390°

Far Cry 2 Console Versions "unspectacular and even drab in points"

A new hands-on was released by eurogamer.net. Besides the standard gameplay commentary, eurogamer had something interesting to say about the graphical differences between PC, PS3, and 360. Seems the versions aren't as "equal" as everyone has been saying they are.

"Far Cry 2 is also a beautiful game, at least on PC. Clever shading based on layers not textures means the game can scale to your PC, and the powerful demonstration machine displayed a crisp, sun-drenched, coherent and detailed landscape; one both functional and flattering, given the decision to all but scrap a HUD. Requirements will be typically lower than bitter rival Crysis, we're told, but Far Cry 2 will happily get the most out of even the most monstrous rig. Redding describes the console versions as comparable to a "medium load-out on PC", and warns us that, "graphically you're going to notice slight differences". Which we did. The Xbox 360 was the better of the two with its anti-aliasing, but both looked unspectacular and even drab in points. Far from ugly, mind you."
M337ING - contributor
Published: 546 days 8 hours ago | Preview | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | PC
 
 

12Next »
Showing: 1 - 50 of 69 Comments
Shut this user up Let user speak
sonarus - 546 days 9 hours ago
1 -
Not really surprised
Shut this user up Let user speak
Breakfast - 546 days 9 hours ago
1.1 -
I can understand why the xbox version sucks.

But, what about "The Cell"?
What about "The Power of the PS3"?

Shouldnt developers be coming into their own now...

...or is all the PS3 hype, just lies.

Edit: @ Below....give me another week

:)
Shut this user up Let user speak
sonarus - 546 days 9 hours ago
1.2 -
You have more bubbles than me now:(...i hate you
Shut this user up Let user speak
GiantEnemyCrab - 546 days 8 hours ago
1.3 -
haha Breakfast I see what you did there.

Like Sonarus said, I am not really surprised. I was always skeptical they could achieve what they did with the PC version on consoles.

Still has some time left to polish it up more so I won't write it off yet.

My hopes are on Warhound.
Shut this user up Let user speak
morganfell - 546 days 8 hours ago
1.4 -
It is Eurogamer. They are not happy unless they are bashing some title on just about any platform. They are the VGChartz of game previews and reviews.

@eddierivera below,

This game is nothing like Far Cry. For one thing no surprise Island of Dr. Moreau crap.
Shut this user up Let user speak
romaink - 546 days 7 hours ago
1.5 - @ Breakfast...
and why would the xbox version suck? please enlighten us
Shut this user up Let user speak
Breakfast - 546 days 7 hours ago
1.6 -
"The Xbox 360 was the better of the two with its anti-aliasing, but both looked unspectacular and even drab in points."

Feel enlightened?
Shut this user up Let user speak
cyclindk - 546 days 7 hours ago
1.7 -
Only the developers that actually take the time to learn the PS3s unique architecture will acquire the ability to make better games, it isn't magic or something where time passes and the games just get better on their own; most half-ass developers will stay that way and perhaps the PS3 Far Cry 2 team is just one of those teams...
Shut this user up Let user speak
THUNDERMARE - 546 days 4 hours ago
1.8 -
Breakfast, that's Eurogamer, dont take it so serious, their review record on PS3 games isnt that unbiased if you ask me.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Panthers - 546 days 4 hours ago
1.9 -
Ya Eurogamer threw that little comment in there on purpose. It wasnt needed especially since they have no proof. They are extreamly biased and I cannot take them seriously after their MGS4 review.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Algullaf - 546 days ago
1.10 -
nothen hype the ps3 really powerfull i mean look at killzone 2 and mgs4 it depend on the developer and the technology of it got to be understand they have to use the spe's if they r not use it why they say the ps3 is not capable 4 there game bioshock was one of them and now its on ps3. at the 1st they said the ram was limit but now where is the ram limit in klzone 2 and ps3 can do better than killzone 2, any lazy devloper will make an excuse 4 there garbage game on the console that why u bleave its hyped
Shut this user up Let user speak
Statix - 545 days 23 hours ago
1.11 - You're all going to trust ONE website?
Wait a sec, here... ONE, solitary website gives some negative impressions on the console versions of Far Cry 2, while basically every other site spoke of how similar they looked to their PC counterpart, and you're going to just give the benefit of the doubt to Eurogamer? People just love negative news, I guess.
Shut this user up Let user speak
NathanGra - 545 days 21 hours ago
1.12 - Someone explain this to me once and for all, please.
Okay. I've read this a lot in reviews, articles, etc. Why is it that PS3 games (when it comes to multiplatform titles) are bested by Xbox 360 versions? I understand the POTENTIAL for PS3 hardware and that if developers solely focus on its unique architecture then it can produce some unrivaled things (MGS4 is all I have to say). But what about multiplatform games? Will it always be bested (if only by a hair's margin)? And WHY do I keep seeing this? Any info is appreciated.
1.13 MADGameR | 545 days 8 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
PwnShop - 546 days 8 hours ago
2 -
Remember, its not the final build, i would never expect the console versions to rival the pc version, but i would atleast expect the two console versions to be look the same,
2.1 mesh1 | 546 days 3 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
Arsenic13 - 546 days 8 hours ago
3 - :(
Farcry Predator for 360 had crap graphics but it was still fun as hell. This only one source saying this, ill wait till comparisons show.
4 eddierivera | 546 days 8 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
LuHawk - 546 days 8 hours ago
4.1 -
Yeah xbox fans will be to busy playing good games this year while you will be waiting for those Ps3 games to come out in 09 and beyond
Shut this user up Let user speak
badz149 - 546 days 7 hours ago
4.2 - good game?
what good game? you mean, Too Human??

