Crysis

Crysis is the second sandbox game from Crytek. Like Far Cry before it, it juxtaposes a lush tropical environment and tense tactical combat with a science fiction plot. Like Far Cry the story itself won't be winning any awards for originality, but what it does achieve is a sense of tense immersion.

Almost anything can be destroyed in most maps, usually with explosives, tires blow out from gun fire, turning vehicles into impromptu cover or deathtraps. And enemy human foes stalk you with remarkably complex tactics.

The game does have flaws, most noticeably the stratospheric system requirements, even over a year after release. But the payoff for those is an incredibly beautiful and visually realistic world.

Like Far Cry before it, the game's difficulty ramps up sharply once the Science Fiction elements start emerging. And unfortunately much of the sandbox structure of the early maps is abandoned by the middle of the game, which comes far too early.

But, even as short as the game is it's exceedingly re-playable (especially the first 5 or 6 maps) and boasts a very cinematic story that actually benefits from the focused campaign structure.