Also, based on the trailers, a lot of the game's visuals are achieved through clever use of filtering and lighting rather than complex geometries or detailed textures. Compared to Crysis (Warhead) tweaked beyond "very high", it does not look that much more advanced. Slightly more realistic, yes, because of pronounced blur and anisotropic filtering. But again, looking at the lifeless faces and at times awkward movements of the soldiers gives away the fact that this is still a game.
I cant comment on the "complexities" of the geometry as I have no idea how complex they are compared to crysis warhead, but I played both Crysis and WH and I think they, instead of using complex geometries, just used ultra high-res textures to achieve their result... question is; which is harder: create a light engine as frostbite 2 or just add a bunch of photographies to the game?
Results are reached by different methods in all games, I dont think it matters if you use ultra-big photographies as textures, ultra-high poly models or an ultra-strong light engine. What matters is if the players get immersed or not.
In BF3s case, it's quite logical to use perhaps less ultra high-poly models, as they can all be
destroyed, and instead of ultra-big photos, use the awesome light engine. Since you know when frostbite destroys geometry, the new geometry needs to be lighted in real time.
So compared to Crysis:WH I think BF3 is lightyears away in pretty much all cases.. sure CryTek uses insane textures and the quality of each photo is also very good, but did you play Crysis in MP anytime? I sure didn't.... BF3 is made for both SP and MP, and with 64 guys running around wreaking havoc, it might not be valid to use 2048x2048 textures for a chair or flowerpot if you see what I mean... Especially if the chair and flowerpot can be destroyed.
Sure Crysis had "destruction" as well, but the fake kind, and let's be honest, did you believe the way the shantytown sheds and wooden walls collapsed in Crysis? I often lol'd out loud when the pieces of the shit I blew up tried to find its place to the ground...
I have installed, but not yet playd Crysis2 though, from what I heard their urban environment is mind-blowing, cant wait to check it.. I mean blow it out.