Foreword

It is not by chance advance praise of prudent people with great care to be distributed and enjoyed. Turn too quickly associated, over ufernden’s own performance as too high expectations could out scheduled and there is disappointment in place of the enthusiasm which would be observed if less would have been expected at the end. Crysis could be a prime example. Because, not least due to the groundbreaking positive coverage in the run-up to the release of the latest coup from the House of Crytek has to make a lot. The expectations are as high as the Penibilität, which is to be approached at this test.

Whether in fact the person in charge, succeeded in a new genre reference – Yes, to create the game of the year – should be clarified on the next pages.

Content

Probably in no other gaming segment the discussion about the weight of the basic history of the title held kontroverser as at shooters. While the traditionalists to insist that a shooter in the style of a “serious Sam” must present no significant action, but only visit Geballer, the call came up just in the last few years again and again after consistent, meaningful context basic acts for shooter – half-life as a milestone in mind. The latter requirement should be reaffirmed again explicitly at this point before the plot and the mission design of Crysis is taken under the microscope.

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Crysis I

Plot

Crysis begins with the Fallschirmabsprung a supporting Nano suits US-elite unit on a medium-sized, Korean troops occupied island. The elite fighters, among them also the player aims to get an active local US research team from the island. At least the original mission is so. In the course of action becomes that much more behind the job is and what researchers are looking for, is anything else than dead or forgotten clear but quickly.

The rest of the Crysis plot plays the situation then unfortunately, accordingly, quite conventional. While ten amid which the first part to drive single-player campaign in particular against the Koreans in the field or in the jungle, is like ice aliens to the point in the second part mainly in caves against nasty, tadpoles – Gordon Freeman and co. can greet.

Total Crysis tells a story, which largely can be described as “ok”, which de facto but seamlessly enqueues in the genre grind coarsely described and minimally modified on Crysis, is: cooler iron man from the United States versohlt in the casual Nano suit Koreans and aliens alike.

Mission design

Even if the mission design Crysis similarly holds nothing Bahnbrechendes in the hindquarters like the plot, so fun comes up but neatly. So, for example, the area where one can move, is simply off huge. Theoretically free at any time the inclined players, deviate from the direct route and to explore the entire, but quite large island.

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Crysis-mission – “destroy the anti-aircraft”

For less adventurous players the Crysis orders are appealing, even if they expire always so that you will be driven by a point on the island to the next. Also the tasks thus provided are not so far unseen challenges: much too often it is turn off ground air positions or jamming with the own weapons or to mark targets for the air force (see images above and below). Also the common rescue of hostages explained the background plot – keyword: “Save the researcher!” – by itself. Annoying or the always scarce munitions reservoir, which must be increased in the truest sense of the word manually is but realistic: Niedergeschossene opponents always leave their weapons, it is collected but not in the running of over it, but must specifically be – lifted for some players on the overgrown jungle floor a fummeliges and therefore annoying to others a realistic endeavor.

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Crysis-Mission – air force dismantled marked munitions

Apart from the very successful mission design provides more atmosphere and the last but not least through the ability to take different paths to the destination. It is of course completely clear that the makers at Crytek have provided a perfect way, usually immediately opened up when looking at the map. However, the player has the choice and can approach its goals at will from the different directions. The actually quite stringent linearity of the missions is also broken up by many secondary objectives, which are offered in reliable regularity over the radio.

Combative

Content Crysis proved to be as far as presentable. An average history is largely enhanced by a good mission design. High time to respond to some playful aspects of the title.

KI

The artificial intelligence of the Crysis NPCs (non player characters) is evident. Above all the opponents of the Nano-suit wearer are typically anything but recurring. Instead after a battle with their opponents engage in, in particular the Korean KVA troops rotten together like and circle one even – a particularly nasty tactic in the confusing jungle.

A little clouded is this good impression at times encountered total failures of AI: how many KVA NPCs tend to shed light on the jungle in broad daylight with signal rockets. Now, one could argue that this approach could serve other military units in the area as a warning. After the launch of the said Leuchtgeschosse, some Koreans but that content continue to stare, rather than again to devote himself to the fight in the canopy of the jungle. The fire behaviour of the helicopter is – neutral terms – unusual. Instead of deliberately firing at enemies, love the NPC pilots to circle, even though the player at a very different position – whether because other US units are permanently feuernd about the jungle?