PS3 has MGS4 already and that's simply GoTY stuff hands down! next will be LBP, SOCOM, Resistance2, Motorstorm2...all will be released this year! good luck trying to rival that lineup! I don't think Gears2 alone will be enough!
Shut this user up Let user speak
AclayPS3 - 546 days 7 hours ago
4.3 - @LuHawk
PS3 gamers have good games to play for the rest of this year as well: Resistance 2, LittleBigPlanet, Socom Confrontation, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Siren... all of those are solid game titles.

At least us PS3 owners already know that there is a solid lineup for 2009 when it comes to PS3 exclusives. Alan Wake seems like it is in limbo and will be released "when it's ready" even though it's supposed to be at this year's E3, Splinter Cell Conviction has been rumored to have went "Back to the drawing board" and is rumored not to come out until late 2009 or early 2010, so basically the only thing 360 owners can really count on for 2009 that's already known is Halo Wars. Oh yea, and at least Sony will have a bunch of games actually published by them in 2009 and not just a bunch of purchased timed 3rd party exclusives games like Microsoft.
Shut this user up Let user speak
psycho360 - 546 days 3 hours ago
4.4 -
@edd take your fanboism to open zone..

On topic. Agreed first Far Cry was graphically very poor for, at that time, next gen console. It was more like the original xbox or ps2 title. But since they didn't have that much experience with 360 so that can be understandable. But now since both consoles have been out for quite sometime and with games like COD4, R2, Gears and for that matter BF:BC showing what these consoles can do then no need to give us console gamers a half baked game.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Relcom - 546 days 8 hours ago
5 -
They are PC developers so. . .
Shut this user up Let user speak
DanB91 - 546 days 8 hours ago
5.1 -
Ubisoft is not primarily a PC dev
Shut this user up Let user speak
Relcom - 546 days 7 hours ago
5.2 -
The team making it is
6 Blademask | 546 days 8 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
blindfromthesun - 546 days 6 hours ago
6.1 - I don't remember Uncharted using the hard drive...
It is STILL the top looking console game though sans hard drive utilization. Bad example of HDD adding to the experience bud. What you failed to mention are the ram disparities of consoles vs pcs. Ram is the main reason why console games will "always" look inferior. Xbox 360 and PS3 have 512 mb of ram...low end PC's these days have minimum 2 gigs. Hard drive installs help with certain game loading functions but not how fast the game loads data at any given second. I will concede that Xbox games are slightly limited by the hard drive but not to the extent you claim.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Burekman - 546 days 2 hours ago
6.2 -
Uncharted did use the harddrive. But unlike others they actually took time to implement a good streaming system and not just install everything.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Cyrus365 - 546 days 7 hours ago
7 -
Why did this get posted now, this is from June 10th, 2008, just under a month old.
Shut this user up Let user speak
AclayPS3 - 546 days 7 hours ago
8 -
This is the kind of stuff that really pisses me off. There are games like Killzone 2 coming out for the PS3 that are potentially the best looking games graphically so far, and then you've got yet another multiplatform game like FarCry 2 that drops the ball with the PS3 version of a game.

