Crysis

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 10,379 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Crysis Game Cover
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"Crysis" is a first-person shooter game that takes place in a future alien-infested island. Players control a Force Recon Marine equipped with a nanotech suit, allowing unique abilities like cloaking and super strength. The game is known for its impressive graphics and open-ended gameplay, with various approaches to missions and enemies.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,379 reviews
graphics1,590 positive mentions
optimization92 negative mentions
  • graphics3,096 mentions

    Crysis is widely recognized for its groundbreaking graphics, which were ahead of their time when released in 2007 and continue to impress even today. Many reviews highlight the game's stunning visuals, detailed environments, and realistic effects, making it a benchmark for graphical performance in the gaming industry. However, while the graphics are often praised, some players note that the gameplay and story do not always match the high visual standards, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.

    • “The graphics at the time in 2007 were meant to run on machines and graphics cards that didn't exist yet, so it was obvious that this title, and the developers were ahead of its time.”
    • “Released in 2007 and there's a reason why it served as the best measure of a graphics capability of a PC for years.. the visuals are remarkable, and it still holds on well today (2024).”
    • “Crysis emerged with graphics on fire.”
    • “The game spends way too much time patting itself on the back for the visuals, but when you’re spending most of your time trudging through dimly lit hallways that all look the same, the illusion quickly wears off.”
    • “Overall the game is very average and if it wasn't for the whole graphical power of the CryEngine, I think this would've been just another FPS game from the era.”
    • “Repetitive missions, boring plot, forgettable characters, poor shooting mechanic, the only redeeming quality are the graphics, which I don't care about, and even if I did, I wouldn't choose to play this either way because it doesn't look that impressive anymore, there are newer games that look far superior to this.”
  • story2,870 mentions

    The story of Crysis is often described as a mix of military action and sci-fi elements, starting with a typical military mission that quickly escalates into an alien invasion narrative. While some players find the plot engaging and filled with unexpected twists, many criticize it for being generic, predictable, and lacking depth, with a few noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the story is seen as decent but not groundbreaking, with some players enjoying its cinematic moments while others feel it falls short compared to more narrative-driven games.

    • “The engaging storyline of Crysis draws players into a world of conspiracy, alien invasions, and military intrigue.”
    • “With its immersive storyline, cutting-edge graphics, and thrilling gameplay, Crysis delivers an unforgettable and adrenaline-fueled experience.”
    • “The story really takes some unexpected turns and is great.”
    • “From the moment I started playing, it became clear that this game is a pretentious mess, wrapped in shallow storytelling and clunky mechanics that simply don't hold up.”
    • “The plot feels like it's been ripped straight from a high school philosophy class where the teacher ran out of meaningful things to say halfway through.”
    • “The story is shallow, the gameplay is broken, and the atmosphere is as exciting as a damp basement.”
  • gameplay2,152 mentions

    The gameplay of "Crysis" is often praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the nanosuit, which allows players to choose between various abilities like strength, speed, armor, and cloaking, enabling a flexible approach to combat. While the game offers a semi-open world experience with engaging tactical gameplay, some players find the mechanics clunky and the AI inconsistent, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall execution. Despite its age, the game still impresses with its graphics and offers a unique gameplay experience, though it may feel dated compared to modern titles.

    • “The gameplay in Crysis is where the game truly shines.”
    • “Crysis showcases its unique gameplay, offering an unparalleled level of interactivity with every element in the game world.”
    • “The freedom to choose between stealth, armor, speed, or strength modes allows for adaptive and strategic gameplay, with each approach yielding different advantages and challenges.”
    • “The mechanics are unpolished, enemies are dull and repetitive, and don't even get me started on the ridiculously broken hacking mini-game, which drags you out of the action constantly.”
    • “It’s almost like the developers threw in as many distractions as possible to hide the fact that the core gameplay is severely lacking.”
    • “The story is shallow, the gameplay is broken, and the atmosphere is as exciting as a damp basement.”
  • optimization328 mentions

    The optimization of "Crysis" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially on modern hardware. Despite its groundbreaking graphics for its time, the game struggles to run smoothly, often resulting in stuttering, crashes, and frame rate drops, particularly during intense combat sequences. While some users have managed to achieve decent performance through tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, making it a challenging experience even for capable systems.

