Crysis 2

     I finally got around to playing the sequel of the game with some of the best graphics around. Even just looking at the box itjust screams "awesome" at you. The game is based a few years after the first game, in New York. You play a U.S. Marine named Alcatraz. The game literally explodes into action from the start, as you escape a sinking submarine. After the escape, your squad is shot pactically dead by a big alien ship, and only Prophet, one of the characters from the first game, donning his nanosuit, can aid you. He shoots down the ship, and gives you his nanosuit to stop you from dying.
     The game is a little less confusing than the first, but at least it explains things a bit more detailed than Crysis did. The soldiers, when they aid you, can actually help you as well, which was a slight relief. I was a little saddened that they massively reduced the amount of vehicles you gained, and that they reduced the amount of suit powers you had. They seemed to have grabbed a few ideas from Halo, though. You are able to rip turrets from their stands and vehicles to roam with in the urban jungle of New York. I don't quite understand why the aliens had a change of heart from their suit designs, the annoying floating suits changed into walking exoskeletons.
     I do like the way that you can get upgrades for your suit, like decrease the amount your energy drains in various modes, or tracing enemy footsteps and the trails of the shots. The thermal camera is ingenious, and very helpful when sniping or facing cloaked aliens, as is the assassinations you can do while in the cloaking mode. The variety of weapons has also increased, but the attachments have decreased.
     Finally, though, it has a better, more worthy storyline to stand beside the amazing graphics, making it even more beautiful than the first. The combat AI is great. If there are aliens, they might run to cover, charge at you to knock you over, shoot at you, jump up walls or many other things, while enemy soldiers might call for backup or grab a vehicle.
     The fights can get quite tactical. The suit will tell you beforehand if you can do various tactical manoeuvres, and to see them you have to look through your binoculars. They could be, use a turret, use stealth to get to a certain point, flank around the enemy, snipe, or climb to a higher vantage point. Of course, you don't always have to choose these. You might see an even better way to get through the enemy.
     If you had to play any shooter this year, I would force this one upon you. Despite the confusing plot and often aggravating fights, you would be missing out on one of the great new game series'.

Ingenuity-8
It has taken a few things from other games, but mostly sticks to what it had in Crysis.
Graphics-10
It stays at the top of my list for explosive graphics, even if my PC can't handle the "Very High" setting.
Story-7
The story has improved quite a bit, even when it's still confusing and, at times, misleading.
Overall-9
It really has improved since the first game, and I hope they bring out a third one.