Crysis Remastered Trilogy
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic sci-fi shooter series brings F-bombs and blood.
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Crysis Remastered Trilogy
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Great collection for teens.
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What’s It About?
THE CRYSIS REMASTERED TRILOGY is a collection of classic sci-fi shooter games from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era that have been remastered for newer hardware. The first game in the series is set largely on an island and focuses on a mission to rescue a group of researchers from invading North Korean forces. Players take on the role of a supersoldier named Nomad, who quickly learns that the island is home to a much deadlier threat than humans: An alien race called the Ceph. The second game moves the action to New York City, which has come under attack by the Ceph, while the third game jumps decades into the future, with Manhattan in ruins. The series' main shtick is the "nanosuit" armor worn by its protagonists, which gives them the ability not only to take superhuman amounts of damage, but also to turn invisible, become much stronger, and move with incredible speed. Players must use these abilities sparingly, though, as they drain the suit's power. That means the soldiers must rely heavily on more traditional army gear -- including a variety of guns and explosives -- to combat the alien menace. The remastered versions of these games have not been altered in terms of design or content, save that their multiplayer modes have been removed. But they have been given graphical upgrades -- including support for 4K resolution and 60 Hz refresh rates if played on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Windows PCs -- to make them feel a little more modern. While the bundled trilogy represents the best deal for those who intend to purchase all three, each game can be purchased separately.
Is It Any Good?
If nothing else, this collection of games provides a case study in just how much a series can evolve over a short span of time. By modern standards, the first game in The Crysis Remastered Trilogy feels kind of clunky in terms play, storytelling, and even presentation -- and keep in mind it wowed folks with its graphics when it was originally released in 2007. Its semi-open world feels weirdly claustrophobic, and its mechanics -- especially the stealth elements -- are stiff and underdeveloped. It's populated with shallow, conventional characters with whom the player is unlikely to form much of a bond. Crysis 2, released a few years later, shows more polish and attention to detail, scaling back the openness of the world to focus on better choreographed level design, with some great set-piece battles. It's not until the third game, though, that the trilogy really comes into its own. The ruined Manhattan skyline is frequently gorgeous, the characters -- especially the exhausted protagonist Prophet who, by this point, has survived pretty much everything (including death) -- are more human and relatable, and the combat has been fine-tuned, with fun strategic options such as a powerful compound bow. If you play just one game in this trilogy, this is the one you should choose.
Returning players aren't likely to be wowed by this rerelease, which hasn't really been augmented in any way except for its visual presentation. And keep in mind these are remasters, not remakes, and that even the prettiest of them -- Crysis 3 -- is no match for big budget games built specifically for current hardware. That said, The Crysis Remastered Trilogy is interesting in a time capsule sort of way, showing modern players not just how much a series can evolve in just a few years, but also how far games have come since its original release.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in the media. Is the impact of the violence in The Crysis Remastered Trilogy affected by the use of violence against aliens as well as against humans? Would the impact be limited if you were only fighting aliens? Is it a problem that you kill aliens and humans without much in the way of an ethical gradient? Should we morally distinguish between the two?
What sort of things can you imagine might be possible with robots so tiny we can't even see them? Does this kind of technology excite you or make you a little wary?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Windows , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Crytek
- Release date: October 15, 2021
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Topics: Space and Aliens
- ESRB rating: M for Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Last updated: October 19, 2021
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