Crysis 2, A Review
The gameplay is a little dumbed down from the first 2 games, with strength and speed mode essentially active in a constant state. Armor and Stealth mode now have their own keys, and that makes it a little easier to switch between sneaky and tank. Guns and vehicles are magnificently detailed, however your experience with the vehicles will be very restricted. The various weapon and armor modifications allow any player to play to their specific style. I personally managed to stealth through nearly the entire game, snapping necks and totally avoiding unnecessary combat my first run. But when you have to fight, the controls are crisp and easy-to memorize, never once did I have to look down at my keyboard.
The story surprised me with its uniqueness. Gone are the "I'M A ONE MAN GENOCIDE MACHINE! ROAR!!!" characters. Sure, you are powerful, but still very vulnerable. Throughout the game, it was easy to see that Alcatraz had no choice in turning away, as his body was utterly dependent on the nanosuit after the damage he took. The characters all play a part, with many traps found along the way and a betrayal I absolutely didn't see coming. And the eventual transformation into a walking bio-weapon. The single-player is fantastic.
However, the multiplayer is probably my biggest letdown. In the first Crysis, I never really bothered with the multiplayer, but I was anticipating the sequel's. The Crytek servers are utterly worthless, with no one ever playing on them, leaving you to search for user-servers that are for the most part poorly run. The mechanics of the multiplayer are simple and effective, however, and the multiplayer is quite fun once you find an appropriate server. My main complaint is the lack of dedicated servers and the Call of Duty style leveling up.
All in all, this is an excellent addition to the plethora of shooters, definitely worth the price.