is superior for the most part in my opinion. Graphic(for its time), gameplay, sandbox complexity, mission and power suit ability were very great

[Vassago Rain]

Originally posted by RoyaleWareX51 | Gamer:

Crysis 1 and Warhead is superior for the most part in my opinion. Graphic(for its time), gameplay, sandbox complexity, mission and power suit ability were very great

What sandbox? The first level? After that, the game becomes a railshooter. It gets even worse when they throw in the nanosuit koreans, then becomes super Mario linear once the aliens show up.

You people need to take your meme glasses off.

[RoyaleWare_X51]

The latter bits of Crysis 1 where it gets more linear was fine for me because it was the climactic end. The game just threw lots of bad guys at you with explosions and particle effects everywhere because everything prior had been building up to that moment. Crysis 2 is just far more linear in general, with a far more gimped and dumbed down suit compared to the original. After all, Crysis 1 has a great semi open world
mission experience with far better gameplay. Btw, Crysis 1>Warhead>Crysis 2 for me. Crysis 2 has better music for sure

[Aethrys]

I've also been coming back to C2 recently. I have to say, I don't remember the AI being this completely idiotic.

[Senopati]

the more we aged, the more we understand everything, right?
like an aged wine