retired_el_chanclas

It's only a demo. I think it's probably that this is not a "Gold Demo" as setting up the demo would take some time and as such the full game will be different.

From the documents regarding the script (which appear to be what the final version will be like) I think the full game will be much more thoroughly tweaked and improved over the demo.

What difficulty level did you play the demo on?

As for "linear" look at games like Half-Life. The epitome of "non-linear".

Crysis is non-linear in the choices that you can take to finish missions, kind of like an rpg-lite if you want. You could go stealth and sneak past, you could go guns blazing through every NK patrol and checkpoint, you can steal a boat and bypass a huge amount of the land, you could go stealth and "ninja" everyone.

It will also increase in the full version, you could go sniper and try to pick everyone off, go with assault rifles instead, try to melee everyone etc etc.

It's strange, make the game have a touch of "non-linear" and everyone starts decrying it (no pun intended) for not being "non-linear" enough, but with games without a hint of non-linearity, and everyone praises games for having "tight" or "focused" gameplay.

retired_el_chanclas

michaelwoodcock

Erm.... the game has gone gold, it went gold just prior to the demo being released. It's three weeks to launch, if it's not gone gold yet then they have huge problems. I played the earlier builds too, before the graphics got so pretty, the game played like **** then too.

Using different kill methods does not constitute non-linear play. Freedom to explore, ala Oblivion, is what you want, otherwise almost every FPS game could be described as non-linear as you could "choose" to only use one weapon. The fact it's another case of point A to B to C makes it linear.

I could go on and on, however it's fairly obvious you are a fanboy, so it's pointless. Suffice to say that in a release season of multiple FPS's, Crysis is relying on graphics as a selling point, instead of gameplay, which is a mistake. Timeshift and especially UT look good enough, while playing much much better.

retired_audberry

Not especially excited about this at all tbh, expecting a glorified tech demo.

retired_Monica65

You can't use Oblivion as a point of comparison as it's a totally different genre. As he says Half Life 2 Episode 2 is brilliant and again is very linear, it deviates from this towards the end and that part is the game's worst. It has new an innovative stuff such as the cloak, speed and strength etc, yes it seems to be let down by AI. Why you would think the video at the start of the game would be representative of gameplay I don't know, that's been going on for years.

retired_el_chanclas

Out comes the "fanboy" call. Blatantly no idea.

Calling "playing with a single weapon" does not make a game non-linear.

Having more than just "run and gun" as viable gameplay, along with a more expansive play area makes it a good deal more non-linear than the usual FPS.

I never said it was "oblivion" like. I simply said that the game play roles that the player can choose, combined with a bigger play-area than the usual game give it some non-linearity.

Timeshift? The game of a thousand engines? Able to "rewind time". Been done before. UT is crap.

michaelwoodcock

Of course I can use Oblivion as an example, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series has typified non linear play so are a great example. Just because it's a different genre doesn't mean you should expect less. Crysis has been in development for years, and has been heralded as the second coming of gaming, yet all I've seen is another FPS, with pretty graphics. You want to stand out nowadays, you need more than shiny teeth. It was true for FIFA for years, and it's true for Crysis now, looking good is simply not enough to make gamers buy.

retired_Monica65

So Crysis is an RPG now? Why not compare it to GTA? Or Command & Conquer?

michaelwoodcock

Jesus, it's an FPS, what other options than "run and gun" is there? Run while invisible and gun. Run and punch? Sail and gun? Drive and gun? It's essentially the same. Get from point A, to point B, to point C (while your radar shows you exactly where to go, the location of all enemies in your vicinity, even the direction they are facing, handily enough), all the while hoping your rig can handle the growingly complex environments and enemies without suffering from horrific slowdown. Or you can turn the graphics down, pretty much negating the "best looking game ever" claims.

I play games for a living, and I'll always have great gameplay over great graphics. So far, from what I've experienced, Crytek and EA have gone for the wow factor, wanting you to wander round admiring the scenery. I'd rather play an absorbing game.

retired_Monica65

I take it you thought Far Cry was crap as well then. But I don't any of us are going to change your mind. I'll eat my shoes if this doesn't average 8.5 on meta and gamerankings.