    • “It's amazing how an older game like this can hold its ground against modern games in terms of graphics and performance, and Crysis certainly does that.”
    • “One of my all-time favorite FPS games, this classic has all the benefits of the excellent CryEngine along with fantastic optimization.”
    • “Crysis was for nearly a decade the gold standard for performance: 'sure the server's fast, but will it run Crysis?' Modern systems can still be tasked by the demanding CryEngine in its earliest release.”
    • “The first half of the game runs flawlessly; however, once the aliens arrive, I noticed a significant drop in performance.”
    • “I'm gonna start with saying that I like the game and its concept, but I definitely can't recommend it because it is so poorly done and optimized that it's a constant wonder of how the enemy hit you or why this is not working or the best part why the game keeps on crashing in the final missions.”
    • “Despite this game being released in 2007, it is highly unoptimized and even on a decent mid-range rig (1070 ti, 32 GB RAM, and an Intel i5 8GB), it is so damn messy.”
  • stability318 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly impact gameplay. Many players experience game-breaking issues, particularly in the final levels, while others note that troubleshooting is often necessary to achieve a playable experience. Despite some users managing to enjoy the game, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy mess, even years after its initial release.

    • “Now thankfully it works and runs great on my new rig, so that's good.”
    • “Very good optimization, engine, it runs great on most systems, and graphics quality is awesome!”
    • “Crysis is a classic that still looks good and runs great on modern PCs.”
    • “The game crashes almost every five minutes, graphic glitches, stuck AI, sound bugs... it was quite hard to play it until the end because of the crashes.”
    • “Even after all these years, the game is infested with game-breaking bugs and glitches.”
    • “It's a buggy mess that has a lame story, disappointing weapons, and a promising premise for combat that gets thrown out the window halfway through the game.”
  • music182 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, although some find it generic or forgettable. While the soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay and atmosphere, opinions vary on its memorability, with some players noting it can be overdone or not particularly captivating. Overall, the audio design, including sound effects and music, contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some criticisms regarding its originality.

    • “The audio design, from the atmospheric soundtrack to the sound effects of the jungle and combat, further enhances the immersion and intensity of the gameplay experience.”
    • “It boasts a fantastic, high-quality, original soundtrack by an orchestra and a classical composer.”
    • “The music is fantastic.”
    • “The soundtrack is quite lacking and uninspiring, so you may have to listen to something else in the background if you value great music.”
    • “The music is nothing special; the graphics are wonderful, but once you are into the alien invasion, it rapidly becomes that 'just another level' feeling that is the mark of a great game.”
    • “I think the music was a little overdone for some bits in the game.”
  • humor104 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted through its quirky dialogue, amusing character interactions, and unintentionally funny AI behaviors, leading to many laugh-out-loud moments. Players enjoy the comedic elements of ragdoll physics and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics, which often result in hilarious situations. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with action, making for an entertaining experience that keeps players engaged.

    • “Additionally, the AI can be very unaware and ineffective, leading to some unintentionally hilarious situations.”
    • “Sneaking around and messing with the Korean soldiers in stealth mode is hilarious and very tense at times.”
    • “Sometimes their collision system is funny; for example, when a large group of KPA soldiers hears a sound, they'll try to hide and they will start colliding with each other and fall down, and you can just throw a grenade in the middle to finish them all at once.”
    • “The humor falls flat due to the overall bugginess of the game, which is its biggest downfall.”
    • “The attempts at humor are overshadowed by the game's numerous bugs, making it less enjoyable.”
  • atmosphere102 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by impressive audio design, stunning graphics, and detailed environments. Many players highlight the combination of realistic sound effects and atmospheric music, which contribute to a captivating experience, particularly during key moments like alien missions. However, some reviews note inconsistencies in the overall experience, with a few describing the atmosphere as lacking excitement in certain areas.

