There’s a famous saying: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, in this case, the clearly functional Crysis Trilogy was only broken by its original system, PlayStation 3. Now, Crytek has done an incredibly impressive job on bringing the famous trilogy back into modern-day gaming life, by remastering (aka fixing) it for PlayStation 4.

Crysis Remastered

Over a year since its previous Remastered release, which sadly failed to deliver to the best of its ability, Saber Interactive has been working under the hood, fixing various glitches and bugs that plagued the original Crysis Remastered release. Now, this new release is definitely the version of Crysis Remastered we should have originally had, with many of the bugs gone and a 60 FPS option restored to the game (available on backwards compatibility via Playstation 5).

Alongside the much-desired fixes and visual improvements that the remastered version provides, all the previously released DLC has been added, including the previously removed “The Ascension” level, which was removed due to limited power provided by the Playstation 3.

This remaster serves as a reminder that Crysis Remastered is more than just an open-world based shooter with arguably chart-leading graphics and unique hand to hand combat system, it showcases the fact that it was literally before its time as a shooter, providing a then-new approach to its free-for-all battling system, which many shooter genre games have now adopted.

Crysis 2 Remastered

Crysis 2 returns to fine form on the Playstation 4 in its first remaster, providing similar upgrades to that of its predecessor (upgraded visuals and previously released content included). In its story, the game picks up from the ending of Crysis, where (spoiler alert) aliens have invaded and made their extra-terrestrial way to New York City, so you, and your Nano-suited based carnage, have been called back into action.

Sadly, the sequel as a whole lacks the open-world freedom provided by its original, a choice that was clearly not a favourable, but necessary, a choice made by Crytek. Even linear in its approach, the game still runs and plays wonderfully, though it does leave interpretation on the table with what could and should have been. Crysis 2 remastered has genuinely never looked better.

Benefitting from an avalanche of visual upgrades and gameplay improvements, complemented by the new freedom of 4k resolution and improved 60fps (on Playstation 5), you could argue that Crysis 2 Remastered could have been created this year, rather than 10 years ago — it’s that good. The sequel has also managed to avoid the rocky release road that the original Crysis remastered endured.

Crysis 3 Remastered

Just like the two before it, Crysis 3 Remastered is quite possibly the best-looking version of Crysis 3 on console, and, just like the other two games, Crysis 3 Remastered finally manages to provide PlayStation gamers with an experience approximate to the PC version of Crysis 3 that was originally gutted due to the technical limitations of old PlayStation hardware, but alas, just like Crysis 2 Remastered, Crysis 3 Remastered also suffers from a lack of replay value outside of its story mode.

The writing and gameplay are sound, but its heavy reliance on multiplayer mode, probably due to competing with similar games that were released at the time, affects the series more than its rivals, hurting both its stance as a sequel and the series as a whole. Taking the ‘remastered’ shock paddles and zapping new life into a former generation-based game, Crysis 3 Remastered smashes its original visual masterpiece, rivaling that of PlayStation rival God of War. Just like the other two, 4k support and 60fps come marching on in, bringing along fan favourites new modern-day graphical improvements including upgraded textures and new age lighting.

When it comes to remasters, fans are usually divided: some are happy, with nostalgia following through their gaming veins. Others are critical, often citing removed or wanted features that could have given the game. In this case, the series, a longer run of replay value, but alas, Crysis as a series still plants its flag as a leader in the shooter genre, and this remaster is a fantastic way for fans, new and old, to embrace the classic trilogy all over again.

Written by: Brutaleo