Review – Crysis: Warhead

He wants to give you a great big death grip hug with his teeth.

I said in my review of Crysis that it had a few small issues that kept it from being perfect. It is as if the designers of the game, Crytek, read my review and decided I was right. Warhead was without a doubt one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had with a FPS and will be my personal benchmark of quality in first person shooter games to come. Everything is streamlined and, if you can fathom it, actually looks better. The trees are more vibrant, the creatures that scurry around down on the ground look lifelike. I didn’t think it was possible, but the game is a major improvement over the original, and its only the expansion.

Crysis: Warhead takes place concurrently with the first game. In the first title, you play as Nomad. You meet up with another member of your team periodically. Warhead, shows the story of the other guy, a smart assed Englishman named Psycho. Where Nomad is cold, calculating and precise, Pyscho true to his name is a guy who excels at blowing things up. Where Nomad would avoid vehicles and other intense ordinance, Psycho sneaks in, and plants a C4 Det pack and blows the whole thing to a firey preview of hell.

The driving in this one is vastly improved from the first game. In the first title, your driving is done from a first person, from the driver seat view, and it makes the munitions hard to aim. In Warhead, everything is done in a third person, diagonal down view. It works so much better. I kind of avoided cars and tanks in the first one, because they were somewhat akin to death traps waiting to happen. Warhead changed all that, and soon it was a whole sale massacre of entire platoons from the maw of the mounted gun on my stolen APC. Vehicles in general handle better, are more responsive and have greater forgiveness in general.

That fire in the distance is a gas station I blew up, not becasue it was useful but in protest of fossil fuels. Also, burning is pretty.

Combat is improved as well. Crysis original had a small problem where even tapping an enemy soldier in the head didn’t always equal a kill. From time to time, their helmet actually flew off like it had just been caught in a strong wind. In Warhead, a head shot is an instant kill. Other tweaks include refining splash damage and other AoE ammo. Cleaner drift on your sniping shots equals more precise take downs of the enemy overall. I didn’t see the inclusion of a knife, but the physical combat is much tighter. Everything functions in closer quarters, and gives you ample response. I could not have asked for more in this department.

You’ll find more ammo and weapons overall in this game. Mostly because the threat level you encounter is on average heavier than the original. I would advise people to NOT be stingy in how you expend grenades and other explosives, as you will find them practically everywhere. Don’t be afraid to get up close and physical with soldiers either. Psycho is a bit more hearty, and stands up to significantly more punishment than Nomad did. I also suggest once you wipe out an area, try to explore it thoroughly. It will pay dividends in ammo and weapons. Not to mention, every so often you find a guy just cowering in a corner waiting for you to bring him his daily serving of lead salad.

I know it looks like I moved the game to Antartica, but I swear this is still a Pacific Island.

One of the last things I want to mention is that Warhead certainly brings the epic quality up a notch. I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but one stand off in particular near the end is a show stopper. You hole up against a cave entrance and fend off wave after wave of oncoming enemies. Its difficult, and long, but is so rewarding when you complete it. I felt like I had just run a marathon and won the lotto all in one rather impressed with my self sigh of relief.

Crysis -Warhead is by and large an amazing game. It takes you on a bullet laden trip back into a world you thought you knew pretty well. From start to finish, Crytech did a stellar job in constructing a wonderful story that solidly engrosses you throughout. Pacing is never an issue, and while at times the force aligned against you seems insurmountable, its nothing a few grenades and a well placed rocket can’t cure. I admit that the replay value of the game is kind of low, being as there isn’t any new content or story to explore, I will most likely boot this up now and again to drop some aliens with the gauss rifle. I cannot stress enough how much I liked this game. I honestly believe it to be one of the best First person shooters I have ever played on any platform. If you find it, pick it up like the box contains the cure to the terminal sickness your sister has. It will not disappoint you, and if it does send it to me, and I will send you a letter containing my disgust and a stern recommendation you not procreate.

Crysis : Warhead was developed by Crytek GmBH and Published by EA, and is available on Pc.

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