Crysis Warhead (PC)
The biggest shooter of 2007 finally gets the polish it deserves.
10/2/2008 7:12 PM | 1 Comments | Page 2 of 2
What's Hot: Much-improved game and graphics engine performance; Better level design; Smoother vehicle handling
What's Not: Persistent human AI quirks; Multiplayer isn't as spiffed-up as the solo campaign; You'll want more of the short solo campaign
It's likely that many players were put off the first time around by the fabled tech requirements of the original game. Truly, getting the most out of
Crysis required the sort of gaming PC that could also take over neighborhood power centers. But the game could run on lower-end rigs, and in
Warhead Crytek has made the world even more scalable and accommodating for machines of less than military class.
With the revamped scalability of Crytek's engine, you won't need a nuclear-powered PC to see stuff like this.
On a high-end machine, this expansion looks absolutely incredible, but a business-class PC with a few GB of RAM and a reasonable video card will still render a lush game world fully packed with the same physics and foliage that make the high-res version such a marvel. Expect a bit of draw-in now and again, but the primary level design, character behaviors and improved art direction all remain in effect.
(The perfectly average PC build that served as the primary review rig: stock HP Pavilion a1640n with 2 GB RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo 6300 1.86 GHz CPU, NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS with 512 MB GDDR3.)
Scenes like this are where the art direction blows away the gunplay.
And the art direction here really is something to gawk at. Check out the world immediately after the alien invasion and Big Freeze: Large ships are stuck half-rolled in frozen surf, the alien shapes are bursting out of frozen ground with imperious menace, and the North Korean forces are fearfully frozen in place. Generally speaking, Crytek no longer seems to feel the need to bludgeon us with effects and technological dazzle, and the result is that the team's artists really get a chance to shine. This is a great-looking little game.
The destructive power of vehicles is far more entertaining this time out, and adds real fun to the team deathmatch mode.
The only downside is that the multiplayer component, while solid and worth diving into (and located on a separate packed-in disc called
Crysis Wars) doesn't show the same evidence of thought seen in the solo game. There's an immediate, much-wanted team deathmatch mode, and slightly revamped Power Struggle modes. During the former, returning players will likely appreciate the improved vehicle handling, as the various military rides scattered through each map prove key more to fun than success.
All this being the case,
Warhead is a solid offshoot of the main
Crysis storyline. Perhaps far more importantly,
Warhead not only stays true to the original game but also builds upon the involving gameplay and vivid environments of
Crysis -- it's an ideal and affordable introduction to the franchise. Essential expansion packs are even rarer than innovative shooters, and
Warhead certainly makes the cut.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game purchased by Crispy Gamer.
