Vortez brings you a review of one of this years most anticipated first-person shooter titles on the PC. Crysis Warhead.
Vortez brings you a review of one of this years most anticipated first-person shooter titles on the PC. Crysis Warhead.
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Crytek
RRP: £19.99
The original award winning Crysis was revolutionary in it’s approach to gameplay – allowing players to play the way they want, offering numerous gameplay options and styles. It was a fresh new direction to FPS games. Unfortunately it was criticised for being slow paced and far too demanding on system requirements. Crytek has now taken into account the issues highlighted and come up with Crysis Warhead.
Warhead takes place on the other side of the island. You take on the role of “Psycho” Sykes the volatile British Sergeant in the original Crysis game. Once again, you have the Nanosuit to roam the island with, using each of its powers to tackle large forces of North Koreans (and aliens!). Using the strength power you can jump over obstacles in your way, push cars over and thrust soldier’s into the air, or using the invisibility power you can become ‘cloaked’ and sneak up on the enemy without them even knowing you are right beside them, and there is the shield power which will protects you in heavy gun battles enabling you to withstand firepower for a short amount of time and finally there is the speed power which will give you the ability to sprint anywhere you wish, running through the forests, or evading heavy gun bouts.
So whether you pursue the gaming style of a stealthy assassin or all out guns blazing action, this is a game that will make you feel like a superhero. Enhancing this experience is the advanced physics, just like in the original game – trees fall, objects sway and everything is completely dynamic. The environment is completely versatile, each scene can and is played in different ways by each player. Action can take the form of a typical FPS or in the form of Crysis Warhead’s featured vehicles. The choice is yours, you’re not conformed to a tank, a jeep or a truck.
AI and Visuals
The AI in Warhead is very realistic. Enemies will use smart moves, hiding behind objects like rocks and take cover whilst other enemies secure an area. Gun fights are always lots of fun and you might even find yourself reloading save games to retry certain sections as I did. This is a great game to show off to your friends, it will simply amaze any who experience it. The game took roughly 8 hours to complete. Which makes for a comfortable single player campaign. It is slightly longer than the original and will promote feelings that you wish it were longer.
Multiplayer mode is fast and fun. There is a new mode called ‘Power Struggle’. The aim of this game is to destroy the opposing teams base. To do this you have to control power stations throughout the map. If you have played Unreal Tournament 3’s Warfare mode you will understand just how to play Power Struggle. They are very similar in characteristics. There is also the classic deathmatch mode called Instant Action, this is entertaining on LAN and over the internet, with each player using the nanosuit powers to gain frags. There are some nicely designed maps within this mode, and most will enjoy playing multiplayer although this game is predominately single player focused.
Visuals
Visually Crysis Warhead is stunning. I would challenge you to find a game better looking than the spectacular eye candy that is before you in every scene you are placed. The textures are crisp, and almost life-like, Crytek have continued with the fantastic visuals and definitely won in this department. I would even go as far as saying It’s visually more pleasing, the lighting and shadows are astonishing. You will be able to see some of the effects on the screenshots posted. But to really get a feel for it you need to play the game. Warhead will take advantage of any gamers PC and it suffice to say that a high end system will combine with this game beautifully.
Performance and Conclusion
Performance has been improved in Warhead and you will be pleased to know that you will squeeze some extra FPS out of the game when compared to the original Crysis. That said, this game still requires you to have an impressive setup if you want to enjoy all that this game has to offer. We played this game on a system which comprised of:
~ E6600 (3.5GHz) CPU
~ ATI HD 4870 (512MB) Graphics Card
~ 2GB DDR 2 (PC6400) Memory
~ 22” Samsung 223BW (Widescreen) Monitor
Playing at the following settings gave the following results:
1680×1050 ‘Gamer’ Setting – 0AA – AVG FPS: 35-45
1680×1050 ‘Gamer’ Setting – 2AA – AVG FPS: 25-30
1680×1050 ‘Gamer’ Setting – 4AA – AVG FPS: 5
Playing Warhead at 1680×1050 on ‘Gamer’ (high) settings – the setting below ‘Enthusiast’ mode (Very high) with AA set to 0 this allowed a comfortable 35-45FPS and dropping to 20-25 in very busy scenes. Increasing the AA to X2 gave around 30 FPS and dropping to 15-20FPS in busy areas. Increasing things to a further AA X4 made things unplayable. FPS dropped to 5 FPS. So overall, Warhead has been improved upon in this area. Something which concerned many a gamer in the original, many struggled – even with a high end system and AA off or set to X2.
AA Off, AA X2 and AA X4:
Conclusion
Putting everything together, Crysis Warhead is a masterpiece. You will struggle to find anything which matches it this year. The atmosphere’s you find yourself in will astound. The sounds will inspire and the visuals will blow your mind. Warhead improves on what Crysis struggled with. The game is faster, cleaner and a much better gaming experience. The expectations have been met. Crysis Warhead is one impressive game.
