This article provides a detailed guide to navigating Act I of Crysis, featuring the most effective and time-tested strategies.
A brief introduction to Act I of Crysis
The opening cutscene shows a structure inside a cave. As it unfolds, you’ll hear a scientist’s cry for help. This scene, created with the game’s graphics engine, showcases volumetric clouds, realistic rock reflections, and dynamic lighting—hallmarks of Crysis’s visual quality that enhance the overall experience.
Chapter 1: Contact
The first act is a pivotal section of Crysis, marking the player and Raptor team’s initial confrontation with the threats on the Lingshan Islands. This introductory series of levels acts as a highly polished and immersive tutorial. After the cutscene where the aircraft approaches the island, you’ll immediately take control of Nomad (the protagonist), a member of the Raptor team, which includes Prophet (Laurence Barnes), the team leader, Psycho, Aztec, and Jester.
You’ll meet the team and then jump from the plane.
- Skydiving and landing: During the drop, Nomad gets struck by an unknown entity and plummets into the water from a great height. Swim to the shore to begin the Nanot suit reboot process.
- Once the reboot completes, you’ll have full control of the character.
Beach test:
- Test the suit’s features and the game physics by picking up an object and throwing it into the water. Alternatively, try the “turtle test”: grab a turtle and toss it into the water to observe the realistic environmental reactions.
- Check your basic equipment: you’ll start with a pistol and an SCAR.
- Equip and customize the SCAR and pistol with a sight and suppressor
- First Enemy Encounter
- Follow the river and use Strength Mode to clear a blocked path by moving objects.
- Continue forward, activate Cloak Mode, and crouch. A KPA soldier stands guard on the cliff above. Use Strength Mode to deliver a precise headshot—speed and accuracy are key.
- Cloak and approach the body to recover the FY71. Customize it like the SCAR, removing the flashlight to avoid alerting other enemies.
- Descend and take cover behind a rock. Peek out in Cloak Mode to spot two patrolling soldiers and eliminate them swiftly.
- Collect ammo for the pistol and FY71.
Follow the beach and spot a flare—pick it up and throw it into the water using Strength Mode. This highlights the game’s impressive lighting effects.
Continue along the beach and spot an assault patrol boat in the distance: DO NOT ENGAGE!
- Move forward to meet Jester. Shortly after, you’ll receive an S.O.S. from Aztec, who is under attack. Reach him, only to find him and other KPA soldiers gruesomely killed.
- Prophet will vaporize Aztec’s body after the discovery.
- Collect ammo for the SCAR near Aztec’s bloodstains, then head up the hill, using a Strength Mode jump to climb.
- Ahead, you’ll find a KPA patrol. Use stealth to take them out silently.
- Gather ammo and continue towards the sunlight.
From here, Crysis begins to shine, offering exceptional freedom of movement.
Head toward the long beach and use your visor to identify key locations in the area.
Objective: Destroy the KPA Jammer and Rendezvous with Survivors
- Descend stealthily to the huts below and swiftly eliminate the enemies. If they are alerted, an armed Humvee and patrol boat will arrive as reinforcements. In this case:
- Use a building as cover, sneak around the jeep in Cloak Mode, take out the turret gunner and driver, then repeat for the boat crew.
Two Routes to Advance:
- By Sea: Take the boat, destroy other patrol boats using the turret, and head to the first outpost on the beach. Dock and clear the area with your pistol or FY71. Collect a shotgun and grenades.
- By Land: Use the jeep to clear enemy groups and the support jeep. Target the fuel tank for a quick elimination..
- Reach the next outpost and eliminate the enemies inside. Unlike the first one, this time the resistance will be more prepared, as the land-based outposts have more efficient defenses.
- Grab a vehicle (jeep, pickup, or boat) and head to the last outpost.
- Use the terrain to your advantage to thin out the resistance. For example: Lure enemies down the slope or eliminate the turret with an explosive barrel before taking out the rest.
- Stock up on ammo in the cleared area and enter the fortified barracks. Access the computer to retrieve key information.
Prophet will update you on the mission. Collect grenades and supplies inside.
- Exit the barracks, take a pickup or jeep, and head to the final guard post. Find an armed jeep inside.
- Crash into it at full speed and jump out before impact—if executed well, both vehicles will explode, causing significant damage to nearby structures.
- Eliminate any survivors and loot the area.
- Continue into the forest to find a defensive line. Throw a grenade at the turret to scatter enemies.
- Eliminate the guards and those in the elevated positions.
Reach the team in front of an ice-covered ship. After a heated discussion, a Ceph destroys the ship and captures Aztec. Chase after it. Tip: Take time to observe the allies’ movements for their realistic design. Traverse the valley to a cliff, jump across, and reach the chapter’s conclusion.
Crysis: Guide to Chapter Two – Recovery
After the cutscene where you find Aztec dead and thrown to the ground, the action begins:
- Collect ammo for the Scar from the nearby corpses.
- Head toward the communication station.
Prophet will analyze EPC communications and pinpoint the area where the hostage is held, which is a nearby militarized town. Prepare your equipment to tackle the chapter:
- Before proceeding, collect ammo from the corpses in the area.
- Equip a shotgun and Scar, ideal for handling the large number of enemies in this level.
Heading to the Town
To reach the militarized EPC town, you have four options:
- Water Route
- Dive into the water and swim to the militarized EPC town.
