Warhead is an OK standalone experience. There are fun moments that feature a mixture of human foes with the occasional alien to spice things up. Then, there are the moments when you die without having had the chance to react, plan, or do much of anything at all.
There is a weapon, the Gauss rifle, which the AI can use to kill you in 1 shot. And, unlike explosive weapons, the Gauss rifle has a hitscan projectile. And, there is at least 1 level filled with tight corridors and low light where a number of enemy soldiers are carrying Gauss rifles.
You can survive even gauntlets designed to kill you instantly with enough cloaking. The problem is just how long it takes to get through a level when you're waiting for a cloak to recharge. It's a pacing issue, and it's not the only one.
The turret and defense sections in Warhead are not the worst I've played, but they were nowhere near as much fun as running around on foot. I spent most of my time in these sections just wondering when they would end.
Speaking of endings, the biggest disappointment in the whole game is the ending. An encounter that should've been a boss fight is just a drawn out cutscene with 2 men grunting. 2 men grunting is all fine and jolly, but it was definitely not the bloody good time I was hoping for.
Everything else about the game is decent. The basic alien is annoying, but together the various alien units force your to vary up your tactics and add some fun. And, being on foot is fun because it's the mode that allows you the most options. Anytime-you-want weapon customization remains, and works with your multiple armor abilities to give you a variety of approaches to any situation. Being a turret, where your only real option is point and shoot, is agonizing by comparison.
I was led to believe that Warhead was a must play, and some've told me that it surpasses the original Crysis. I don't see it; only buy Warhead if you really want more Crysis 1.
