Crysis 3 Preview

In the long list of major gaming sequels that were put on display at E3, Crysis 3 set itself apart as a top contender for one of the most anticipated first person shooters to come out of the convention. Crytek let loose a visual barrage of stunning sceneries and crystal clear graphics with their third installment in the Crysis series. Powered by an upgraded version of Crytek’s much touted CryEngine 3, Crysis 3 looks to be pushing the boundaries of how graphics should be approached by the next generation of video games. Chalk full of action packed AI encounters and a slew of new weaponry, this game certainly has the makings of shooter that will take gamers to their limit both visually and mentally.

Players will once again take control of the series’ main protagonist, Prophet, as he looks to cleanse New York of the alien threat known as the Ceph, as well as his main nemesis C.E.L.L. (CryNet Enforcement and Local Logistics), a private military corporation looking to exploit alien technology for their personal goal of global domination. The story takes place 20 years after the events of Crysis 2, and Prophet returns to find New York encased in a Nanodome constructed by the C.E.L.L. corporation under the guise of providing protection to the world’s populace from the Ceph alien hordes. Armed with the highly sophisticated and advanced Nano-suit that gives Prophet super human strength and agility, as well as a diverse arsenal of human and alien weaponry, Prophet sets out to hunt down and eliminate every one of his human and extraterrestrial enemies.

A major focal point of Crysis 3 has been one of the new weapons at the disposal of Prophet, the Composite Bow. This “Rambo-esque” approach to weaponry has added a completely new dynamic to the way players can tactically approach missions and take out enemy threats. Because the bow is designed as a sheer stealth weapon, the game designers have enabled players to remain cloaked in active camouflage as they fire the bow, unlike most of the other weapons found in the game, allowing for a truly stealth approach when it come to eliminating enemy threats. Now you may be thinking to yourself “A bow and arrow doesn’t sound like it belongs in the arsenal of a futuristic shooter”, you technically could be correct (except if you have played “Turok Dinosaur Hunter”), however this bow packs far more than just your traditional metal tipped arrow. Fitted with your choice of 4 different arrow types (stun/electro, explosive, airburst, and of course the traditional spear tipped arrow) this weapon gives the player a wide range of versatility when it comes to eliminating the bad guys.

Another cool new feature found in this third installment of the Crysis franchise is Prophet’s ability to hack into enemy electronics. Not only will this allow for players to gain access to restricted areas throughout each of the levels, but it will also let them to hack into enemy centuries and defensive units, effectively turning their own weapons against them. This new feature will surely add a new level of depth and creativity when it comes to deciding on how to approach each levels unique challenges and obstacles. I mean honestly…who wouldn’t like to have the assistance of an automated gatling gun at your disposal when buried deep behind enemy lines?

In addition to the cool new gadgets and handy-dandy tricks placed at the players disposal, Crysis 3 really puts and emphasis on what gave the game it’s critical acclaim in the first place…graphics. With the utilization of a creative story line, Crytek has made way for a wide variety of captivating interactive environments which will assuredly enthrall gamers as they battle through the campaign mode. Since the Nanodome constructed by C.E.L.L. effectively isolated the area in which it encompassed from any outside influence, major overgrowth by the inhabiting flora has over run the ruins of New York City and given way for a diverse range of amazing terrain designed by the art team over at Crytek. Not only will the different ecosystems of swamp lands, canyons, and forests captivate you with the attention to every little possible detail, but much of the environment will be interactive. So the next time you plug an enemy soldier with an explosive tipped arrow, you are not just going to blow up the poor unsuspecting soldier, but also the tree and pile of debris he was standing next to as well.

Now to be perfectly honest, I am a part of the somewhat unpopular group of people who found Crysis 2 to be lacking in terms of being considered one of the top first person shooters out on the market today. I went into Crytek’s demo of Crysis 3 at E3 looking to pick apart just another over hyped sequel that was going to be crammed down our throats by the iron fist of major game publishers. Today I can say with certainty (and a decent chunk of humility) that this game was one of the bright spots of the entire expo. Crytek looks to have really hit their stride with this installment and I personally can’t wait till February of 2013 when I can fully dive-in and immerse myself in this high-octane and action packed shooter.