Crysis 2 ! Since the time we've been talking about it, since the time that EA and Crytek sway you videos, news, demos ... You do not have the impression to have already finished the game? Me though. Ah, but me it's normal in fact, I finished it for the test! I almost forgot ... What, not memorable, Crysis 2 ? Well...
His name is Alcatraz, and he's a Marine, a real, a tough guy. One that made the chug tequila the eve of a great super dangerous secret mission and has a little hangover when his submarine begins to bubble, sinking in the waters of the Hudson , close to Manhattan. In short, all the guys Alcatraz died and now he wakes up with a wonderful nano-suit design on the back and a message of some Prophet who asked him to find a scientist named Nathan Gould. That's good, he's the guy he came looking for. To pass the combi, the Prophet in question was blown up the box, as well as it does not laugh. Like what Alcatraz would be his last hope ... Bah, on the way!
Alcatraz the mute
It's going to be hard to tell you about Crysis 2 without spoiling the story. Already, it would attract the wrath of EA who would like that any buyer of last Crytek FPS can enjoy the SF incrooooyâââble scenario concocted by one Richard Morgan, author of the genre with some novels to his credit. Moreover, it's not really my style, the spoil. So as the devs wanted mute Alcatraz as a prison door (haha), I will transcribe what I think, myself, it looks like face some events Crysis 2 . It should tell you enough, without revealing anything. Let's go.
And so the nectar ... oh no, I'm wrong game.
Not so good? Oh, the screenplay is still in the heat of the action ... during which the game loves to swing important messages, by the way, with a rotten audio ratio like: "Alcatraz, it's very important that you BAOUM! Tacacacatac ! if not dead Pew Pew BLAM! Good luck ! Ah and especially Paf! Bing! Kaboum! Uh, sorry, could you repeat? Where is the replay function on this damn combi? But I pinch, it's not that bad in the end, even if the author really had to take the head between the elements of Crysis first name preserved (Prophet, the combi, alien technology) and this new opus immediately more complex. The aliens themselves change their look to become fairly innocuous. They do not even use ice anymore, which at least had some visual impact in Crysis . We will say that these Ceph (and it could have been Zblub, Mouaiph, Slurp or whatever ) must form an ethnic group different from that already met, and basta. We may know more in Crysis 3 (or a DLC)? Crysis 2prefers to be interested in human beings, their motivations and their goals. Between the powerful idiots, the shadow workers, manipulators manipulated and amoral good losers, there is enough to do. Instead of a series B of the 80s, we end up with a modern B series, what. This is progress ... but hello the narration pitfalls on the way.
Oh the building has fallen ... OK. * Yawns *
Nah, I'm going to tell you what really makes me cry in Crysis 2's single-player campaign : I'm not hooked on the atmosphere at all. I felt nothing, nothing. It's very beautiful, Crytek tries to make us some scenes with a big WOW factor. But for me none takes. Well, maybe not nothing, I'll remember two passages, a rather innocuous, but oppressive (a story of bay window and flood) and another on the biggest map of the game, the only one where we really drive a vehicle elsewhere. The monotony of New York, its stifling verticality, the level designall in hallway / arena / hallway / arena might have totally cooled me down. Even the ultimate scene meant to be ultra HOLYSHIT was just awarded a "meh, OK". Why ? What's wrong? Some mechanisms of manipulation of emotions would they have been ignored?
Am I an old c ... insensitive?
For example, the staging neglects civilians terribly. For a large part of history, the few civilians we meet are just human rags touched by the famous epidemic of origin "unknown to the general public, but you understand that the aliensare behind all that! " There is no interaction with them. We can stop for two seconds to watch them burst into flames, but the scenario never asks Alcatraz to help them or to tell them a nice little word. And even if he wants ... In short, it's very cold, very distant. And all of a sudden, we get out of the big melodramatic scene with the poor refugees who are going to be dead all right now. Nothing to fuck! Why are we waiting for those balls? They are not even Marines. Emotional level: Zero. So in the end, atmosphere failed for me? I can only hope that you hook more if you try the adventure.
My new toy!
