Yes, I know, this game is nothing like the first, and its also a console port. Trust me, I've done my share of biching on this board myself about it. However, I had to change my perception of the game and just tell myself that this is a "spinoff" of the series, and actually started enjoying it as its own game.
At first, I was discusted in the beginning of the game by the console tutorials that make you stop as it tells you how to do a technique, not to mention the obvious graphic downgrade in textures, and the extremely linear style compared to Crysis and Warhead. However, I wanted to go ahead and experience the full impact of the game going by reviews of the single player and youtube videos I saw.
While this is no Crysis, or Warhead, it is definately a VERY EPIC, and action-packed game that stands on its own. The battles with the Cell soldiers is slow at first, but after a while it picks up, and when the Ceph get involved further into the game, the battles, the dropships, the story that unfolds, and the cutscenes really make for an epic adventure. The game is also very long, so you definately get your moneys worth on that side.
Let me also say that while the game is only DX9, and shows BIGTIME in the beginning of the game, what is done with the graphics further in while still at DX9 is VERY impressive nonetheless. Certain things that happen later, had me scractching my head about how they were able to do this on consoles. In that sense I will give them props on their technology, but they still lose points on the whole dumbed down at launch pc graphic specs. I will also give them credit though that with the game as it is, it ran beautifully, and very fluidly. The gameplay did not suffer, and in that sense, it made for a very cool game to play when you see the sights later.
I put up with the glitches for now, but they need to be fixed asap. The nano credits depleting to 0 everytime you load your game, and then also a checkpoint glitch that sometimes knocks you back a few checkpoints come to mind.
Luckily you can manually load checkpoints from the autosave list, otherwise I would have been pissed. Playing on Post Human Warrior is not easy and it really makes you have to take your time through the game.
The AI of the Ceph (while it glitches sometimes) on this difficulty is actually quite good. They seem to have the same AI that the KPA had in the firs game. If one catches a glimpse of you, it will alert the others, and they will come and hunt you where they think you are. When you are being hunted by pissed off aliens, that are accompanied by a larger heavier juggernaut, while hiding, you hear the sounds they make, it actually creates some pretty intense times.
Does anyone else think that the Ceph are alot like the Decepticons in the Transformer movies. The sounds they make and their character design is definately reminiscent of it.
Anyway, everytime you think the game is close to over, something else "Epic" happens as the city is further destroyed, and the Cephs technology slowly continues to take over. Then their is the later mix of comfrontations with the Cell soldiers and other characters (spoiler free review) that gives the game a constant variety of issues that keeps you interested in what is going to happen next.
I'm still pissed that the game was developed around consoles, but for what the game is on its own, its definately a great experience. Once they fix the bugs, add some DX11, and texture goodness, this game will be even better.
Good job on the single player Crytek. Now how about a side game that tells what happened to Psycho and Nomad that is done in the first games sandbox style and developed for DX11 on the pc? I know that won't happen, but a guy can dream. haha.
Game ran at an amazing speed with my pc specs:
MSI P65A-GD65 Motherboard
Intel i7 2600k
MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr Videocard
Corsair 8GB Vengeance Ram