Crysis 2 is due to hit local retail this Friday, and for those who are still on the fence about this sequel, we have rounded up numerous reviews from around the internet to help make your decision that much easier.

Crysis 2 is the sequel to 2008’s PC exclusive Crysis, which was at the time billed as the most technically impressive game yet released. Although not many people would argue that Crysis served up impressive visuals, very few gamers owned a PC capable of unlocking its potential, leading to the popular retort “But can it play Crysis?” among gamers discussing new hardware.

Unlike its progenitor, Crysis 2 is being release on PS3 and Xbox as well as PC. This means that we can expect a more streamlined graphics engine and that most gaming PCs will be able to run the game just fine. Ironically, Crysis 2 for PC will ship without DX 10 or DX 11 support, harking back to the relatively archaic DX 9 API. DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 support is expected to be patched in retroactively over the coming weeks.

In the meantime, here are some reviews to help make up your mind:

1UP A-

Crysis 2 is a beautifully realized game that delivers impressive environments, simplified controls, and a plethora of tactical combat options. The game empowers you to make gameplay choices that complement your play style both in single- and mulitplayer. Unfortunately the visually strong presentation and gameplay can’t hide the mediocre setup for Crysis 3; for most of the game you play a silent protagonist who goes from mission to mission, following instructions as ordered. Then, when you reach the end of the campaign your character suddenly starts talking and you learn that this entire conflict is just a small part of something much bigger. Acid-trip style memories, reflections, and final recaps try to tie the plot together, but it still leaves you feeling a bit unfulfilled with just a flat, to-be-continued cliffhanger. But the ride there is still thrilling, even if the payoff is mediocre. Yet despite any story hiccups, I can’t stress how incredible it all looks. Read more

Game Revolution B+

Crysis 2 has done an amazing thing here. It’s a sequel that while borrowing heavily from the first Crysis, plays out absolutely nothing like it and creates its own standalone experience. While most FPS like CoD series or Halo do improve in each iteration, this is one of the few games that dramatically enhances its previous installment. This is the new FPS, the thinking man’s FPS, and I can’t wait to get my second playthrough started. Read more

CVG 91/100

Crytek has gone out of its way to offer something brilliant that other shooters don’t, and succeeded in abundance – with fantastic shootouts, tonnes of freedom and a technical magic bag that’s the envy of all of its competitors. Read more

Game Informer 9/10
 
If you’re tired of fighting corridor-based wars against an endless flow of brainless meatbags, Crysis 2 is worth a look. The unique sandbox approach to gunfights and game-changing nanosuit lend the title a flavor of its own, and Crytek smartly leverages these strengths in both the single- and multiplayer modes. Read more

IGN 90/100

Despite those complaints, Crysis 2 succeeds. It’s a beautiful, engrossing experience that avoids the anemic, scripted playbook made law by the 500 pound shooter gorilla. It plays well, encourages creative problem-solving, and confidently delivers a series of escalating and changing encounters and scenarios that will push you to think in a way few shooters have in an era of increasingly funneled experiences. While Crysis 2 loses its footing during a few odd moments, Crytek more than delivers on the promise of their previous games. Read more

VideoGamer 90/100

Crytek’s fourth game is their most confident to date, carefully balancing silliness, seriousness, and spectacle, and despite looking like a laundry list of bad shooter clichés at first glance the end product is surprisingly fresh-faced and triumphant. Switching to New York gives Crytek what it desperately needed: a credible sense of menace to go alongside gorgeous technical fortitude and impressive artistic direction. Read more

Gamespot 85/100

Crysis was a superb game, and it wasn’t so just because of the astounding technology that brought it to life. Crysis 2 doesn’t make as strong of a mark, but in a sea of me-too shooters, it feels unique and offers an exciting journey that’s as much your own making as that of the developer. The wow factor is undercut by a few issues–the bargain-bin AI and some unfortunate bugs among them. But while the lows are inescapable, the highs are intense, and the more you play, the more extraordinary they become. If you give this sequel a little patience, it will bombard you with the thrills you came seeking. Read more

Strategy Informer 80/100

Crysis 2 ticks all the right boxes, with a lengthy campaign that packs plenty of replay value and multiplayer options that are bound to prove a big hit. If only the suit’s powers were managed a little better, and the AI was up to scratch, we’d be recommending this outright. Read more

Eurogamer 8/10

The long road through the game, winding its way towards Central Park, lacks variation, but then it was never intended to be a Bond-style rollercoaster ride around diverse global tourist locations. Rather, this was always intended to be a game about a suit, and what that represents. In almost every way that matters then, Crysis 2 is dressed for success. Read more

Joystiq 4/5

While the single-player campaign is something I can see myself returning to a couple more times in a quest for Achievements/Trophies, the multiplayer side of Crysis 2 has me utterly hooked. I came for the pretty graphics, was happy with the solid shooter underneath them and am pretty much beside myself with how unexpectedly good the online play is. Read more

Crysis 2 review roundup discussion.

Crysis 2 launch trailer