While the first-person shooter genre has been done to death, there are still games that show up every now and again to put a fresh spin on it.
The Crysis franchise developed by a German team had the player don a “Nanosuit” which enhanced physical abilities and allowed for cloaking options to add some interesting gameplay elements.
North Korean soldiers and mercenaries were the main enemies with a race of ancient aliens mixed in for good measure. The game was an overwhelming success upon release, praised for its graphics and physics engines. We now count down to uncover the best Crysis game.
4. Crysis 2
| Developer | Crytek |
| Release Date | 22 March 2011 |
| Platforms | PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |
The direct sequel to the original Crysis called in science fiction authors Richard Morgan and Peter Watts, who was a consultant on the project and went on to write the novel adaptation.
The player assumes the role of Force Recon Marine Alcatraz, after Army Delta Force officer Laurence “Prophet” Barnes, sacrifices himself to revive the mortally wounded soldier.
In a typical science fiction plot, Alcatraz finds a piece of Ceph, the aliens bent on destroying all of humanity, DNA which his Nanosuit absorbs with some interesting side effects that are revealed as the story progresses.
The game takes place in a destroyed New York City, three years after the events in the original. Players are granted the opportunity to navigate the urban jungle moving between floors and buildings to allow for unique attack strategies. As in the original, weaponry and abilities can be customized.
The game is plagued with some horrible gameplay mechanics and noticeable lag time in its online mode. The graphics are gorgeous and the games aesthetic appeal is simply breathtaking to behold, as one would expect from a game that places such a high demand on computer specifications.
The gameplay is subpar and falls short of most of its competitors in the genre with very few weapons to choose from.
Turning invisible and going about unseen by the enemy quickly becomes old and there is no break from the repetitive nature the game demands of the player.
While the story does move things along, it doesn’t make up for the disappointment most fans were feeling after getting their hands on this highly anticipated sequel.
3. Crysis Warhead
| Developer | Crytek Budapest |
| Release Date | 16 September 2008 |
| Platforms | PC |
The first game in the franchise to have a Hungarian developer, Crytek Budapest, Crysis Warhead follows the adventures of the protagonist with a storyline that runs parallel to the original Crysis.
Players take on the role of Sergeant Michael “Psycho” Sykes from Raptor Team who is also in possession of a Nanosuit. There are new customizable weapons and vehicles on offer like the dual wielded Mini-SMGs and the destructive Plasma Accumulator Cannon.
With 21 playable maps available upon release, the game features multiplayer modes, in addition to the Instant Action and Power Struggle modes from the original.
The developer even hosted a trial weekend, where Crysis Wars, that came bundled with Crysis Warhead, was available for gamers to download and play for free. The game makes use of an enhanced version of the CryEngine 2, which upped the visual appeal.
The SecuROM DRM system, that limited the game to three activations, caused some controversy and wasn’t well received by some in the gaming community.
The game is also too short relying on a cinematic appeal that takes away from the actual gameplay. Crysis games have been praised for their graphics, and that heritage has certainly carried over here, but at the cost of gameplay.
It does next to nothing to push the franchise to the next level and when one adds in the draconian DRM situation, it makes one wonder whether the developers considered their fans in the first place.
2. Crysis 3
| Developer | Crytek |
| Release Date | 19 February 2013 |
| Platforms | PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |
The final instalment in the Crysis trilogy introduces a revenge plot where Nanosuit wearing Prophet is out to murder Alpha Ceph, leader of the alien race bent on decimating the entire human race.
Set in a post-apocalyptic New York City, the game introduces the “Seven Wonders” each with its own unique landscape and a more free roaming experience.
Prophet has his trusty Nanosuit with the usual customization options and the inclusion of a compound bow with the user able to use a move called “Rip & Throw” to hack enemy units.
Enemy AI has also been improved to offer a more rewarding gaming experience with the addition of hacked enemy units to be used as allies a handy feature that adds another layer of depth to the gameplay.
The game has been criticized for its repetitive stealth elements that has become more of a gimmick with the lack of innovation. Too many cut scenes spoil the interactivity one expects from this digital offering and the game is too easy, with a seemingly overpowered character to start you off with.
That being said, the game does shine in the areas where it matters most and is well worth checking out for any Crysis fan or someone willing to put their new machine’s specs to the test.
1. Crysis
| Developer | Crytek |
| Release Date | 13 November 2007 |
| Platforms | PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, Switch |
The original Crysis has been praised for its contribution to milestones reached in graphics processing power, which also required expensive hardware to get the most out of it.
The game is set in a fictional location where advanced alien technology is discovered and the alien threat is joined by North Korean forces. Fortunately, you have the Nanosuit with its many abilities and an array of weapons to defend yourself.
Taking on the role of U.S. Army Delta Force soldier Jake Dunn, codename Nomad, you make your way through the game neutralizing any threats along the way. Weapons are upgradeable and vehicles available to change the gameplay dynamic.
In addition to the visual aesthetic, the game also employs a realistic physics engine that adds to the realism experienced. Crysis was a genre-defining title that proved so popular that it received a remastered release in 2020 across various consoles, including the PS4.
While the original version had few complaints, fans of the series really tore into the remastered version. The graphics suffered due to the inferior hardware specs of the consoles, frame rate issues were experienced and the controls made the game almost unplayable.
This may have been an opportunity by the developer to cash in on the nostalgia of its fans, but fell short of expectations.
That being said, the original version released on the PC is the definitive and best Crysis game in the series, proving contrary to popular belief, that the original is better than the sequels.