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Crysis – usually strong AI in action

How shot the enemy NPC is also a total probably the biggest nuisance to Crysis: apparently, the KVA units have a x-ray vision. It doesn’t usually matter, where the player is looking for cover, he can be sure that the Koreans, as long as he is in range, will keep targeting under fire him.

Only salvation against the wall and shrubbery hackenden computer opponents provides actual protection in fixed structures or but – quite simply – run or shoot. This in helicopters, for which there are more left no rocket is particularly annoying. This the institution of nano-suit can hide from yet so deep in the bushes; the monitor is still red light up and either female or male voice of suit is strongly indicate that the energy level is low. Also the many existing tin sheds offer only insufficient protection because the clever NPC helicopter pilot often like to purposefully shoots through the roof, so you must always sure to carry enough missiles.

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Helicopter attacks weigh heavily without rocket launcher

The “x-ray vision”problem is exacerbated by the almost incredible steadfast of opponent: even with targeted shots from a heavy machine gun, it takes for the standard KVA minions usually a whole magazine; It is even more difficult to make the gar better opponents like other suit carriers or the icy aliens. Moreover, the “swallow’s lead”assets of the opponents contributes to worsen the already mentioned, chronic ammunition shortages.

Weapons & vehicles

Crysis what the heart desires offers of weapons. Any type of weapon comes short of various machine guns of shotguns to rocket launchers, stationary machine guns and alien weapons. The equipment of the Nano-suit wearer is rounded off by various grenades (split, blend, smoke grenades), a pair of binoculars, which can also be used to mark targets, and various upgrades such as silencers, flashlights or telescopic sights (for more information on the use of the weapons options under “Control”).

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Newcomer in action

Also the Crysis fleet leaves no wish unfulfilled. So you can draw not least again and again due to the size of the island on various jeeps, tanks and even newcomer (see series above).

Nano-suit

One great feature of Crysis is the several times mentioned Nano suit the carries the hero of the game and that gives you significant advantages compared to most opponents. So the suit has features that can be very useful in different situations. One wants without a fight deal for example a KVA patrol so the Tarn option of the suit offers excellent, which helps you, unfortunately only for a few seconds, nothing disappears. Of course also just so long as it gives off no shot.

The ammunition once one – which, as mentioned, more often can happen – so the “maximum strength” option of gold is worth. One can be with this position of the opponent due to the huge bounce attach easily bypass, but opponents can be ideally choked and thrown through the area. The ability to use the enemy as a quasi shield is especially advantageous here. The skills of the suit will be rounded off by a Schnelligkeits feature, which to the professional sprinter the Crysis hero for a few seconds, as well as by default Active armor protection, which provides for increased “tolerance” to enemy ammunition.

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Cutscene: Nano-suit releases adrenaline

In the use of the mentioned options, it must be remembered that this is consumed the energy of the suit and it is therefore much more vulnerable. This quite logical fact provides in connection with the strong AI for this, that not all too often uses the features of his suit. This might be sobering work on some players, to here but be praised as a healthy realism: just a man and not God personally is also in a Nano-suit.

More information on the control of the suit under “Control”.

Multiplayer

“After the game is before the game” – in modern times this of football known saying also applies to PC and console games. After the single-player campaign ensures the multiplayer part often months lasting gameplay and adds value to the investment in the game properly.

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Crysis Multiplayer lounge

Against this background, we can only praise the multiplayer of Crysis. Because he promises just that: continued fun. This is however not ground-breaking innovations. There is only an additional mode in which you must take various points in team and keep in addition to the compulsory Deathmatch. It is commendable that all functions of the suit in the multiplayer is available, which increases the action on the strong up to 32 servers.

A total of multiplayer is as little innovative and yet solid.

Technical

So far, we lived through a mix of emotions in this test: a good mission design, a largely good – unfortunately too good seeing – AI, a good arsenal of weapons and an adequate fleet, as well as a good Nano-suit feature face an average plot and a-1 multiplayer. Now it is time to turn to the technical implementation of Crysis.

