Crysis 2

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,216 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Crysis 2 Game Cover
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Crysis 2 is a science fiction shooter game, continuing the legacy of its predecessor with enhanced features. The sequel brings futuristic war and destructible environments to the famous setting of New York City. In both single-player and multi-player modes, players can utilize the advanced Nanosuit 2 technology to upgrade their skills and battle challenging AI enemies or upgraded foes in 12-player online matches.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Ea Origin
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,216 reviews
story442 positive mentions
stability72 negative mentions
  • Stunning graphics that still hold up well in 2023.
  • Engaging gameplay with multiple approaches to combat, allowing for both stealth and action.
  • Great soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Linear level design that feels restrictive compared to the open-world nature of the first game.
  • AI can be inconsistent, sometimes acting dumb or failing to respond to player actions.
  • The story is convoluted and lacks depth, with a mute protagonist that detracts from character development.
  • story1,241 mentions

    The story of Crysis 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it less engaging than its predecessor, Crysis. While some appreciate the continuation of the narrative and the urban setting, others criticize it for being linear, convoluted, and filled with plot holes. Overall, the game is seen as having decent storytelling elements, but it often falls short of delivering a compelling or memorable plot compared to the original.

    • “With its superbly crafted storyline and stunning graphics, this game really immerses the player.”
    • “The story is very well crafted and contains more cinematic events than most games releasing now, which you can really appreciate.”
    • “The story is interesting enough, but only by measure of video game stories.”
    • “In my opinion, the move from the island to a city setting was a mistake, especially as the story just seems to plod along in Crysis 2.”
    • “Overall, it was pretty average and not really worth the time because the story barely even touches on what happened in the previous games, struggles to progress with anything meaningful and has massive let downs around every corner.”
    • “Don't get me started on the story, which is the worst thing ever. It has no story, nothing is explained, nothing is answered, everything is changed for no apparent reason.”
  • graphics942 mentions

    The graphics of Crysis 2 are widely praised for their stunning quality, even years after its release, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up against modern titles. While some players feel the visuals are slightly less impressive compared to the original Crysis, the game is recognized for its beautiful environments, dynamic lighting, and detailed textures, making it a benchmark for graphical fidelity in gaming. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the game's art direction and some dated textures, with a few users expressing disappointment over the linearity and lack of variety in environments compared to its predecessor.

    • “The graphics are incredible, the enemy AI is actually good, and the story and gameplay are great.”
    • “Crysis 2 boasts the best graphics on the PC (along with Battlefield 3) and improves on its repetitive and boring predecessor.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the suit system has been revamped in a good way.”
    • “Ironically, I find the graphics very dated.”
    • “The graphics are poor.”
    • “The graphics seem to have taken a step back since the first game, but the combat is the worst offender.”
  • gameplay718 mentions

    The gameplay of Crysis 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its solid mechanics, improved gunplay, and the integration of the nanosuit's abilities, which allow for varied tactical approaches. However, critics note that the game is more linear compared to its predecessor, leading to a more corridor-like experience that some players find less engaging. While the graphics and sound design are often highlighted as exceptional, the overall gameplay experience is seen as simplified and at times repetitive, with some players expressing disappointment over the loss of the open-world exploration that characterized the first game.

    • “The gameplay, level design, and enemies are greatly improved, making this a fun-to-play game that can be easily recommended.”
    • “The gameplay is a powerful shooter with elements of tactics and stealth, taking advantage of the main feature of the series - the nanosuit.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the story is interesting, and of course, the graphics look pretty good for their age.”
    • “In 40 minutes of gameplay, I had no fun; the game is linear.”
    • “The gameplay loop of figuring out where to go, shoot, kill, and repeat is terrible.”
    • “The gameplay is bland and repetitive.”
  • music211 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its orchestral score composed by Hans Zimmer, which many reviewers describe as epic, atmospheric, and integral to the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's emotional and action-packed moments, often considering it one of the best in video game history. While some critiques mention that certain tracks may feel generic or unmemorable, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's quality and immersion.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal!”
    • “The music is fantastic.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely incredible.”
    • “A buggy, poorly optimized mess of a game, featuring a b-movie quality soundtrack, a painfully linear campaign, and a plot that goes in circles for 10+ hours.”
    • “Lastly, the music in the game isn't music, it's ear rape; I tried playing the game with music and voice off and only SFX volume up and only then did I enjoy playing, until I realized that I had no idea where the game wanted me to go because the objective location is only revealed when you decrypt the awful line that the professor in your ear shouts at you.”
    • “Music is mediocre at best.”
  • stability79 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Common issues include unresponsive characters, physics problems, and game crashes, leading to frustration during gameplay. While some users noted improvements over previous titles, the persistent technical problems have left many feeling that the game is still a "buggy mess."

    • “Fun game and it runs great on Linux Pop!”
    • “Otherwise, the game looks and runs great.”
    • “No glitches till now.”
    • “Small glitches and bugs, like the figure being unresponsive for a few seconds, objects that make the player stuck, enemies that can see you through walls, weapons getting stuck on a weapon mode, animations not playing, sound not changing for scenes and so on, it was more of a chore to play through this.”
    • “A buggy, poorly optimized mess of a game, featuring a B-movie quality soundtrack, a painfully linear campaign, and a plot that goes in circles for 10+ hours.”
    • “Just a bit too buggy to be playable.”
  • optimization68 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and graphical fidelity, particularly on modern hardware, while others report significant bugs, stuttering, and crashes. Overall, many agree that it is better optimized than its predecessor, Crysis 1, but still presents challenges for certain setups, especially when running on high settings.

