Everyone who considers themselves a gamer has memories they can point to as defining moments. Depending on your age, you might be able to recall the first time you crossed into a new screen and were forced to jump an unexpected cobra in Pitfall. Some gamers may think fondly of the moment Samus removed her helmet at the end of Metroid. Others will first look back with a smile at their terror when a headcrab lunged at them through the glass in an underground research facility, or when a scientist pleaded for your help moments before a zombie snatched him up into a ventilation duct. Like the last two examples from the legendary Half-Life, some games stick out for the emotional impact they create, while others make lasting impressions through graphics, gameplay or impressive sound.

Dense foliage adds realism.

For many of us, moments like these define our gaming experience and provide us with memories as real and cherished as our first homerun or trip to Disneyland. These moments also serve to set bars of expectation that rev up the intensity of experience needed for the next title to have impact. Far Cry is just such a title and should create memories for many that will be shelved in their minds next to their first time slashing a zombie in Resident Evil, or their flight as Vader's wingman in Tie Fighter.

This review could easily be a recounting of the numerous jaw dropping experiences that came one after another, but you just want to know whether to play the game for yourself, not hear our campfire tales of long range snipes and Hollywood explosions.

Similar to Croteam's 2001 title, Serious Sam, Far Cry started out as a technology demonstration for Crytek's CryENGINE. The demonstration eventually evolved into a fully fleshed out game and you will be more than grateful.

The local Mad Scientist has been very busy.

In such a media-saturated world it is hard to come up with an original storyline. Though it is never boring or too predictable, Crytek chose the "mad scientist trying to genetically engineer super-soldiers with terrible consequences" path. A tropical island setting, nukes, and buxom CIA agents complete the well-executed cliché. All this is wrapped in stunning eye candy.