Hot Mods 06/02: Crysis

06 Feb 2009 at 10:51:09 by Spanner Spencer

Next to Half-Life 2, Crysis has become the single most modded source game available, which is pretty impressive considering the length of time it’s actually been out. On top of this, the original game was very well received but even the meatiest rigs at the time struggled to display the advanced and ultra-detailed graphics of the dense Korean jungles, so it was never a small matter bending the CryEngine 2 to the modder’s will.

Of course, the source game also showed what the CryEngine 2 was capable of – even if there weren’t many computers around that could handle it. The thick foliage, rolling waves, special effects, transparent characters and slick animation all spoke volumes to the home-brew community. It was easy to see the scope of involvement a mod could enjoy by wading into such sophisticated waters, and a huge number of modders took to Crysis with rabid vigour.

To the mod community, Crysis has very much become the spiritual successor to Half-Life 2. The games might be significantly different, and so are the source engine’s, really, but the solidity of the foundation upon which both games are built demonstrate a profound similarity. These are games that are made for gamers, using engines that are made for modders, so we decided to take a look at five of the hottest mods for the ever expanding CryEngine 2.

Predator: The Heat of the Jungle

http://www.moddb.com/mods/predator-the-heat-of-the-jungle

To be brutally honest (and not wanting to denigrate the efforts of the mod team, obviously), Predator: Heat of the Jungle doesn’t do a great deal to enhance the gameplay we saw in Crysis. It’s much the same – stalking around the jungle, open warfare, gunplay exchanges with anything that moves – the usual.

But it’s the concept that makes this mod really come to life. If you recall, when Crysis first saw the light of day it was rife with comparisons to Arine’s most celebrated big screen appearance – Predator. This sci-fi thriller classic undoubtedly offered more than a little inspiration to the development of Crysis, what with the personal cloaking, the crack team of military experts, the dense jungle setting and the incredible alien twist to the modern warfare showdown.

To see the engine brought full circle and used to craft a Predator game that takes us back to that bad ass bush seems like the reason Crysis was really made. There’s never been that definitive Predator FPS, and although The Heat of the Jungle is still very much in its early stages, this alpha release is packed with potential.

Blain’s jungle cutting Gatlin, the insurgent stronghold buried deep in the jungle, the crack squad of well armed war machines and, of course, the cloaked alien hunter stalking the best of the best using its penetrating heat vision. Let’s hope this mod really gets going and reminds us just how magnificent that 1988 movie really was.

Cue your favourite Predator one liner right here in the IncGamers comments section. I’m gonna go with, “If it bleeds, we can kill it”. Impress me with yours.

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