Some 3rd party games just make the PS3 look bad and I'm sick of it. Currently, MGS4 in it's current state isn't even possible on the Xbox 360 without significant downscaling and technical changes.... but now that I think about it, FarCry 2 is coming from Ubisoft, and Ubisoft REALLY dropped the ball with HAZE on the PS3, and Rainbow Six Vegas from Ubisoft wasn't anything to brag about either. Ubisoft definantly has some issues with pulling off Playstation 3 games the right way.

I was actually looking forward to FarCry 2, but if the game doesn't start shaping up enough, I'm not buying it. But, Far Cry 2 is still months away so they have plenty of time to make tweaks.

It's not the Playstation 3's fault that Far Cry 2 end up the way it has so far on PS3 in it's current state, it's the developers fault because it takes skilled developers to pull off really awesome PS3 games like Kojima Productions, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac.
8.1 Blademask | 546 days 7 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
NathanGra - 545 days 21 hours ago
8.2 - I agree.
I'm completely with you guys on this one. Thing is, it is a multiplatform game. I feel like when developers release a multiplatform game they're like "Hey, let's get two out of five people to buy this game instead of 1". They're trying to capitalize over different systems and as such aren't going to go in there and change the game for either system specifically. They'll take the lower common denominator in terms of technology and make it for that system. Why it ends up looking worse on the PS3, however.... I just dunno.
Shut this user up Let user speak
socomnick - 545 days 20 hours ago
8.3 -
ok look closer at killzone 2. The only impressive thing I notice is the lighting system and the high res guns. The characters look really low res. Pc games all have ultra high res textures thats why they beat out the Xbox 360 and the ps3 every time.
Shut this user up Let user speak
pwnsause - 545 days 10 hours ago
8.4 -
"the character look low res"

i think watching that Killzone 2 trailer burned your eyes too much do to its lighting. Seriously, look at Rico's face in the 2008 trailer, then comeback to me.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Alcohog - 546 days 7 hours ago
9 -
Well would you look at that. Just like I had been saying all along.
9.1 Blademask | 546 days 7 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
bpmurr - 546 days 7 hours ago
10 -
It doesn't suprise me. You can get a PC graphics card in the $150 price range that is faster then the cards in the PS3 and 360. It was just matter of time for the PC to be back on top in graphics. It happens since PC hardware is upgraded a couple times of year while a console has a 5 to 10 year life span.
Shut this user up Let user speak
psycho360 - 546 days 3 hours ago
10.1 -
How many times per year would u upgrade ur 150$ card just to play the new games? My pc self assembled was worth 2500$ 2 years now the vga woudn't even fetch me 200$ (700$ original price). I'm better off with 360 for 300$ which will last mini 5 years barring RROD of course.

I tried playing BF:2142 and COD4 on my pc but after playing on big HDTV and laying on sofa with rumble, i can't get back into stooping over the desk and looking at 19" screen.

Enjoy ur pc games whatever of those are left.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Close_Second - 546 days 7 hours ago
11 - This is to be expected.
With game development costs increasing on an annual basis you can't expect a publisher to simultaneously develop 3 versions of the game and maximise the potential of all 3 platforms. Sure there is not a big leap between the 360 and (mid range) PC but the PS3 is quite different and to get things running at optimal levels takes more effort which in turn equates to higher development costs.

Forgetting any comparissons to the PC version, if the PS3 version looks naff then I'll pass.
Shut this user up Let user speak
blindfromthesun - 546 days 7 hours ago
12 - I generally assume the console version is graphically "inferior"
That doesn't mean that I won't buy the console version however. The PC usually has the advantage when it comes to visuals. Console owners should, however, expect a game that compares to a mid-level PC. What is wrong with that? PC's have always been the leader in graphics; it only makes sense they will have the better technology and graphics. Do what I do: realize graphics aren't everything. I as well as many others prefer to play with a controller (Xbox 360 controller and DS3 FTW!!!) and have a unified online service. Also, you can't beat achievements & trophies:-) Graphics are one advantage the PC has over consoles however everyone has their own perceived pros and cons for each version of Far Cry 2.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Ceekay - 546 days 7 hours ago
13 - Luckily...
I couldn't care less about Far Cry 2 ... seems just like another boring FPS
Shut this user up Let user speak
Some_One_Plays - 546 days 6 hours ago
14 - Rob Purchese (Author)
"The Xbox 360 was the better of the two with its anti-aliasing, but both looked unspectacular and even drab in points. Far from ugly, mind you."