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Crysis – recommended graphic settings

Test system for Crysis

• Windows Vista Ultimate (32 bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66 GHz
• Gigabyte GA-965 p-DQ6
• GeForce 7900 GTX (512 MB)
• 2 x 1024 MB crucial Ballistix (PC2-8000 DDR2-RAM)

Manufacturer recommendation of Crysis

• Operating system: Windows XP or Vista (32 bit)
• Processor: 2.8 GHz (XP), 3.2 GHz (Vista) or higher
• Memory: 1 GB (XP), 1.5 GB (Vista)
• HDD: 12 GB disk space
• Video card: DirectX 9.0 c compatible, 256 MB
• Sound card: DirectX 9.0 c compatible
• DVD-ROM: titled 8 way DVD-ROM drive
• Broadband connection for multiplayer

In the following sub-item “Graphics” should be clarified now, how Crysis looks visually and above all, as rightly came the test system with the title.

Graphics in the test

The hardware hunger from Crysis will be hard to tame probably also the coming months. On the – admittedly not more completely state of the art – test system was simply not possible to play Crysis with anti-aliasing and high detail. Was the rate of frames per second in a resolution of 1024 * 786 with 2xAA (frames per second / FPS) even in less elaborate battle radically under the limit of 20 FPS and made playing virtually impossible. In particularly tricky situations krepierte the appearance even for values below 10 frames per second and offered a successful flip book. The idea with system crashes (sound / image freezes), which were attributable to the simple excessive demand of technology was crowned.

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Also without AA and details “Means” ran Crysis sometimes bordering the playability

Not without reason, so the game for our system was that the recommendation to play Crysis on medium level of detail and with turned off anti-aliasing (see image under “Technical”). The crashes in mind leaned the demanding Tester heart of also of the recommendation. But even here only FPS rates in the area of the 30 were possible in a resolution of 1280 * 1024, which were moving against the 20 FPS concern in more expensive situations (next view, many sources, explosions etc.). Thus Crysis proved to be in the test as a playable – but not enjoy let the full splendour of the graphic.

Now, one could argue that Yes not everyone must get the most from the game. The brutal request to the local gaming machine is but already something more than just a small drop of bitterness: Crysis could the own averageness in terms of story – Yes, even for an alien shooter so something today is important! -primarily on the magnificent Visual implementation again bring. Just for this purpose, the title was praised finally advance also especially, almost already joyously. A pity that this exceptional feature comes quite obviously only players with absolute high-end systems as well.

However did you Crysis wrongly of course, if you would reference decent graphics at this point not even in this configuration. As 2004 in FarCry, real feeling of jungle – with everything that goes with it is used also in Crysis. Realistically, Sun breaking through the foliage, trees and grasses weigh in the wind, the water course shines in front of the Nano-suit wearer and also the explosions can easily compete with genre competitors. The Visual implementation of the in the game acts of integrated cutscenes that were created with much detail and realness and the general atmosphere of the game significantly upgrade is completed.

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Visual impression of Crysis

Even if not necessarily involves graphic to the point should be also mentioned that one in Crysis destroy almost everything move can or what is one of the way. No matter whether TFT monitor, box or bottle – everything can be pick up and throw away again and also trees fall forward to thanks to a good physics engine after light bombardment realistic mother earth.

Despite this quite positive aspects should be formulated at this point still times explicitly, that in many places near gepredigte graphic omnipotence of Crysis has had on only still reasonably current computers not to one hundred percent.

Graphics in the optimum

At this point may be not concealed but of course, what in theory is all with Crysis on an absolute high-end system begin (computer base reported, already in detail). Under DirectX 9 and above all on DX10 systems can be given the presentation – the right technical conditions – powerful drill. Extent to which such an action but not least, with a view to the playability makes sense, be even then and is responsible for the sensation of the respective player.

As a great example for said drilling, the levels of detail are to name a few. While the level of detail of “VeryHigh” is officially only on DX10 systems can be selected, “extreme” details were ultimately deleted due to an intolerable system requirements from the options. Resourceful users found a way, both can be used to make the “VeryHigh” details classified as exclusive DX10 on Windows XP on DX9 graphics cards (see following pictures; to see the difference, must move the mouse over the pictures), as well as to allow the enthusiast, even beyond those highest adjustable level of detail but shortly after the release of the official Crysis single player demo on the modification of configuration files.

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Comparison: “High” vs. “VeryHigh” under DX9

In the relevant news about the topic reported we also thereof, this modification is accompanied with what performance impact: when the change from “High” to “VeryHigh” with a NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra breaks the refresh rate to almost 50 percent of the 31 FPS at 16 FPS one.

