I Can See Clearly Now...

Far Cry's storyline and game play unfold amongst a variety of settings and environments, which can roughly be divided into two - Jungle and Bases. They range from your standard FPS-esque claustrophobic indoor environments (bases, research facilities, and even an abandoned oil-tanker) to valleys and sheer cliff faces, rivers and, well, jungle. You even get to swim in the most realistically 3D-rendered water I have EVER seen.

Look at that water. Makes you want to go for a swim, doesn't it?

The game's visual prowess is powered by CryTek's proprietary game engine, CryENGINE. And what an engine it is. With amazing draw distances, superbly detailed outdoor environments and high-quality textures and effects (oh, and that water!), CryTek's perverse version of paradise comes to life in a big, big way.

As the game progresses, the world will slowly shift from day to night, like above.

Trees and leaves rustle in the wind. So does the long grass. Fires and explosions are wonderfully rendered, with added 'screen shake' to further immerse you into the game.

The result is a living, breathing 3D world of previously inconceivable beauty. There are even FISH swimming in the sea, and BIRDS that fly about in the jungles. The indoor environments, whilst no doubt impressive with great lighting effects and detail, end up looking like what most FPS gamers usually see, not that there is much room for innovation in this area.

Which probably explains why it's almost always a case of 'Get me out of here quick!' when you have to go through the indoor portions of the game. Trees and water never looked so good and so appealing.

Great lighting and textures. But it's just so... Boring. Get me outside quick!

Most of the cutscenes that explain Far Cry's storyline are rendered using the in-game engine, which is a good thing, because the engine itself is mightily impressive in the first place. Character models and representations are done properly so, with impressive articulation and realistic movements. Vehicles and weapons are also accurately portrayed, and bullet casings and holes are in evidence whenever you decide to get your gun off. Everything is superb. I cannot stress how GOOD the game looks.