- Important: Stay underwater the entire time to avoid alerting the beach patrol. Don’t worry about oxygen; you’ll have enough for the swim.
- Mixed Route
- Take the jeep and follow the road, eliminating enemies along the way.
- At a dock guarded by a patrol, neutralize the enemies, steal the boat, and approach the outpost by sea.
- Road Route
- Continue with the jeep until you reach the bridge leading to the base.
- Forest Route
- While driving the jeep, snipers will open fire.
- Abandon the vehicle and detonate it.
- Pursue the snipers into the forest and reach a small mountain outpost overlooking the EPC base.
- Neutralize the soldiers in the outpost.
- Resources Available in the Outpost:
- Sniper rifle (unlocks the assault scope, usable on other weapons).
- Rocket launcher, grenades, and additional ammo.
- Collect all resources.
- Access the PC in the building to gather information on the hostage’s location.
Objective: Reach the School
- Use the sniper rifle to eliminate enemies at the turrets defending the bridge.
- Depending on your chosen route, you’ll encounter different types of enemy fire:
- From the Bridge: Face intense heavy suppressive fire.
- By Sea: Endure suppressive fire.
- From the Beach: Avoid the minefield by using “Strength” mode to jump toward an enemy machine gun position, clear the area, and proceed to the school.
- From the Hill or Road: Create chaos to distract the enemies. The best strategy is to speed across the bridge in a vehicle, jumping out at the right moment, and launching it toward the gas pump to trigger an explosion, drawing the main enemies’ attention.
- Activate “Cloak” mode to move calmly through the area and reach the school.
Inside the School
- Ground Floor:
- Search the ammo storage room and collect everything you can carry.
- Then head to the first floor.
- First Floor:
- Equip the shotgun, as many enemies will attack from the stairs.
- Reach the locked room on the right, interact to open it, and free the hostage.
Confronting the Tanks
After freeing the hostage, two heavy tanks will block the town’s main roads:
- Take the building’s rooftop, eliminating the two enemies stationed there.
- Activate “Cloak” mode and locate the first tank.
- Use the rocket launcher and hit it with three missiles to destroy it.
- Return to the storage area for another rocket launcher and ammo.
- Repeat for the second tank.
Toward the End of the Chapter
- After eliminating the tanks, return to the storage room to resupply with another rocket launcher and ammo.
- Proceed to the second marked objective, climbing the hill.
- To cross the next area safely, maintain “Speed” mode to quickly cross the river. Alternate with “Strength” mode to climb the waterfalls in the valley.
- Caution: The area is filled with enemies, so move carefully.
- Reach a small waterfall near a cave.
- Inside, you’ll meet Prophet, who will provide critical mission details.
- Cross through the cave to complete the chapter.
Chapter Three: Relic
At the beginning of the chapter, Prophet will share crucial mission details but is suddenly captured by a Ceph under mysterious circumstances. This marks the start of a complex, action-packed operation.
Shortly afterward, JSOC commander Strickland will contact you with a new objective: disable a jammer located in the nearby EPC base that interferes with communications and radar.
Disabling the Jammer
- Follow the signal to the enemy base and neutralize the jammer, eliminating any patrolling enemies.
- Explore the base carefully to find the FY71 rifle equipped with a grenade launcher attachment. Equip this accessory on both the FY71 and your Scar to significantly enhance combat effectiveness.
- After securing the gear, retrieve a vehicle (jeep or truck) and follow the main road to continue.
The Checkpoint
Along the way, you may encounter a moving enemy truck.
- Activate “Strength” mode and smash into the vehicle to destroy it quickly, avoiding a prolonged fight.
Approaching the checkpoint:
- Head to the upper camp and directly confront the enemies, using the grenade launcher to swiftly take out sniper positions (on the towers, you can collect your first precision scope by grabbing the sniper rifle).
- Destroy the support helicopter with the rocket launcher you carried from Chapter Two, and eliminate all enemies in the area.
- Stock up as much as possible in the armored depot.
- Access the PC to locate the excavation site.
- After passing through the checkpoint, take the jeep or truck, drive to the river bridge, and cross it.
Continue along the road until you reach a heavily guarded second base.
The Second Base
- For a stealthy entry, use “Cloak” mode to avoid alerting enemy troops.
- Inside the base, move through the corridors collecting ammo and explosives until you reach a fortified hallway leading to a blast door.
- Beyond the door, a cutscene begins: You’ll meet General Kyong and Dr. Rosenthal.
- Rosenthal provides critical intel on the current situation, but the scene ends dramatically with his freezing due to an ice attack from a buried Ceph.
Toward Mission Completion
- After the cutscene, exit the structure and use a vehicle to eliminate enemies along the way to a cabin with a river dock.
- Retrieve the patrol boat and navigate upstream.
- Accelerate over the waterfall to land on the nearby beach. Use “Cloak” mode to take down a pursuing enemy helicopter.
- Return to the boat and continue navigating, avoiding shallow water and enemy checkpoints.
Final Battles: The Cemetery
- At the end of the river, artillery fire intensifies, and heavy fighting occurs along the coast.
- Proceed to a cemetery and face a group of soldiers equipped with nanosuits.
- Use “Strength” mode to maximize the shotgun’s power and aim for headshots to deal significant damage.
VTOL Landing
- After eliminating all threats, a transport VTOL lands to extract you. Observe the breathtaking afterburner effects and lighting for a truly immersive detail.
- Approach the VTOL to complete the mission.
