FAR CRY DOES OPEN WORLDS BETTER?!? Are you f'ing nuts? Hell I'm so bored with driving the same roads over and over that I quit playing the game.
Regardless of the game mechanics the engine did a very good job of depicting Africa, from sun scorched deserts to grassy plains to jungles to towns to water. It was very authentic and performance was great.
Far Cry 2:
http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/890/890140/far-cry-2--20080715051222076.jpgGRID:
http://static.computergames.ro/cg/assassin/images3/racedrivergrid/racedrivergrid078.jpg (not the best screenshot as it's sparse on detail)
GTA4:
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2008/12/grand-theft-auto-iv-pc/bvieh.jpgObviously it's hard to compare but Far Cry 2 and GRID have sharper textures, sharper graphics, anti-aliasing and run better. I grant that GTAIV is depicting an entire city but the visuals and performance suffer, which negates the added immersion such detail provides.
Not to mention the guard posts that are ALWAYS filled with guys who will shoot, jump in a jeep and follow you.
Again, I was referring to the engine - I don't disagree with you.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."