Though they're available on PS3 and Xbox 360, Crysis' reputation is rooted in its history on the PC, where it's been historically been championed as the be-all end-all for pushing the limits of what gaming PCs can do. According to those who reviewed the game, which comes out today, Crysis 3 upholds the tradition of showcasing incredibly beautfiul visuals for on PCs that can meet its technical demands: Unlike past Crysis games, however, it seems that the rest of the game may not be worth the effort.
First things first, Crysis 3 looks incredible. IGN's Tristan Oligave, giving the game an 8.5 out of 10, was gushing over just how good the game looks: "Gorgeous lighting, vegetation rendered down to individual blades of grass and levels with towering verticality; it's a clash of jungle and shattered urban architecture that results in a game world genuinely like no other." Similarly, Gamesradar reviewer Lorenzo Valoria gave the game three and a half stars, saying the game's graphics are "easily some of the best we've seen this console generation."
Apparently the newest Crysis is a little dull. The game's story, character development, and level design lack the complexity and challange of Crysis 2, which may leave players hoping for more out of series that has never held back for the sake of simplicity. In a derelict, abandoned New York city that blends Crysis' jungle setting and Crysis 2's urban world, protagonist Prophet returns to discreetly assassinate his enemies or demolish everyone in his path. While that's still Crysis 3's philosophical core, Kotaku's Kirk Hamilton was concerned with how linear the game, whose mechanics were designed for free-form open-world encounters, have devolved into: "Crysis 2 almost immediately set you loose in open-air, outdoor environments filled with soldiers. Crysis 3 makes you follow a guy for an hour or so, putting you either in closed rooms or semi-open, darkened areas filled with enemies on high scaffolding who you can't see but who can see you." Needless to say, Mr. Hamilton's review didn't recommend buying the game.
Gamespot's Kevin Van Ord, who scored the game 7.5 out of 10, seems less concerned with how linear the game feels and more with how, even in those ideal open-world scenarios, the game's combat falls flat, remarking: "Crysis 3's battles lack the grandness of its predecessors'." Many reviewers also cite enemy AI as a major factor in making the game feel off. Gamesradar reviewer Lorenzo Valoria gave the game three and a half stars, saying that enemies' unfair detection forces players to take a stealthy approach.
Crysis 3 supposedly loses sight of the series' nuanced narrative as well. Polygon's Arthur Gies, who gave the game a 7 out of 10, laments the decline of Crysis' storytelling acumen: "The less said about the story, the better," says Gies. "The interesting ideas of humanity and free will, capitalism and war profiteering from Crysis 2 are buried beneath one of the dumber skeletons of genre contrivances I can remember." Eurogamer's Christian Dolan agrees, saying the story detracts from the game's play-style. "Crysis' end-of-the-world narrative is no worse than that of a dozen other games, but it's no better either, and it's definitely not worth sacrificing those tactical sandboxes in order to herd everyone across the finish line."
In the end, it seems that Crysis 3 fails as an overall game experience, but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't doesn't bring what fans of the series are looking for. Though the game may not live up to expectations of critics who enjoyed Crysis 2, it still has interesting mechanics and amazing visuals that high-end PC owners shouldn't pass up.
