Crysis 2 SP Shootout: PC vs. Xbox 360 vs. PS3

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Almost anyone can play Crysis 2.

Crysis 2 represents a new sort of game making philosophy for Crytek. The first Crysis was so insane that not even the highest-end of PCs at release-time were able to run it smoothly with all settings at the highest level. The first Crysis was a game that was definitely made to be best experienced on a desktop of the future.

Crysis 2, on the other hand, is a game that was made for the mainstream gaming PCs of today, as well as the console of five years ago. For those expecting the type of envelope pushing of the first game, it's a disappointment – but the flipside is that now everyone can play Crysis.

Now that the final retail version of Crysis 2 is out, now there's been enough time for a direct PC vs. console comparison. The good news is that the PC is still the best platform for Crysis 2. Even a computer running a GeForce 8800GT can pull ahead of the console versions in terms of resolution and smoothness.

If you have anything older than that though, the consoles match the PC experience very closely (though some would argue that it's the PC that's matching the console experience). Perhaps the PC can pull even further ahead when DX11 gets injected into the game.

Check out the handful of PC vs. console videos below. For the best effect, view them on YouTube and use the highest resolution possible.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
86 Comments Comment from the forums
  • welshmousepk
    Both console version look terrible compared to PC (but better than most console games), so this isn't really offering any new info.

    More looking forward to DX11 and hi-res textures for the PC.
    Reply
  • rantoc
    So this test just confirms what we already knew, the by todays PC gaming standards weak card from late 2006 outperforms the todays consoles in gfx in this title.

    Heck my old 8800 gtx is almost an ancient relic in PC gaming today and yet manage to beat the consoles in this title, i find it really amusing especially when some kids seems to believe their console is top of the line. Think again - You get what you pay for...
    Reply
  • rantoc
    welshmousepkMore looking forward to DX11 and hi-res textures for the PC.
    Indeed, heard a patch is on the way from Crytek to the PC enthusiasts.
    Reply
  • welshmousepk
    They have expressed interest in releasing mod tools also. Hope that comes to fruition, as the modders worked wonders with the first.
    Reply
  • rantoc
    A good mod api is a good foundation to make sure a class A title lives on for quite sometime (and usually remembered when the next sequel is released, generating better sales from fans).

    I recall all the good old mods for quake for instance, team fortress just to name one!
    Reply
  • Filiprino
    Looks worse than Crysis 1, all three versions. The PC version might not be at full settings, plus Youtube may degrade it, because I don't see any big difference. So, or Crysis 2 has worse graphics than Crysis 1 or the videos are not good enough in order to not make consoles look like shit.

    I'm doing a playthrough on Crysis and Crysis: Warhead. Then I'll play Crysis 2.
    Reply
  • cronik93
    The small linear levels explain why people have way better performance over the first Crysis.....
    Reply
  • maynardman10
    i
    Reply
  • maynardman10
    I rented it for xbox just to check the story out before a purchase, and the frame rate drops are so bad I had to quit playing it. I own a high end PC with a nvidia 580 and I7.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    FiliprinoLooks worse than Crysis 1, all three versions. The PC version might not be at full settings, plus Youtube may degrade it, because I don't see any big difference. So, or Crysis 2 has worse graphics than Crysis 1 or the videos are not good enough in order to not make consoles look like shit.I'm doing a playthrough on Crysis and Crysis: Warhead. Then I'll play Crysis 2.You hit the nail on the head first time.
    Unless you view the original comparison videos in full HD on a 40"+ screen you will never get an accurate difference between them.

    Using less than standard-def youtube vids to show a high-end graphical comparison is plain stupid.
    Reply