" Crysis 2 is mostly the story of a technology. Technological desire. As it is well said, Mr. Crytek, and it's so true, because if you do not hang on to the script, you'll hang on to the nano-suit, and it's up to you. Its handling since Crysis has been largely simplified and logically, moreover. Super Speed automatically engages each sprint and the increased force is used by charging special moves or jumps. On this point, I'm still a little disappointed, as in Crysisto tell the truth: the leaps made should be more impressive to convince me. As for the famous kick in a car to crush an enemy, you will surely be very happy if you manage to place one. Already, the context is important: either you have the bowl, or you turn around a car and attract an alien to the ideal position. Then you have to load well and type otherwise it does not work properly. And again, nothing is sure. At best, the octopus is crushed by the car, victory! At worst, this last moves of 20cm, you look at the alien , the alien looks at you, he tells you " wtf dude ? And you stick a gust in the face to end this embarrassment.
If I bleed, it means that I can be beaten
But otherwise, it's very good this combination. All you do is armor or stealth, swapping from one to the other intuitively, where in Crysis you change your power as you shift gears on a rotten old tractor. The armor is no longer the default mode, so we forget it sometimes. And stealth at the Predatoris largely used, especially since the energy gauge goes back very quickly. So we often go from one shelter to another in invisible mode, combining even sometimes with a short sprint and a jump, but there it pumps energy, anyway. At this little game, some arenas with objectives other than "kill everyone" can be solved in stealthy rush without beating anyone! Although you will have a hard time not to make a little murder break from behind while passing near a few prime targets.
The Swiss-Swiss
The nano-suitcan also be improved over the course of combat, in four major areas: armor, power, tactics and stealth. You will first unlock basic changes in each, unless you want to save money to pay for the most bells in each branch. After a while, you will have everything, but only one "module" can be activated by branch. Some are frankly useful, others are not, or not at all. It also depends a little on his style of play ... Most are passive, but there is an attack "aerial" useful to disperse the foot. Hard to place, however, and sometimes as deadly for you as it is for the enemy. Your combi has a thermal vision that will be very useful when certain levels will plunge you into absolute darkness.
Take a Marine by the hand...
The last asset of your second skin is of course the tactical view. And here we address a sensitive subject, a kind of adjustable level of difficulty ingame: either you use it or you ignore it. The tactical view is a bit like binoculars in Crysisbut in HUD. The game often recommends its use when you arrive in a new arena (after a corridor so). It is used to identify the enemies present on the spot (not those who will appear later or the possible reinforcements) and the various strategic options of the map. Yes, you will be told directly: "there is ammunition", "here is for stealth", "and why do not you use this big turret, there? »,« Here you can poop between two cars »,« ah those, we should all kill them, they saw you poop »... secure, infiltrate, circumvent, use, all the options provided by the level designare spread out as in a restaurant menu. The fact is that without this, we miss many details once in action. The graphics are so rich and dense that a small marker from time to time, it helps a lot ... Nothing requires you, that said. You do not have to display these points of interest or the enemies on the radar. It's up to you to manage your own level of surprise and tension.
Where are the WMDs?
All this is fine, but it does not shoot bullets, this damn nano-suit , so we must also have a good arsenal of guns of all kinds. And aside there, Crytek does his usual job without flinching. From Feline to SCARAB via Grendel, unless you're no longer shotgun , with the Marshall or the Jackall, you will be equipped sometimes depending on the tactical situation, with various useful mods (silencer, riflescope, etc.), and often by feelingfor one weapon more than another. At the somewhat exotic radius, there is the K-volt, between the submachine gun and the taser, and which balances electricity. Or the Gauss rifle, which outclasses all other snipe tools. And even a microwave cannon, ideal for making octopus jelly, but not spectacular. Me, I miss a good big weapon alien ... no gift of this kind from Crytek this time, shame.
Veteran or super soldier?
With that you have something to chain your halls and arenas, whether you are seduced by the atmosphere or not. The difficulty is not bad ... not bad at all. Forced to play the pad on PS3, I found the grip excellent. The higher the level of difficulty, the more the game is refined on several boards: the autolock disappears, the enemies are tougher, you are less solid, the shots are made more precise faster ... On the other hand, the IA does not change radically, each opponent having a little already his specialty. Some alienscome to melee, others play the harassment card at close range, while the base grunt waters you from afar. There are some problems in AI sometimes: it's not always easy to walk in this urban jungle full of debris, but in general it moves well and the action is maintained properly throughout an arena . With the reinforcement system used by the enemy if you have decided to go like a nag, things can even become very very complicated, very quickly ... but maybe that's what you want? In this case, you will be served.
