The Crysis games have always defined themselves as being the prettiest girl on the block, and they have always complimented their gorgeous graphics with compelling gameplay.

Crysis 3 is no different.

Players take on the role of Prophet as he returns to New York in 2047, 24 years after the events of Crysis 2. The evil CELL corporation has encased the city in a giant Nanodome to secure resources for their quest for global domination and you, along with sidekick Michael “Psycho” Sykes, have to stop them and eliminate the Alpha Ceph aliens that lie somewhere in the heart of Manhattan.

As in the previous games, your key tool is not the gun but your high-tech nanosuit. Tap a button and it turns into bullet-resistant body armour. Tap another, and it makes you invisible.

That system encourages two basic approaches: Brute-force blasting with your armour maxed out, or stealthy sneaking and slaying with the camouflage turned on. In either case you are limited by your suit’s dwindling reserves of energy, making timing and strategy critical. Stealth is actually the most interesting option this time around, partly because developers Crytek have partnered the nanosuit with an all-new weapon, the bow.

Accessorised with a range of different ammo types and modifications, the bow is particularly handy because you can use it while camouflaged unlike previous Crysis editions. It may not offer as many explosions as guns do but there is something hugely satisfying about taking out a squad of CELL goons before they even know what is going down.

You will also have access to plenty of other weapons throughout the game. Different guns have their own sense of weight, accuracy and power, and the ability to add different scopes and attachments means you can put together different combinations for different situations. You can still do all the troop-grabbing and explosive barrel-chucking tricks of the earlier Crysis games, and there is plenty of scope to mix and match strategies.

In addition to the excellent combat, Crysis 3 is a stunning-looking game. Where Crysis 2 brought us familiar visions of a war-torn New York, Crysis 3 dishes out the most imaginative and startling post-apocalyptic environment I have ever seen on a video game. Incredible face and body motion capture and well performed voice-acting have also enhanced the game’s visuals and audio to deliver a true cinematic experience.

Shooter fans have not had much to cheer about this year following the disappointments of Dead Space 3 and Aliens: Colonial Marines. But Crysis 3 is an impressive shooter with magnificent graphics and stronger gameplay than its predecessors and will without a doubt impress gamers regardless of their playing style.

Verdict: 4/5

Rating: M18

Price: PC (S$64.90)