When Crysis hit the market late last year, it was met with much deserved praise from critics and gamers alike. Now, Crytek has released another solid installment set in the 'Crysis' universe entitled  'Crysis: Warhead' (CW) that is as least as good as its predecessor in many respects and even better in the terms of its graphics and pacing. Picking up CW is no-brainer for FPS fans looking for their next call to virtual duty.

CW plants you firmly in the nano-enhanced boots of “Psycho” Sykes, a member of Raptor Team, an elite tactical assault unit that has been called to a remote island to investigate the apparent kidnapping of an American archaeological team by the North Korean military. By the time you reach game’s end, the disappearance of the team will surely be the least of your worries, as you’ll be knee-deep in alien baddies and enemy soldiers sporting nanosuits just itching to lay you to waste. Even If you haven’t played Crysis, you shouldn’t have any problem coming to grips with the storyline. CW’s timeline runs parallel with that of the original title: while Nomad (the original protagonist) and his unit work their way across one side of the island, you must find your way across the other as you try to fulfill changing mission objectives. In end, the storyline is not an award-winning masterpiece, but it is solid sci-fi fanfare.

The real litmus test as to whether or not you’ll like the gameplay in CW is whether or not you enjoyed Crysis. The gameplay is essentially the same as before, which is by no means a complaint. The nanosuit boosts strength, speed, armor, and also has a handy cloak mode that makes you invisible, all of which can be toggled on and off at the player’s discretion. The same limitations apply, however: using the suit draws power from a limited pool; consequently, you will have to keep an eye on the power gauge. As before, this allows for some creativity and freedom in exactly how you tackle enemies you come across. Likewise, most situations are still amenable to stealth or head-on action, or a mixture of both.

Crytek has thrown in some vehicle levels, where you are barreling across enemy-infested territory, trying to keep your head on your shoulders. For instance, there’s one where you find yourself in a hovercraft chasing a rogue North Korean general over frozen waves. These segments are generally well-done and nicely paced. Though, I have to say, overall, I enjoy being on foot more, because it allows for stealthier gameplay, but the vehicle levels can offer a nice change of pace.

Pacing is quite important to all genres of gaming, but especially so for FPS titles. Rightfully so, some gamers complained (I among them) that Crysis was peppered with too many lulls between firefights, and the team has definitely addressed that concern by decreasing the downtime between enemy encounters. Players will find they are often moving from one encounter right into the next, and with less time to breathe between engagements, they will find the experience more intense this time around.

On to weapons: Generally, the weapon selection is the same, but series veterans and newcomers alike will appreciate the addition of a six-shot grenade launcher, submachine gun and anti-tank mines. All of the weapons are well done, and you will get plenty of opportunities to switch out ordinance in the field, as you can still pick up weapons and ammo dropped by those foolish enough to challenge you.

Speaking of challenge, the AI is decent, which often tries to make itself a harder target by using cover and making some well-placed shots. However, there are moments where you get the infamous lemming effect in which a stream of enemies continuously flows through a door looking for you, each getting iced as they cross the threshold. Or odd moments where enemies that have been alerted to your presence are scanning the nuances of a corner while their backs are turned to you. These moments aren’t frequent, but they do take away from your level of immersion.

Some other noteworthy differences between CW and Crysis are in the newly optimized engine (CryEngine 2.0), which offers up even more jaw-dropping visuals and increased performance. Essentially, this boils down to an impressive graphics engine that will run smoothly on a nice range of hardware, and it further opens the door to tantalizing eye candy for those with lower end systems. If you have a mid-range rig, you should be in for nice ride down the visual mile. With the settings cranked up, there isn’t a title on the market that tops the Crysis franchise (though STALKER: Clear Skies is just about neck-in-neck).

CW offers up a separate multiplayer suite called Crysis Wars. It comes on a separate CD and requires its own install. All in all, it’s a solid offering, which includes the original multiplayer modes and new one called Team Instant Action. Other reviews have noted the lack of persistent stat tracking, but, that complaint aside, Crysis Wars offers up some fun, competitive online gameplay.

Finally, it’s important to note here that CW is a relatively short game, clocking in at around 5-8 hours, even on higher difficulty settings, but it packs some serious punch during that span of time. Its shortness is further softened by its high replayability.

Gameplay: 8.5
The same as in the original Crysis, but this is a good thing. The nanosuit is still loads of fun, regardless of whether or not you prefer run n’ gun or a more subtle approach to completing your mission. Generally solid AI can slightly mar the gaming experience when inevitable hiccups occur, but there aren’t any dealbreakers here.

Graphics: 9.0
Exceptionally well-done, courtesy of the newest version of CryEngine.

Sound: 9.0
A solid soundtrack and excellent sound effects round out an already solid package.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
With the difficult setting on high, you’ll definitely get a run for your money, as well as more realism.

Concept: 9.0
What’s better than being dropped into a tropical paradise chocked full of human and alien opponents in the most technologically advanced armor the world has ever seen?

Multiplayer: 8.0
A nice sampling of MP maps and the addition of the new game mode make Crysis War and welcome addition to the single-player campaign. No persistent stat tracking will be a slight to mild turnoff for some.

Overall: 9.0
Go grab or download a copy. At 29.99 (USD), there’s no reason not pick this one up. Even if you haven’t played its predecessor, you can’t go wrong here if you are an FPS fan.