I have to make one thing perfectly clear before we even get going here. That screenshot up there is provided by EA and is of the multiplayer level that is currently available in the Xbox 360 exclusive Crysis 2 multiplayer demo. However, it does not look that good. Like, it looks good, but not as good as that screenshot. With that out of the way let’s talk about the Crysis 2 multiplayer.

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The controls are Call of Duty, it’s instantly familiar if you’ve put any amount of time into any recent first-person shooters. The big change is what I will call the Crysis powers. Left bumper activates a shield, and right bumper makes you invisible. How long do these powers last? Until your energy runs out. It runs out quickly, but it also regenerates very quickly. So you end up with short bursts of these powers which means you definitely aren’t the only one out there using them.

Another thing that sets the multiplayer apart from other multiplayer shooters is the ability to jump up onto almost anything. Whereas Uncharted 2 multiplayer uses the slow climbing mechanics of that game Crysis 2 allows you to walk up to objects press A and then be on top of those objects within a second. It makes the map seem much more vertical than it appears at first glance since you can get on top of almost everything. Adding to this is the fact that you move much faster than in other games. Pushing down on the left stick and running makes you take off like a rocket. If you’re getting shot up and you can see cover a click of the stick and you are there before you know it.

The shooting mechanics feel good and when an enemy goes down you are rewarded with the now ubiquitous points ringing up over there head. 100xp for a kill, a bonus 25xp for a headshot, and so on. Crysis 2‘s multiplayer for being so fast paced and augmented with special Crysis powers is a very tactical experience. You need to move slowly to find good position, and get on top of the map as soon as you can to see as much of the landscape as possible. Your opponents are going to be phasing in and out of invisibility so you need to be able to catch them during those moments they are exposed and take your shots.

It definitely takes some getting used to, but after a few matches it plays a lot like Call of Duty. You just have to be aware of the faster pace and special powers. It’s solid multiplayer I’m just not sure if it’s going to drag you away from whatever your current multiplayer du jour is . It still feels samey even after all the “enhancements”. It doesn’t help that it’s going to come out around the same time as Dead Space 2, Bulletstorm, and Killzone 3. The good news for EA and Crytek is that I’m buying Crysis 2 anyway and it wasn’t for the multiplayer. I assume most people are doing the same.

Just like the last few action games out of EA Crysis 2 will have a limited edition version. It’s costs nothing extra, you just have to get your hands on a first run copy. What do you get for shelling out first for the game? Extra XP in multiplayer, a SCAR Hologram Decoy, a SCAR Weapon Skin, and an in game platinum dog tag. Do you want to upgrade? Then we have the nano edition.

You get a steel cased version of the limited edition, an 11″ statue of the game’s protagonist perched atop a NYC taxi cab, and an art book. That all comes in an honest to goodness backpack. All that bad assness comes with a price however. $149 in the US. I’ll think about it. No, seriously I will.

Want to play the game before anyone else? EA and CryTek have also announced a closed beta will hit the Xbox 360 before the end of this year. Details soon.

There you have it. Crysis 2 will be out on March 22nd of next year. Me, personally, I can’t wait. I think it looks incredible, I just hope it doesn’t get too mixed up with all those other games coming out Q1 of next year. Remember how bad it was this year? Yeah, next year isn’t looking much better.

Put your glasses on…I’ll wait