- Rob Purchese (Author)

Eventually some site where they favour the XBOX 360 will do a comparison showing the PlayStation 3 being a bit brighter with little colour differences. Then people will say the only way for anyone to notice is if it was side by side. This always happens as if they dramatically see a difference. In most cases they're lying like when Quake Wars was better on the XBOX 360 (GameSpot). A video comparison came out and they looked the same with little more features on the PlayStation 3 version.

People just love to prove Sony wrong for some reason but as I said you'll most likely not see a difference unless side by side. Comments like this will create more fuel for arguments. When will people accept that multiplatform games are supose to be identical, exclusives take full advantage. If one over powered the other consumers will get angry, it's just common sense.
Shut this user up Let user speak
blindfromthesun - 546 days 6 hours ago
14.1 - I agree, partially
Quake Wars, while not a very good console port on either end, looked better on 360...for what its worth (read: not much). I was very interested in the game BEFORE it came out and discovered it was a dud; for curiosities sake I looked into both versions. Truth be told, I came away impressed that the PS3 version had better online options. The games were developed by two different studios with different ideas of ways to adapt the port for their respective platforms. Textures in the PS3 version are notably worse as well as graphics in general (and frame rate). Check out metacritic.com if you don't believe me. Not the best game to compare similarities in a multiconsole game. The game wasn't good. Personally, I don't care about graphics so much as functionality of features and online play that doesn't lag. A problem with both versions of Quake Wars...

Edit: btw, GameSpot wasn't the only website to prove this. Check out the ign.com review. There is a video review of each; you decide.

On topic: If they said the console versions looked poor, I would be a little concerned. Being that all version look good (or great) I don't think Xbox or PS3 owners have anything to worry about.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Some_One_Plays - 546 days 6 hours ago
14.2 - blindfromthesun
Quake Wars Comparison Video HTML: http://www.gametrailers.com...

I go on Game Trailers for comparisons usually I haven't checked your site yet though. Just by looking at the videos they're both the same graphically it's just that one looks like it has High dynamic range rendering (HDR Rendering) and the other doesn't. The PlayStation 3 looks like a HDR Rendering and the XBOX 360 doesn't. If you really want to be picky the PlayStation 3 version is sharper with more detail due to lighting and smoother edges.

Elder Scrolls IV PS3 vs Xbox 360 Gates of Oblivion Comparison HD HTML: http://www.gametrailers.com...

Assassin's Creed PS3 vs Xbox 360 Comparison HD HTML: http://www.gametrailers.com...

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Xbox 360 vs. PS3 vs. Wii Comparison HD HTML: http://www.gametrailers.com...

All of the PlayStation 3 versions always looks a bit brighter and the XBOX 360 version darker. Most people wouldn't even notice the differences unless side by side. GameSpot said the XBOX 360 version of Marvel Ultimate Aliance is better on the XBOX 360. Look for yourself and tell me?
Shut this user up Let user speak
killer_trap - 546 days 6 hours ago
15 -
why is anyone surprised!!!! you get what you pay for and when you buy a $400 video card you know it'll run circles around both the 360 & ps3.

I've got a 8800GT card that can run games on resolutions twice as much as 360 & ps3....the scary thing is there are much better cards than a 8800GT.
Shut this user up Let user speak
ravenguard88 - 546 days 6 hours ago
15.1 - Yep.
An HD4870 achieves over 1TF performance, EASILY destroying both the 360 and PS3.

Not to mention it does it for $300.
Shut this user up Let user speak
GIJeff - 546 days 5 hours ago
15.2 - 4870
1.2 TF performance, 300 bucks, HDMI, 7.1 sound(through HDMI) DX10.1, etc... Not bad for 300 bucks...
Shut this user up Let user speak
killer_trap - 546 days 5 hours ago
15.3 - @jijeff
i don't think the video card has anything to do 7.1 sound. you'll need a creative sound card. infact you don't need a creative sound card, some motherboards are capable of producing 7.1 sound without the need of a card.

that's the beauty of PC gaming, if you've got the cash you'll always be step or two ahead of consoles.
Shut this user up Let user speak
himdeel - 545 days 19 hours ago
15.4 - Well considering...
...the hardware you need to support those video cards it's a no brainer. Comparing PC to console games = console lose every time.
Shut this user up Let user speak
GIJeff - 541 days 9 hours ago
15.5 - my mobo supports 7.1 onboard
but its nice to know that if i wanted to the 7.1 audio can be transmitted through HDMI thanks to the 4870...
Add Comment (Gamer Zone)
Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...
 
 
You must log in to post comments.
Username:  
Password:  
 
 
About N4G
N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News