Do I need to play Warhead to understand the story?

[Defenestrum]

I have just finished Crysis and I would like to play Crysis 2. Do I need to play the expansion, Crysis Warhead, to better understand the story?

Any advice is much appreciated :)

[Ceejay]

Not at all. I finished all 1, 2 and 3. Never played warhead.

[Vassago Rain]

No.

Crysis 2 doesn't have a lot in common with crysis 1 or warhead, but they would go on to dump most of crysis 2 for crysis 3.

Important characters in one game get demoted to extras, die for no reason, or get no mentions.

[kosmos224]

Nope, Crysis 1 and 2 Only share the name and the developer. Thanks for that, Crytek.

[_Soj_]

Warhead is basically Psycho's missions on the other side of the island. It's a lotta good combat for the most part and there's better voice acting, too. But it's a bit shorter game. There's even better music, too, compared to Crysis 1. DEFINITELY worth a play if you can pick it up on sale, so you can experience the complete story...

As you may already know, Psycho returns in Crysis 3, and reprises his role with the same entertaining character that he provided in Warhead. He really steals the show, IMO. Got to hand it to those Brit voice actors :)

But with Crysis 2, there is no continuity to the original story. The Devs went off in a totally different (and sometimes weird) direction storywise, not to mention had you on a rail, compared to the mostly open world of Crysis 1. A bit disappointing in that regard (but I still enjoyed the game)...