14 DAY TRIAL // Let's keep it short and simple for everyone to know this is no joke. Today, Crytek has confirmed Far Cry 2. They've set up a teaser website, which unfortunately doesn't say anything more than "Far Cry 2." As you can imagine, loads of details will be revealed soon, as 1UP.com reports..."the official unveiling will happen in the October issue of PC Gamer." OK, so it's not so soon, but at least you know now when to look for it. The game is said to launch in Spring 2008. The most important thing will probably be the announcement of the platforms it's launching on. Keep fingers crossed for PS3.
Crytek developed a new game engine called "CryENGINE" for the first installment of Far Cry. Reportedly, the game was born out of a technology demo called X-Isle: Dinosaur Island made by Crytek to showcase the capabilities of the NVIDIA GeForce 3. The game features relatively long view or draw distance, similar to Operation Flashpoint, but has a more advanced rendering system for vegetation. Also, all of the level territory is accessible to the player without loading pauses. The game engine features seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor areas.
The game was notable back in 2004 for its open ended structure, providing a multitude of ways to complete a given objective. Far Cry incorporates a mix of arcade-like and realistic gameplay, forcing the player to effectively take cover while still allowing an upfront approach. For instance, there are no forced stealth segments and setting off an alarm would not result in mission failure.
The original game engine features a built-in real-time Sandbox Editor that makes creating large outdoor levels easier, circumventing the need to load the game to test a custom level, or to see the in-game effects of any changes. This enabled CryTek designers to add much detail to levels, creating many different paths while reducing the time spent on level design. What do you think they've got prepared for you next? It also allows the player to choose more approaches to solving goals, providing a more open and non-linear experience.
That's what the original game is all about. Surely newcomers will be pleasantly impressed in Spring 2008 when the game's released. Again, Xbox 360 and PS3 especially deserve this title and so do their respective owners. Let's hope Crytek sees it this way.