The Legend That Is Crysis
In the annals of gaming history, Crysis holds a unique place. Not just for its gameplay but also for the infamous challenge posed to gamers: “Can it run Crysis?” This phrase has become a meme in itself, encapsulating the stunning graphics and sheer power required to experience the game as intended. Crysis was a pioneer, pushing the boundaries of technology back in 2007.
Beyond the Hardware of 2007
Crysis director Cevat Yerli shared insights about the game’s ultra mode and very high settings in a retrospective with PC Gamer’s issue 405. He elucidated on a common misconception: many players rushed to maximize settings upon release, thinking this was the goal. Yerli clarifies, “A lot of people tried to maximize Crysis immediately, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s not why we built the ultra mode, or very high.’” This hints at the deeper intent behind Crysis’ graphical capabilities.
Graphics for the Future
Yerli wanted Crysis to be future-proof, designed with the hardware of 2010 and beyond in mind. In essence, if you were brave enough to crank settings to ultra in 2007, you were not just an enthusiast; you were ready for a challenge the likes of which even powerful systems of that era struggled to meet. Reports from Digital Foundry’s retrospective reveal that even top-tier systems found themselves grappling with Crysis, often confined to sub-30 fps performance. Perhaps, instead of simply aiming for high settings, the ideal approach was to consider medium or low as viable options.
