Onto the multiplayer
So, Crysis 2 does give you more of a sense of tactical freedom than most first person shooters do - and for that it deserves credit. But the main area that is boundt to impress everyone the most is the graphics. Killzone 3 currently holds the mantle as the best looking shooter on PlayStation 3, but stand the game's sprawling urban environments head-to-head next to Guerilla Games’ junk-yards, jungles and space-ships, and Crytek’s shooter has that same jaw-dropping visual impact. Stunning character models and facial animations, huge draw distances that span across the horizon and a meticulously modelled interpretation of Manhattan are all quite stunning. Away from the fighting, you're also rewarded for exploration with dozens of collectibles to find, such as dog tags, New York souvenirs and car keys. It's worth heading off the beaten track just to enjoy the scenery, but it's quite an addictive mechanic searching for these hidden objects.While Crysis 2’s single player ultimately disappoints, the multiplayer is a different kettle of fish altogether. All of the standard game modes are present, including ‘Team Action,’ ‘Instant Action,’ ‘Capture The Relay,’ ‘Assault’ and ‘Extraction,’ so there’s plenty to get stuck into. Furthermore, it’s all gelled together superbly with an EXP system that’s extremely rewarding and motivates you to keep racking up kills. It seems that Crytek has learned some valuable lessons from Call Of Duty’s multiplayer, with clan tags, ranks, medals, awards and dozens of unlockables to get your hands on as you rank up. And your progress is all viewable via the service record which displays which displays details of all your achievements. Because everyone has the nanosuit powers in multiplayer - unlike the single player campaign where it seems the balance is tipped significantly in your favour - it ensures that everyone starts off on a level playing field and only through hard work and dedication can you gain significant upgrades.
Though you start off with one of four classes – assault, scout, sniper, and gunner - you can customise your own class too with different load-outs after reaching a certain rank and gain extra XP through the likes of support bonuses, the use of weapon attachments and achieving skill kills. It’s a rewarding and addictivemechanic, and it never seems too long before you unlock something else that comes in handy during battle. Having said that, it's a little annoying that you have to rank up to unlock some game modes. Game options are also very impressive, with the ability to only jump into matches with players of a certain rank, or the option to customise a game how you see fit - perhaps removing the ability to use the Nanosuit, ensuring that only headshots cause damage, or removing custom classes. There’s so many options here that you can’t fail to find a game that suits your play-style and skills.
Continued overleaf...