When it does not ... it does not want
So much for the general record of the single-player campaign: it's good, but hum, blah. I could add details here and there, like the incredible uselessness of some passages in QTE: LR to move the right hand, LG to advance the left hand, again, still, go, what intensity, yes! Go ramp and basta, we are not in Heavy Rain ... Or the disappointment of the final fight? Ah, no spoilers! At least Crytek did not give us an entire level of absolute boredom, as was the case with the passage into the Crysis alien ship "Oh I float ZzzzzZz". In short, me, Crysis 2solo, I'll have him a 3. Fortunately, there is the multi, and yet, I could not play a lot in the test conditions. I have not spoken to you yet? The press was invited to try Crysis 2 in a hotel room for three days (one room per person eh). Including an afternoon devoted to multi, which proved too short. For the rest, the conditions were impeccable! Even better than at home, but I will not say harm to my children, who are adorable and not at all sticky when I try to work.
You can not Nano-test
The Crysis 2 Multi , therefore, is made up of a 12-card New York themed set of six different modes opposing two factions (the Army and the CELL), of four classes (but you'll probably want to customize yours), a ton of changes for your nano-suit , with the experience system that goes with it. Exit the big cards and the vehicles (already that there is none in the solo ...), Crytek pours in the classic and the effective one. It is mandatory to turn on console: 6 vs 6 and no more. Do not cry the great expanses, be men: change, it's what we get . The important thing is that the Crysis 2 multiturns out to be fun, with dreary faux-tunes hiding tactics subtly deceitful for those who correctly handle the forces of their nano-suit , with its superhuman movements, the joys of the stealth and the all-powerful nano-vision ... Ah that , it'll cry to the cheater! Crysis 2 in multi is typical of the game where you end a session with a story or two to get somebody with. You may have already tried it a little? We will say that there may be a little balancing to do, the sniper seemed to me at a disadvantage for the time, but the basics are good for long-term fun.
Come out & play!
In addition, the maps are beautiful and interesting. Well, the graphics, if you are a serious player, you will soon put at least on PC to frag more fluidly, but the level design , that's important. And the maps of Crysis 2 offer nice playgrounds, between the parks covered with ruins where the predator sniper and the disemboweled buildings where one can not trust any corridor as the shotgun reigns supreme. Not to mention the straight streets of New York, the exposed roofs of buildings, parking far too accessible ... Rah, I want to get back there. Someone to a PC version for me?
Confident, but cautious
PS3, yes, that's good too. Finally, not for the multi, me, huh, I'm not so good at pad. But otherwise OK, it's beautiful, fluid. On console, you will have less brilliance in the colors, a less good management of the lights, even more of aliasing . But on PC do not intend to paste everything thoroughly, especially if Crytek decides to spin the DirectX11 version. Unless you have graphics cards in SLI and a lot of RAM, there nothing wrong. Personally, I did not notice any major problem on the versions played, except a card multi (in a magnificent rain pouring) which planted serious. Apparently, there were problems with the PS3 multi demo. So if you prefer to play it wary and collect more feedback on the technical aspect, I will understand perfectly.
If you were waiting for Crysis 2 for the solo, I sincerely hope you will not be too disappointed. Beyond the very correct action and nano-suit really sensual, the game left me cold despite myself. The multi offers more sensations and fun, for those who like to indulge, thanks to its classic, but strong, and spicy by the powers of the combination. From there, it is you who decide according to your affinities, we are still far from the bad game! The very good FPS do not run so much the streets anyway. And then we can pull the heavy machine guns from their base and knock out helicopters with, damn it! Just for that...
Graphically almost irreproachable (it depends on the media), Crysis 2 delivers us a solo campaign much less spectacular than expected. Impossible to hang on the New York atmosphere, the cold catastrophe in progress ... Crytek did not embark me at all, despite the intensity of the fighting. Fortunately, the multi is definitely fun, with mechanisms that induce a level of challenge based entirely on the skills and tactics of the players. So to us to play!
| WE LIKE | WE DO NOT LIKE |
|---|---|
| * It peeps visually, my faith | * Big problem of mood in solo |
| * The nano-suit much more comfortable | * The corridor / arena level design |
| * The multi fun and full of options | * New York, always New York |
1-6 IMAGECREDIT
THANKS FOR READING, ALSO CHECK OUT MY PREVIOUS TEST ON Test: LA Noire (PS3, Xbox 360)
