Crysis 2 gets official graphic update on Monday

***Cosmonautical*** · 06-23-2011, 07:27 AM

Crysis 2 Is About To Look A Whole Lot Better | Kotaku Australia

Apparently Crytek has taken on criticisms about the console-level graphics effects and low detail textures PC gamers have been complaining about since the launch of Crysis 2. Sure is nice of them to try to update the sequel to fx on par with the previous game in the series. Doesn't solve the A.I. and lack of destructable world issues, but I guess it's something. I imagine a lot of pc purists are going to adopt a "too little too late" attitude about this.

***Cosmonautical*** · 06-25-2011, 01:56 PM

Here are some comparison screens for the new graphical features:

Robotazy · 06-25-2011, 11:03 PM

So, crazy computer magic makes the computer games go woosh?

Seriously though, I suppose it's good but since I'm not a sucker for graphics I can only say that it's an ok adjustment. I suppose if you are Crysis, you have to make the graphics unable to run on any computer at the moment.

***Cosmonautical*** · 06-26-2011, 02:27 AM

Well, the issue is that Crysis was popular with those who bought it because it served the high-end of the gaming spectrum.

The features that are being enabled in this patch were promised by Crytek, but when launch came around, they weren't in the game. Being that the game was co-developed on consoles when the previous titles in the series were designed exclusively for advanced PCs, C2 was subjected to a chilling effect and restricted by the inferior consoles. That means the gameplay was altered drastically, and even the story was affected by it.

The first game is near-sandbox with destroyable environments. You can shoot down trees, guard towers, buildings. C2 had to forgo the physics play, though, so now you cannot do that. Previously, you could choose to infiltrate any base in whatever fashion you imagined. Jump the fence, climb the sniper tower. Shoot the tower with a rocket, draw the enemies out, use cloak to enter the unmanned base. Shoot out the bridge before troops can make it back across.

Now, you're stuck in a corridor doing it however it was scripted, and if you happen to run an armored vehicle into a light post, well, the light post wins.

The POM (Parallax mapping) effect which actually deforms the texture of the ground (as opposed to just lighting it differently) is something that has even been modded into Doom 3. And shipped with other older games since.

Of course, PC being a dumping ground for games designed to meet the limits of 6+ year old console technology is a sore point for PC gamers. Crytek knows this. Stuff like this screen made it seem an awful lot like they were intentionally trolling their fanbase:

That's the demo, but the "Press Start to Begin" is also in the unpatched retail PC game.

Personally, I'm sure it's very fun and the visuals at least are probably more than I'd need to enjoy the game. I haven't played it yet, personally, although I own a copy.

06-23-2011, 07:27 AM	#1
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Crysis 2 gets official graphic update on Monday Crysis 2 Is About To Look A Whole Lot Better \| Kotaku Australia Apparently Crytek has taken on criticisms about the console-level graphics effects and low detail textures PC gamers have been complaining about since the launch of Crysis 2. Sure is nice of them to try to update the sequel to fx on par with the previous game in the series. Doesn't solve the A.I. and lack of destructable world issues, but I guess it's something. I imagine a lot of pc purists are going to adopt a "too little too late" attitude about this.

06-25-2011, 01:56 PM	#2
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Here are some comparison screens for the new graphical features:

06-25-2011, 11:03 PM	#3
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	So, crazy computer magic makes the computer games go woosh? Seriously though, I suppose it's good but since I'm not a sucker for graphics I can only say that it's an ok adjustment. I suppose if you are Crysis, you have to make the graphics unable to run on any computer at the moment.

06-26-2011, 02:27 AM	#4
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Well, the issue is that Crysis was popular with those who bought it because it served the high-end of the gaming spectrum. The features that are being enabled in this patch were promised by Crytek, but when launch came around, they weren't in the game. Being that the game was co-developed on consoles when the previous titles in the series were designed exclusively for advanced PCs, C2 was subjected to a chilling effect and restricted by the inferior consoles. That means the gameplay was altered drastically, and even the story was affected by it. The first game is near-sandbox with destroyable environments. You can shoot down trees, guard towers, buildings. C2 had to forgo the physics play, though, so now you cannot do that. Previously, you could choose to infiltrate any base in whatever fashion you imagined. Jump the fence, climb the sniper tower. Shoot the tower with a rocket, draw the enemies out, use cloak to enter the unmanned base. Shoot out the bridge before troops can make it back across. Now, you're stuck in a corridor doing it however it was scripted, and if you happen to run an armored vehicle into a light post, well, the light post wins. The POM (Parallax mapping) effect which actually deforms the texture of the ground (as opposed to just lighting it differently) is something that has even been modded into Doom 3. And shipped with other older games since. Of course, PC being a dumping ground for games designed to meet the limits of 6+ year old console technology is a sore point for PC gamers. Crytek knows this. Stuff like this screen made it seem an awful lot like they were intentionally trolling their fanbase: That's the demo, but the "Press Start to Begin" is also in the unpatched retail PC game. Personally, I'm sure it's very fun and the visuals at least are probably more than I'd need to enjoy the game. I haven't played it yet, personally, although I own a copy.