    • “The audio design, from the atmospheric soundtrack to the sound effects of the jungle and combat, further enhances the immersion and intensity of the gameplay experience.”
    • “The visuals, the sounds, detail and atmosphere of the islands are gorgeous, immersive, outstanding and a remarkable triumph of game design.”
    • “Crysis is rich with atmosphere and freedom of movement, offering a modest range of possibilities to deal with various scenarios.”
    • “The story is shallow, the gameplay is broken, and the atmosphere is as exciting as a damp basement.”
    • “It does nothing to increase the atmosphere.”
    • “Gameplay, atmosphere, story, quests, characters - very mediocre.”
  • replayability88 mentions

    Crysis offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability; while some players appreciate the open-ended gameplay and multiple strategies for completing missions, others find the linear story and lack of collectibles limit its replay value. Many reviews highlight that the game can be enjoyable for a single playthrough, but the absence of varied enemy spawns and significant content for repeated runs diminishes its long-term appeal. Overall, opinions range from high replayability due to creative freedom to very low replay value, primarily driven by the linear narrative and short campaign length.

    • “The open-ended nature of Crysis adds another layer of depth and replayability to the game.”
    • “The gameplay offers more choice and replay value than most current first-person shooters; the maps are open and the player is granted freedom of choice when it comes to fulfilling his mission.”
    • “Dynamic and tactical combat, almost infinitely replayable, with big levels that offer great amounts of options.”
    • “There's no collectibles or anything, so the only replayability you get is to try different approaches.”
    • “The game is also very short; you can beat this in eight hours or less, and despite the open world environment the story is so linear there's barely any replay value.”
    • “Overall: 8/10, good game, worth buying, good storyline and combat mechanics, fun to run around killing AI with trucks and military vehicle guns and so on, replayability is 0/10 because the storyline is 80% of the sticking point, it's almost impossible to play again and enjoy unless you're trying to achieve a personal goal with a different difficulty.”
  • grinding46 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the gameplay becomes a chore rather than an engaging experience. Boss fights and combat mechanics are often described as generic and drawn-out, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the game is seen as overly reliant on grinding, detracting from its potential enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “If you like Halo, but wish it was more tedious, try this out.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story is simplistic and predictable, the single innovation isn't really used to its full potential, and the gameplay gets stale quickly and remains tedious from that point on.”
    • “I would buy this on the cheap, play it until you run into a point where it feels really grindy and stupid, then uninstall it and pretend you beat it.”
  • monetization40 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, particularly regarding a remaster perceived as a cash grab, with players expressing frustration over deceptive advertising and refund policies. While the original game is praised for its gameplay and graphics, the remaster's reliance on additional purchases and unskippable ads has left many feeling disappointed. However, players appreciate that there are no microtransactions in the original game, contrasting it with the monetization practices of other developers.

    • “☑️ No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “=== Microtransactions / DLC policy ===”
    • “What a shame, first to use deceptive advertising and second to refuse a refund because it went a couple hours beyond the 'two hour' limit.”
    • “Another cash grab by Steam.”
    • “Welp, even in the past EA had terrible monetization.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding the story unengaging and lacking impactful emotional scenes, while others express that it becomes gripping and emotional as they progress. Many reviewers note that the game feels more like an action experience than a narrative-driven one, with some even humorously lamenting its low price in retail. Overall, the emotional connection varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the potential for deeper engagement while others feel it falls short.

    • “Emotional characters.”
    • “Almost shed a tear when I saw it in the $20 bin at Walmart one day for PS3.”
    • “The story is excellent here, now while I haven't gotten too far in the story, I've gotten to the point where it's actually starting to grip me, making me want to fight in the battles that occur later on, it gets extremely emotional.”
    • “Often Crysis was referred to as 'a graphic tech demo with some gameplay' and a boring story.”
    • “If you can deal with the dead multiplayer, broken stealth, and boring story, this is the best game to test your hardware, and is not at all just a technical showcase.”
    • “Boring storyline, jittery, bugs.”
  • character development22 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the character design and voice acting as immersive, while many others criticize the lack of depth and meaningful growth for the characters. Players noted that the main character and antagonists are often forgettable, and the overall campaign suffers from minimal character development, leaving little connection to fellow soldiers. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential, the consensus is that more effort in character development would have significantly enhanced the experience.

    • “The character development and voice acting are top-notch, further immersing players in the game's world and its memorable cast of characters.”
    • “I think a little more character development and lore would not have hurt, but helped make this more enjoyable.”
    • “☑ has depth and character development”
    • “The campaign was lackluster, no serious character development.”
    • “The north korean antagonist is forgettable, and your fellow team members are no better, as there is no depth or proper character development.”
    • “The character development is not there, and there is really no connection to your fellow soldiers.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
10hMain story
12hCompletionist
6-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 50 analyzed playthroughs

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