As a huge fan of Crysis, I couldn't wait for this game. I'm writing this review after few months of the release. (non-Dx11)
The first Crysis excelled both in audio and video department, it was a true technological marvel. With a brand-new engine and setting, and with little to no experience with consoles, Crytek actually managed to pull it off, creating one my best experiences this year.
First of all, I'd start with the tech. The lightning effects (fire, for instance) are looking way more real then before. Textures, animations and character models went through a little improvement, and the particle effects are better then in Crysis. The A.I could've used some improvement though. It's all right overall, but you can check the youtube for AI bugs, there's a ton in C2. Few minor pop-ins, but nothing serious that takes away from the experience. Also, the game is very optimised, I played through with a 2-year old rig without problems. (Full HD, maxed out)
The game also excells in audio. The original soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer, are some of the best I've heard in a video game. Filled with emotion, hostality, and blends perfectly with the atmosphere of the game. The voice acting is good, and overall the sounds are great.
As for the gameplay: the difficulty is just right. The pacing is great, and the nano-suit is a great addition. The shooting mechanics are solid, and the gunfights are impressive. There's a shit ton of collectibles which can extend the 8-10 hour campaign with a few hours. You can also upgrade your weapons and nanosuit, so you can play through the game with your own style.
Overall, the game is definetly worth the money. I can't comment on the online and the DX-11 version, I'm not much of an online player, but I've heard its a solid addition. Few holes in the story can be found, but overall the dialogues and the story was alright. Check it out.
YouTube’s members ‘Digital Dreams’ and ‘Jose cangrejo’ have shared some videos, showcasing Pascal Gilcher’s Reshade mod – which adds Ray Tracing/Path Tracing effects – in some really old games such as Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Crysis 2, RAGE and Resident Evil 6.
I'm still learning how to look for the differences. At first I was focusing on shadows for some reason but I don't think that changes much, is it reflections that change?
It is supposed to be simulating how light actually works- so yes if light is reflecting off a surface accurately it should show reflection or an effect that matches what you are looking at in the environment. Next time you play a game look at a puddle of water there may be just a "baked" in texture that if you aren't paying attention seems like it is reflecting but it isn't. I would say though if the light is reflecting more accurately I would think that would give more accurate shadows as well.
I am still not 100% sold on it- it looks okay but I can't get over the hardware price jump for better reflections..
While games won't look immensely better, it opens up more possibilities overall. Understandably, the price jump is huge. But, that can be said for being at the forefront for any new technology. I'm currently using a 2080ti and while I've played a few games that enable it, the gpu also plays everything else incredibly well so it's not like you're buying this tech for ONLY that option. Enthusiasts will pay top dollar to check out the newest things, but this will eventually become an everyday consumer and by then they'll have optimized and become a lot cheaper.
Ray/path tracing can be used how the developer wants it to be. Tracing can be used to calculate shadows/lighting, reflection and even audio, where audio waves are calculated on the bounce off material types to simulate enviroment and echos accuratly.
Should also keep in mind that this ray/path tracing system is different and less accurate option from Nvidias RTX branded type. McFly's is a reshade that layers over the top of the game and therefor the quality will vary drastically. For example you can see nice reflection in the Star Wars demo here but it then introduces colour clipping with the light saber. On a video of GTA 5 for example it was incorrectly projecting a reflection of a red car onto the road which caused a very faint red glow on the ground around the car.
If you want to see a good example of a game developed with ray tracing reflection and lighting in mind then you could look up the youtube video of "Control - Exclusive E3 RTX GAMEPLAY Trailer".
It supposed to add more realistic light Not actually more light effects and explosions
I hate to say it but I’m fine with fake lights, shadows, reflections. I just kind of like the effect, it’s also great it saves resources for other things.
I’ve been checking out some original Xbox games on x360/x1x and the engine has fake light streaming in through a stained glass window, and I love it even though I know it’s not real time lighting. Heck it even shifts as I move about.
I’ve about convinced my self rt and hdr just doesn’t work for me. Before hdr I would even complain damn why are the headlights killing me they are so bright.
I notice most frame rate, then jaggies, then resolution; with the last two interchangeable depending.
Other day watched an enthusiast rave over 4k and the poor guy was in 1080p. I played the same game the night before and thought wow this is clean, I wonder if it’s 4k, but knew differently and I thought wow even resolution is not always important. The next day he apologized and was surprised he could be fooled.
How come the lightsabers don't give off any light? Even in the EA star wars game the guy uses it to light up a dark cave. I guess if it is using frostbite it will support rtx cards.
Jum Jum from Unleashthegamer writes: We gathered the best real setting games we could think of if you’re looking for something in a familiar location to soothe your thirst for real-world games.
The sequel to one of PC's most celebrated exclusives went multi-platform, with a huge impact to CryEngine technology and the core make-up of the game. Join Alex and John for an extended chat about what the title meant to them, how the console versions stacked up and how CryEngine evolved for multi-platform development.
Crysis 2 was the beginning of EA's influence on Crytek. Not only was the multiplayer full of bugs at launch (still has today) but the entire game both SP and MP was redesigned to cater to the call of duty crowd. 3 kills - UAV, 7 kills, overhead gunship, etc.
Agreed with the sentiments of the video. Can consoles at the time run Crysis? Technically no. Unless ~14fps is acceptable as "being able to run Crysis." Other games at the time, KZ2/KZ3 ran (locked 30fps) and look much better (albeit horrible FOV). Result of a first party engine tailored made for the hardware, and an engine made with compromises to get a game to "run" on consoles, and at the end of the day gimp the PC version leaving Crysis 2 feeling... lacking. DX11 patch helped though, but no getting around that weak AI.
This game was okay I guess, but paled in comparison to the first game. The multiplayer was a better experience, but the single player didn't really feel right to me. I also didn't like the music that they went with in the game, I found it to be kind of annoying. I was so disappointed with the single player campaign, that I didn't even bother with the 3rd game.
Agree!
"I can't comment on the online and the DX-11 version ..."
Well, with DX-11 and High-Res Textures it's visually on a whole new level.
Nice Review!
Thank you.
My english is a bit sucky though.
It's one of my favourite games of the year. There's a lot of people who dismiss it because it wasn't as good as the first in some respects. But you have to take it for it is, a bloody good shooter.
Good review.
The SP was great and as you say it was pretty lenghty as well. Finished it in 11 hours which is twice as long as most shooters these days.
Great review!