Crysis Performance & Gameplay tips

[trowand]

Hey, I picked up Crysis and have been playing it quite a bit. I noticed a couple of cool things that I wanted to pass on to everyone. First, I'm running a Q6600 @ 3.0Ghz on a P35 mobo with 2GB RAM and an X1950Pro w/512MB GDDR3. When I first played it I chose to play at "Optimal System Settings" which put everything at Medium and I then chose a resolution of 1280X1024 to play at my montior's native res. I played for a couple of hours and things seemed OK but kind of slow. I was averaging 25-30 FPS and the graphics quality was just OK. Later on I decided to set TEXTURE QUALITY, POSTPROCESSING QUALITY and PARTICLES QUALITY to high and performance and framerates actually WENT UP. I don't know why, but the game looks way better and plays way smoother. I'm now actually averaging 35 FPS during action and up to 60 when there isn't much going on and everything is still.

Also, when using the Invisibility Cloak, the time/suit power goes down MUCH FASTER if you move around but lasts waaay longer if you stay still. If you run or walk it goes down super fast only giving you like 8-10 seconds of invisibility but if you sneak while crouched it lasts TWICE+ as long and a good tactic is to use it to go from cover to cover or from tree to tree and turn it off and let your suit recharge while hidden behind the cover. Then turn it on again and sneak to the next available cover. Once I discovered this tactic, I used it with my laser sighted handguns to just sneak around villages from tree to truck to bush to hut and sniped the enemies with head shots. Also, the invisibility will last nearly forever if you stay still so it helps if you can have the enemies come to you.

If anyone else has some gameplay or graphics tips, post them here. There were actually a couple more tips that I had but I can't remember them now.

[pam123]

Thanks for the tips

[hitchface]

I actually found that too. After tweaking around with the demo, I found that it ran like an absolute dog with everything on medium (a 7600GS will do that to a guy), but when I got more selective about what I wanted, I could crank physics, water, particles, textures, postprocessing and a few other items simultaneously, and it ran smooth as butter. One of the really nice bits of eye candy that Crysis offers is it's usage of shaders, but with everything on low and shaders on medium, I take a huge framerate hit.

It seems like the developers of the game had their heads screwed on the right way, because even with everything on minimum and the res all the way down to 800x600, it looks fantastic and runs really smoothly. I didn't think they could make it any better than that, but they sure found a way...and to think I haven't even seen DX10 yet...

Aside from graphical goodies, play around with suit modes a lot, especially max strength. Breaking through walls or roofs to surprise the enemy is a great time. Not to mention throwing exploding barrels at them...The world is your oyster, just waiting for you to smash it.

[catacon]

I played the demo and it was pretty enjoyable. I loved using max strength to through drill presses at enemies...they never see it coming.

[hitchface]

Here are some fun things to do in Crysis:

With max physics, throw an explosive barrel through a wall using max strength. Shoot the barrel, stand back, and watch parts of the house fly every which way. Experiment by driving a jeep into the house first, or using multiple barrels.

Pick up the local birds, and throw them with max strength straight up. See if you can follow the path of the bird and punch it before it hits the ground. Without max strength, you can keep juggling the bird. With it on, you'll likely send the bird out of the game...no kidding! We made a few of them disappear! Try the same trick with heavier items for a challenge. Beware, outboard motors hurt you while doing this...

You know you're trying to milk the demo for all it is worth when...

[shadowpr]

LOL

I take it you have a little bit of time on your hands.

[hitchface]

Stop and go, really...I'm actually swamped with work right now, but when I'm done, there will be more chicken-throwing mayhem than you can handle.

[catacon]

I like how when you pick up the chickens, they keep looking around. Good stuff.

[arthur666]

Originally Posted by trowand I was averaging 25-30 FPS and the graphics quality was just OK. Later on I decided to set TEXTURE QUALITY, POSTPROCESSING QUALITY and PARTICLES QUALITY to high and performance and framerates actually WENT UP. I don't know why, but the game looks way better and plays way smoother. I'm now actually averaging 35 FPS during action and up to 60 when there isn't much going on and everything is still.

what shader level are you using? I was using medium and it ran ok, but after the big ice sphere turned everything frozen, I had to back down to low shader quality. The ice seems to take alot more rendering power.

This more conventional millitary commando part of this game is awesome. I can't wait to play thru it again. I have to say, the first half has been more fun so far. Sneaking around and messin with the enemy soldiers' (pretty good) AI is alot more fun than fighting glowing aliens. And that no gravity section made me sick. :P i hope there is no more of that.

[catacon]

I noticed the same thing trowand did. Went I turned the postprocessing unit up and texture up, performance improved. Everything else is on medium, except for sound which is on low.

[arthur666]

Originally Posted by catacon I noticed the same thing trowand did. Went I turned the postprocessing unit up and texture up, performance improved. Everything else is on medium, except for sound which is on low.

What CPU and GPU do you run?

[hitchface]

I'd turn the sound up if I were you. I noticed no performance hit, but that will also depend on your processor. I'm running an AMD X2 4200+ w/ 2 gigs Corsair XMS2 DDR2800 and a 7600 GS. I've got everything on high except shaders, and textures on medium, runs like a dream. Shaders are the real killer in this game for fps.

[arthur666]

Originally Posted by hitchface I'd turn the sound up if I were you. I noticed no performance hit, but that will also depend on your processor.

Yep.
If you have a good soundcard w/hardware acceleration, it'll do most of the sound processing and take that load off of the CPU.

[catacon]

I have a C2D E4400, ATi X1650 Pro, 2GB of DDR2667 RAM, and onboard sound. I had the sound down because I didn't care about it too much and I didn't want it to take up CPU power.

I've only played the demo and I can't decide if the game is worth buying or not. Right now I am occupied with COD4 and I don't know if I can handle another FPS.

[Tin]

Originally Posted by arthur666 Yep. If you have a good soundcard w/hardware acceleration, it'll do most of the sound processing and take that load off of the CPU.

I guess you pretty much need a Creative card to get the most sound processing. Im wondering how my Envy24 based card will do.

[hitchface]

I'm still using onboard audio and getting very good results. No doubt a sound card would boost that, but my CPU is pulling the weight of physics and sound without missing a beat.

[keith_mahoney]

thanks for the tip. I tryed the demo out but I used detect optimal settings and it set everything to medium also and it ran like trash so I did not bother playing through it.
I have it saved just in case my internet goes out again and I can't play BF2

p.s. anyone remember what the code Justin Case gives you the end level on what game?
Fun Piece of old school trivia.