EA Mixes the Best of Both Worlds in Crysis 3 [GAME ANNOUNCEMENT]

It was just yesterday that I wrote about my concerns going into the Crysis 3 announcement.Today, EA pulled back the curtain on the title and officially announced the game for a Spring 2013 release on PS3/XBox 360/PC. The official press release had this to say about the game:

The hunted becomes the hunter! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and award-winning developer Crytek GmbH, today announced Crysis® 3, the premier sandbox shooter experience of 2013. Powered by Crytek’s proprietary CryENGINE®, Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and dynamic shooter gameplay. Players take on the role of ‘Prophet’ as he returns to New York, only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. The New York City Liberty Dome is a veritable urban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers. Within the Liberty Dome, seven distinct and treacherous environments become known as the Seven Wonders. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics. Prophet will utilize a lethal composite bow, an enhanced Nanosuit and devastating alien tech to become the deadliest hunter on the planet.

In addition to delving into the conceptual details of the game, they took the opportunity to let loose the rain of pre-order incentives that will accompany the title.

Click here for the full Press Release

I have no doubt in my mind that Crysis 3 will be a phenomenal shooter like its predecessors. However, I expressed my concerns that the second game was more narrow in scope thanks to the urban environment. Gone were the semi-open-world environments, lush jungle, and the exhilarating feeling of stalking unsuspecting prey. I would still rank Crysis 2 as an above average shooter but I was fully expecting Crysis 3 to be another significant shift in setting. It turns out Crytek had something in mind and it was not quite what I expected...

Crysis 3 will take place more than 40 years after the events of Crysis 2 in New York. However, this New York has been reclaimed by nature and turned the concrete metropolis into a lush rainforest. Not only have the environments of Crysis 1 and 2 been combined, it has been split up into 7 unique environmental zones. While these zones have not be unveiled, it seems that Crytek is focused on ensuring that Crysis 3 doesn't feel too much like either of its predecessors. With an engine that is able to render such beautiful environments, it would be a shame to waste it on repetitive imagery. It wasn't exactly what I imagined but I am impressed none the less by Crytek's creative vision for this sequel.

Until we get a debut trailer or additional details, take a gander at these fresh high-res screenshots: