While multiplayer in the original Crysis was a solid effort, it arguably lacked polish and many of the usual hooks to hold interest. For the sequel, however, Crytek is touting multiplayer as a integral part of the experience. In fact, it aspires to compete with genre titans — namely, Activision’s Call of Duty franchise.

That’s according to Crytek UK’s managing director Karl Hilton, in an interview with Gamasutra:

The Call of Duty games have a phenomenal record. They are more realistic in their setting than our sci-fi approach, but they are the benchmark in many ways for the quality. In multiplayer you see the numbers that they achieve and continue to achieve in terms of sales and ongoing players. We’d like to exceed what they achieve.

The Call of Duty franchise may be in its a league of its own when it comes to multiplayer — but if anyone has a chance at toppling the beast, it’s Crytek.

Crysis 2 is due out March 22 in the states. If you haven’t already, give our hands-on preview of the title a read.

Interview: Crytek UK’s Hilton On Life After Free Radical Design [Gamasutra]

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