Re-playing Far Cry, FEAR, HL2 - screenshots!

[Asrale]

So I've been re-playing Far Cry, FEAR, and Half-Life 2, man all 3 are sweet games. Last time I was using my laptop PC (specs in sig). This time I'm playing on my Core i7 920 with Radeon 4850. Needless to say, the first thing I did was max out all the graphics options!

Each game looks even more amazing than it did before! Especially Far Cry! The level of graphics blows me away. I've been taking some screenshots that I'd thought I'd share. Has anyone seen these games look this good?

Far Cry
farcry_01.jpg
farcry_02.jpg
farcry_03.jpg
farcry_04.jpg
farcry_05.jpg

FEAR
fear_01.jpg
fear_02.jpg
fear_03.jpg
fear_04.jpg

Half-Life 2
hl2_01.jpg
hl2_02.jpg
hl2_03.jpg

I'll put more screenshots here as I continue playing the games.

[mikeysg]

Heh, I think you're beginning to grasp why some of us are such gfx ho, glad to see that you're enjoying yourself revisiting these games (at max setting ). Seeing these game at max setting puts a whole new 'feel' to the game, doesn't it?

[Dark Sonic]

I hope you're playing at a larger resolution.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Has anyone seen these games look this good?

Heh, yeah, for about the past three or four years now.

Seriously, while they're a bit dated by today's standards, each of those games was stellar in its prime, and arguably still the standard in gameplay (FC and HL2 especially).

Glad you're finally able to enjoy them as they were meant to be played. Still look great!

[dimmy32]

Better late than never...I enjoyed that kinda graphics 4 year ago.

[DJBeanPole17]

lol I'm still playing HL2 myself

[rimmerchant]

you need do some tweaks to FarCry
http://www.tweakguides.com/Farcry_1.html
and install the 64bit patch (it works on 32bit OS too)

farcry looks UBER with the patches installed and tweaked
check these shots out from what I had it tweaked/patched

don't forget to enable HDR lighting

[Timman_24]

Asrale, you need AA and AF going. Teh jaggies!!

[vrao81]

Currrently playing HL2 Episode 2. Steam is having a sale on Half Life games this weekend - 55% off! If you want to get Episode 1/2 or Orange Box now is a good time!

[Asrale]

Heh, I think you're beginning to grasp why some of us are such gfx ho, glad to see that you're enjoying yourself revisiting these games (at max setting ). Seeing these game at max setting puts a whole new 'feel' to the game, doesn't it?

Oh it definitely does. I've been wanting to play these games in all their visual glory for a while and now that I can, it's amazing.

I hope you're playing at a larger resolution.

Nope, I'm playing at the screenshot dimensions. My monitor is a mere 19" 4:3 LCD which has a native res of 1280x1024.

you need do some tweaks to FarCry
http://www.tweakguides.com/Farcry_1.html
and install the 64bit patch (it works on 32bit OS too)

farcry looks UBER with the patches installed and tweaked
check these shots out from what I had it tweaked/patched

don't forget to enable HDR lighting

What? You mean I'm missing out on even more visual effects in Far Cry? I guess I'll need to go back and start over so I can ooh and ahh at what I missed.

Asrale, you need AA and AF going. Teh jaggies!!

I wasn't sure my system could handle AA and AF enabled with a playable frame rate, I guess I'll have to test those out.

[Dark Sonic]

Wow really? I think you should have gone for maybe an i5 and a larger monitor. You're barely working that 4850 at such a lower resolution.

[Squirrel Meat]

Wow really? I think you should have gone for maybe an i5 and a larger monitor. You're barely working that 4850 at such a lower resolution.

Agreed, a 22" would suit you nicely at the least. That card will handle 1680x1050 just fine

Its worth it and if your into the new experience of making everything look nice and having fun with it, widescreen on top of all your maxed out graphics will just add 10 fold onto the fun.....what are you waiting for!

[Asrale]

I beat Far Cry the other day and HL2 yesterday, still working on FEAR. Is it just me or is FEAR's enemy AI awesome? The biggest difference I noticed between the 3 games (aside from graphics, linearity, etc) is that FEAR is probably the most intense and challenging from a pure combat point of view. The Replica soldiers have nailed me on a blind side more than once and they're a lot more tactical and sneaky, whereas in HL2 and Far Cry the bad guys mostly just rush at you. FEAR's AI is easily the best of the 3.

A few other things I've noticed as I've been re-playing:
- HL2 has the fastest walk speed (which is kinda annoying), followed by Far Cry, then FEAR
- how come HL2 still has annoying jump puzzles when FEAR and Far Cry don't?
- Far Cry is more consistently fun with the sneakiness, B-movie lines from the bad guys, and ability to hijack jeeps and patrol boats (oh and near 1-mile sniping)
- FEAR has the best sound design, lighting/shadowing, & bump mapping
- HL2 has the most sophisticated and creative gameplay but it's also extremely linear
- Far Cry is the only game that renders the passage of time from level to level
- enemy AI ranking: FEAR (Replicas), Far Cry (mercs), HL2 (Combine)
- and how come Far Cry's last 3 levels are insanely difficult?

[mikeysg]

Yeah, I recall Volcano and Dam being pretty hard head banging experiences. Not now though, with the cheats like all weapons and unlimited ammo.....those $%#@ mercs and Trigen don't stand a chance! The HD4850 is simply a godsend for gamers who want great FR and PQ, at a reasonable budget. I still recall the days of 800USD cards, and AGP at that! Here's what Crysis looks like w/o mod at max setting +4xAA @1920x1200 -

[Dark Sonic]

I don't mind the linear factor in HL2. While the option to explore everything in Far Cry is nice, eventually you're going to do what you're supposed to and you're going to take the easiest route there.