The original Crysis was definitely a showcase of technological brilliance. Everything from the landscape to the characters' facial features was incredibly detailed and lifelike, but the price was too high for some gamers with older PCs. Crysis Warhead, the official standalone expansion, seeks to cure that as well as some of the other problems with the original.
In Warhead, you play the role of Sergeant Sykes (nicknamed Psycho), one of the members of Raptor Team from the first game. The events in Warhead begin when Nomad (the protagonist from the first game) splits with Psycho, and end shortly before you rejoin him on the aircraft carrier.
Aside from being less hardware-intensive, Warhead has some AI changes to the aliens which make them somewhat less human-like, accentuating the difference between the two main types of enemies. Other additions include a grenade launcher, which was the biggest disappointment, and dual SMGs, which were much more useful. The final PAX weapon is also much better than the TAC cannon in the original, with the key being it doesn’t need a lock on something in order to shoot.
The new game is faster-paced than the original, meaning you lose some of the action/stealth choices of the original in favor of a “blow stuff up” approach. The new vehicles reflect this as well, though there are few changes. Stealth still works, though it is rarely the best option. The levels are also much more open than the original, with multiple paths through them (with one or two exceptions). On the whole, Warhead is easily the best game so far of 2008 (Pre-Far Cry 2) and is definitely worth its $30 asking price.
My Verdict: 9/10Pros: Good characters, gameplay, stunning graphics
Cons: Story is confusing unless you’ve played Crysis
Bottom line: The best possible way to spend $30
