Digital Foundry Tech Comparison: Crysis 2 PC

Has Crytek "sold out" to the console audience with its first triple-format release? Or is Crysis 2's new vision for the franchise a necessary shift, fundamental to the continued existence of the world-renowned German studio?

Some say that the company's "Maximum Game" ethos has been compromised by building something that simply must run well on five-year-old console hardware, while others point to the technological leaps being made in the core functionality of the new CryEngine 3 - features which are more refined and enhanced in the higher-end graphical presets exclusive to the PC game.

[Oldman100]

Game looks awesome on pc

Shuffle Jesus approves

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[starchild]

That was a good analysis. I have played the PC version as well as the 360 version and there are many advantages on the PC, most of which DF laid out in the article.

On a decent gaming rig Crysis 2 has:

1. Much, much better framerate.

2. Basically zero geometry or texture pop-in.

3. Far superior anti-aliasing.

4. Higher quality shadows.

5. More dynamic light sources.

6. More dynamic shadows (in places where there are none on the consoles).
http://images.eurogamer.net...
http://images.eurogamer.net...

7. Shadow draw distance is much further on PC.

8. Much higher resolutions.

9. Better quality lighting in terms of how light bounces off objects.
http://images.eurogamer.net...
http://images.eurogamer.net...

10. Higher precision effects like depth of field, SSAO, and per object motion blur.

11. Buildings, trees and other objects in the distance are much clearer on PC.
http://images.eurogamer.net...
http://images.eurogamer.net...

So while the console versions of Crysis 2 are clearly raising the graphical bar on the consoles, the PC version is quite a step above them.

[Darkfocus]

those are just the typical things that are better in all multiplats on PC though...

[evrfighter]

what was with the slow motion? had to keep the pc version in sync with the ps3 version?

it's no secret that higher fps means the game progresses much more smoothly and more faster and imo. They should have showed this instead of putting the pc version in slow-mo down to keep it in sync.

Wish Crytek would pull a bioware and release a High def texture pack for my pc :(

[Gran Touring]

@evrfighter for comparison reasons. The video output is @30fps, and if they were both shown at their native speeds, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in framerate

[hakis86]

LOL Oldman

[Kon]

Custom settings for Crysis 2 : http://www.incrysis.com/for...

[BeastlyRig]

- http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[kaveti6616]

that sucks balls.

I was expecting real time reflections from a crytek game.

also, as far as copy pasting, crysis 1 had the same palm trees on the island over and over.

[Pandamobile]

Wtf are you complaining about. Virtually every game in existence uses that. You can't do reflections in a game without a huge performance hit.

This is is called cube/reflection mapping. Every reflective surface in a certain area has a certain cube map applied to it which provides the reflection.

[Denethor_II]

I'll download this from Steam when it's cheap.

[theonlylolking]

The mods will look better than the actual game like in crysis 1. Crysis 2 still looks better than the console versions if you have a good gaming PC.

[Active Reload]

Maybe you PC gamers should get a 360, lol :P

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

The Flaming Lancer is a work of art...

[tdrules]

ಠ_ಠ

[BeastlyRig]

Maybe you 360 gamers should get a PC, lol :P

http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

No call of duty elements, 64 players & innovation is a work of art...

[Active Reload]

I was kidding around, besides, I avoid platforms whose userbase is too sensitive...

Edit: 64 players...innovative? News to me. Did you see the skin on that Lancer? Dynamic...flames are rolling man...that's innovative.

[BeastlyRig]

think you missed the AND innovative part..

beats any shooter you got!

[PS360PCROCKS]

pretty much what I've been saying. It's console port with a few things better like ANY PC game would have...sad

[kevnb]

Its better on pc by quite a bit, and dx11 is coming.once nvidia smartens up.

[ATiElite]

Crysis 2 looks better on Pc just like ALL console ports look better on PC. When are we gonna get the Crysis PC vs. Crysis 2 PC comparisons?

Crysis > Crysis 2

[PS360PCROCKS]

look in the forums, I posted some. It looks much worse in areas