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Frame rates – “High” vs. “VeryHigh”

Those who do not want to expose themselves this performance drop, or simply can not, here is the difference of in detail levels low and funds under DX9 be laid at the heart.

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LOW (DirectX 9) vs. MID (DirectX 9)

Another significant aspect, which is generally controversial is the difference between DX9 and – 10-systems. How this distinction specifically visually fails, can be taken from the following example. More impressions to direct comparison can be found in our message to the topic.

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HIGH (DirectX 9) vs. VERY HIGH (DirectX 10)

Moreover, we reported that, who his own is called a HighEnd system and would like to go to like to go a step further also can take an influence on the details of the configuration files. A table which has surfaced in the Forum of nV News tells you, how you can systematically take influence on the settings within the configuration files, in the game – by way of derogation from the standards – to obtain either extremely low or just extremely high detail. Thus a level of detail is possible beyond “VeryHigh”, which probably corresponds to the deleted “extreme” details.

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Vista 64-bit, DX10, 2048 x 1536, 16xAF/4xAA, “Extreme”

It turns out that Crysis not necessarily must look, like on the screenshots to our test. The prerequisite for this is the acceptance of a massive flipbook effect, or the presence of similarly potent hardware but either.

Sound & language implementation

The sounds in Crysis is well managed. The sounds of the jungle are in an authentic mass and also musically the Crytek work knows to convince. Discreetly placed in-game music increases the thrill in special moments and ensures more atmosphere.

Also the synchronization was implemented in an appropriate quality content. Unfortunately the German language was used but not completely lip in many places, what stands out in particular in the mentioned, otherwise respectable cutscenes.

Control

Normally, this point with a first person shooter of actually no mention would be worth, since all copies of the genre conventionally using the WASD keys and the mouse control can be. When Crysis comes to but, that you must handle the elegant Nano suit in the heat of battle. This is possible in several ways. The most simple is to display the menu of the suit of the third mouse button and then set the respective functions of the digits. In practice, the control of the suit functions this way proved a suitable for – everything else would have probably further minimizes the frequency of the use of the functions and thus destroyed a significant feature of Crysis.

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Crysis weapons menu

The choice of the different features of the weapon was solved in comfortably. The C-key the weapons menu can call, in which you can make all existing modifications such as the setting up of silencers, flashlights or telescopic sights (see picture above). Overall control was implemented thereby clean Crysis.

Special Edition

Even if it perhaps not entirely fit the term “Technical”, so the special to be referenced at this point shortly the design Edition of Crysis, kindly provided us by EA for this test available. For an additional charge of 10 euro receives the buyer of Crysis in a chic, metal case, in which a lot of bonus material hidden in addition to the game itself: so the box next to the compulsory manual provides on also a chic art-booklet, the Crysis soundtrack of Inon to the and a further bonus-DVD, it along with screenshots and videos also a making of and storyboards are. Who so comprehensively wants to deal with the title, is certainly very well served with this variant.

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Special Edition cover of Crysis

Conclusion

To appear even if the previous pages may imply something else: Crysis is a successful first person shooter, who must hide from any competitor in the genre. Also is aware that the criticism in many respects is perhaps sometimes somewhat too fussy and you dare on very thin ice, if you ausschert from the overall quite one-sided pro-Crysis series the author of these lines.

Still, Crysis has met the incited, what we in this test. Failure this is the developers or the Publisher electronic arts, which while certainly contributed to the hype, but probably a total willing members of the media is taken on, which outbid advance every week in a speech of praise to the game but only to the part.

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “Crysis” (54 pictures)

With Crysis, the new genre reference, maybe even the game of the year was actually expected. While one can argue about the former, the latter is excluded in our view. An average action, a good mission design, good – too good seeing – NPCs, a successful technical implementation and a good, but not groundbreaking multiplayer – these are ingredients for a regular first-person shooter, which certainly is compulsory for lovers of the genre and the interpretation of each core aspects may still be a genre Crown shipping argumentiert could become. It goes to the thing but something critical, shows however that the rule mentioned in the preface with the advance praise has confirmed. Crysis was able to – admittedly excessive – this test was addressed claims, which, are not enough.

For this reason the title of Crytek joins a according to the author with a view to current releases about TimeShift, but under the consistently successful call of duty 4, even if this course different preferences (“War”-/ “Future Shooter”) take into account. And even if this means that this conclusion could contradict the impression some readers.