    • “Huge fan of all of the games and how well optimized everything is.”
    • “Crysis 2 exceeds in graphics, gameplay, optimization, audio design, music, etc. even the story is pretty good, written by Richard K.”
    • “It runs very smoothly (if your computer doesn't suck) but really it's very well optimized for PS3 as well, so either or.”
    • “Lots of bugs and stuttering issues.”
    • “In spite of this potent machine, I ran into frequent performance issues, crashes, stuttering, and no, I am not playing the remastered version or using ray tracing.”
    • “A buggy, poorly optimized mess of a game, featuring a B-movie quality soundtrack, a painfully linear campaign, and a plot that goes in circles for 10+ hours.”
  • replayability49 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it highly replayable due to its dynamic gameplay and multiple combat options, while others criticize it for a lack of depth and limited replay value after a few playthroughs. The absence of multiplayer servers has also diminished replayability for some, although the campaign offers enough content and collectibles to keep it engaging for fans of the genre. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some recommending it for its fun single-player experience, especially during sales, while others feel it lacks the replay value of its predecessor.

    • “The game gives you plenty of tactical freedom and replay value; it's a relatively system-based type of shooter with fairly open-ended level design and approach to combat.”
    • “Overall, the campaign is relatively fun and definitely has high replay value due to the dynamics of the gameplay.”
    • “Replay value alone from completing it in different ways makes it so much fun!”
    • “While graphics and sound are a definite step up, the suit powers, the replayability, and sandbox took a big hit.”
    • “In regards to replayability, you will find yourself bored after 2 or 3 playthroughs, when you just want to run cloaked past enemies and don't deal with them at all.”
    • “The only bad thing I can say about it is that replayability leaves something to be desired.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning visuals, an iconic soundtrack, and a compelling story that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a unique sci-fi ambiance, particularly in its depiction of a war-torn New York City, which adds depth to the gameplay. The use of lighting and environmental effects further contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout their journey.

    • “The music is iconic for the series and the game has great atmosphere.”
    • “New York isn't the iconic and lively 'big apple' it once was, but now it's a war-torn and desolate lifeless city... and it's incredibly atmospheric.”
    • “The graphics are superb, from the destruction that affects the landscape to the realism of characters to the overall tone of the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
    • “The story felt lacking, but the settings and atmosphere are great.”
    • “Built using the CryEngine, the atmosphere and environment are astonishing and add the cybernetic/futuristic flair to the game with your actively updating HUD and in-game menu systems.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant time without meaningful rewards. Many players express frustration with repetitive gameplay, uninspired enemy encounters, and a lack of engaging content, leading to a sense of monotony and diminished enjoyment. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the game's overall appeal.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Silly and tedious map bottlenecks that destroy the game flow with no saving possibility, so you have to relive long stretches of almost monochrome maps of highways with nothing remarkable again and again.”
    • “It only amounts to cynical cash-in with poor gameplay and an uninspired story that is utterly boring, annoying, and tedious.”
    • “It's an extremely tedious playthrough, and you can totally tell it was designed for a console first.”
  • emotional15 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mixed experience; while some players found it touching and enjoyed the soundtrack, others felt that the story lacked depth and emotional resonance. Characters had clear motivations, but some players struggled to form strong emotional connections due to insufficient backstory. Overall, the game elicited a range of feelings, from enjoyment to disappointment, with some moments being genuinely moving.

    • “It’s quite the touching movie and I waited so long until the English sub arrived… the first movie I watched in my new apartment, it was worth the wait.”
    • “Amazing story with a heart-touching background music <3”
    • “While some characters lack some of the backstory fleshing-out necessary for you to form emotional bonds to them, they all have clear motivations, distinct personalities, and convincing interests in your mission, qualities which keep the story moving smoothly and beautifully.”
    • “Great soundtrack, boring story.”
    • “Boring story.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding enjoyment in its absurd moments and quirky NPC dialogue, which adds a layer of fun to the experience. While some aspects, like the AI's clumsiness and unexpected physics glitches, provide unintentional comedy, others, such as certain character interactions and the final boss fight, fall flat. Overall, the game is seen as a lighthearted and entertaining experience, perfect for casual play.

    • “It's just so satisfying, but overall the game was fun and funny when you realize how really insane the game can be.”
    • “If you peek around a corner, someone in the distance will see you and shoot at you, and then everyone knows where you are instantaneously... it's actually hilarious.”
    • “But this one time I was laughing my ass off when I saw an enemy soldier jump over obstacles, trip over one, and fall headfirst before getting back up.”
    • “The final fight with the four cloaked super aliens was just a not funny joke.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I expected some clever jokes, but instead, it was just cringeworthy puns.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally perceived as weak, with players expressing a lack of emotional attachment to the characters. While the game's visuals and design elements are praised, the absence of vehicle interiors detracts from the overall experience. However, some users note that certain characters do exhibit depth and development.

    • “Character development is rich and engaging, allowing players to form a strong connection with the characters.”
    • “The characters have depth and their development throughout the game is impressive.”
    • “The character design is top-notch, contributing to a more immersive experience.”
    • “Without getting into spoilers, character development is weak and I felt no attachment to them.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab by Crytek, leading to negative sentiments among users who feel it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Disgusting cash grab from Crytek and nothing but.”
    • “I hope they aren't advertising that it is still running.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
9hMain story
15hCompletionist
8-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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