Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details

Author: Marc Sauter (Oct 24, 2008) - What do the maximal settings in Far Cry 2 look like? How is the visual appearance affected if lower settings are used? We answer those questions with comparative screenshots.

Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared

Far Cry 2: The graphics options

Ubisoft's Africa shooter offers a lot of visual options and each one can be set to several different levels - except Bloom and HDR-Rendering. Depending on the individual options, Far Cry 2 offers the following settings:

• Ultra High
• Very High
• High
• Medium
• Low
• Off

The "Overall” option controls all the subordinated options like Shadows, Terrain or Shading. For our comparative screenshots we choose all the predefined "Overall” settings. All screenshots were taken in 2,560 x 1,600 with 4x FSAA and 16:1 AF with a Geforce GTX 260. They are displayed at 1,280 x 800.

On the next pages you will find comparative screenshots of the same scene and in the gallery we have additional pictures and comparisons. You might want to pay extra attention the water surfaces, shadows and vegetation. The comparison on the last page reveals the differences between normal and widescreen resolution (5:4 vs. 16:10).

more pictures

Index

• Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared

• Far Cry 2: Ultra High (DX10) vs. Low (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: Ultra High (DX10) vs. Ultra High (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: Ultra High (DX9) vs. Very High (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: Very High (DX9) vs. High (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: High (DX9) vs. Medium (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: Medium (DX9) vs. Low (DX9)

• Far Cry 2: Normal (5:4) vs. Widescreen (16:10) resolution

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Comments (7)

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pcghx_Kristoffer

Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details

Administrator

29.10.2008 12:08

Thanks for the positive feedback about the mouseover comparisons

. It was our intention to make it easier to see the differences between the individual settings.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ar.Pi)

This brings me to a point I wanted to make to PCGH staff; Can you guys run FRAPS (or other software that can capture FPS count) and just post the screenshots with the FPS counter?
This way we can see, not only the performance output for the game in your test configurations, but also if the improvement in graphics (if any) is worth it the lower frame count.
This would make these 'Comparison Features' even better

We will think about that for our next comparison. The problem is, that if we show the fps in the screenshots, this would be a rough value only and actually not really significant since it only shows the performance for this one moment. It is also possible that someone misunderstands this and thinks that the game always runs with the fps rate given in the screenshots. Nevertheless we will discuss the matter and think about a proper solution - but please give us some time for that.

jaredpace	Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details
Junior Member 28.10.2008 23:04	Quote: (Originally Posted by Ar.Pi) Can you guys run FRAPS (or other software that can capture FPS count) and just post the screenshots with the FPS counter? This way we can see, not only the performance output for the game in your test configurations, but also if the improvement in graphics (if any) is worth it Hey, great idea!
Junior Member 28.10.2008 23:04

Ar.Pi

Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details

Senior Member

28.10.2008 15:37

I really dont see much of a difference between Ultra High and High in DX9

Completely agree. No difference.
Also DX10 and DX9 looks almost identical. I guess you could see some difference in gameplay itself, though i'm sure minimal.

This brings me to a point I wanted to make to PCGH staff; Can you guys run FRAPS (or other software that can capture FPS count) and just post the screenshots with the FPS counter?
This way we can see, not only the performance output for the game in your test configurations, but also if the improvement in graphics (if any) is worth it the lower frame count.
This would make these 'Comparison Features' even better

bothaus	Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details
Junior Member 26.10.2008 22:15	A bump for the mouse over view. No longer do I have to line up my scrolls in 2 pages to view. Simple and convenient. Thanks.
Junior Member 26.10.2008 22:15

nerdface	Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details
Junior Member 25.10.2008 07:29	Nice link..thanks now FOV is correct.. The textures in FC2 and the open world are pretty cool too..
Junior Member 25.10.2008 07:29

Yapa

Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs. max details

Member

25.10.2008 03:09

Nice comparison guys, I love the mouseover method you use, its the best way to compare the settings!

I really dont see much of a difference between Ultra High and High in DX9.... the shadows are a bit denser and there is slightly more objects in the distance, but the difference is so small that I wouldnt be bothered going down to Very High from Ultra High if it got below 30fps.

However, going from Very High to High is a HUGE difference, there seems to be no dynamic lighting in High... would never touch it!

The widescreen vs normal aspect ratio is a joke, Ubisoft did a bloody cheap job on this console port... very dissapointed.

For anyone who wants to fix the widescreen crap there is a temporary fix here:
www.widescreengamingforum...

It will give you true 1680x1050 not the cut of version which ubisoft decided to spit out.... it makes many PC gamers very sick while playing.... without the patch on widescreen monitors.

nerdface

Re: Far Cry 2: Graphics settings compared - min vs...

Junior Member

24.10.2008 18:57

Thats great it seems like another Crysis(there is no comparison) as far as DX9 to DX10 benefits.. the diff is dynamic lighting? ..the DX10 with more realistic lighting. For someone with a 4870x2 or 4870 i can totally see playing in DX9 to get those FPS at minimal IQ loss..Really it does come down to preference and realistic lighting is the way to go.. Anyway after you get over the eye candy and the first jeep battle scene and major gun fight.. FC2 gets old quickly.

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