crysis graphics
The reason why crysis graphics are so advanced is because everything in the game is real and stays that way. To better explain, when you say grab a chicken in the game, throw it at somebodys face forcefully to kill them, then run around doing stuff, when you come back 15, 30 minutes later whatever it is the chicken will be there.
Yea, I'm not trying to too hard right now to explain this nicely, but the game retains everything that has happened, always. This means you can run back through the whole level and get the gun you forgot to get, or you can stash explosives in a house and come back later to blow it up from afar etc... Games like half life and UT3 (actually almost any game I believe) dont have a system as advanced as this.
Furthermore almost everything in Crysis is interactive and destructible, adding immensely to the realism. When you unload shots in the woods, trees fall down where they are hit and splinter, and they will be that way when you load the save the next day. You can have fun just messing with the game, creating tree houses, throwing chickens around, jesus this game is awesome. I barely play the story line anymore, it's too much fun causing havoc. realistically.
holler at your doy