'Far Cry' has groundbreaking graphics but cliched story

"Far Cry" is a challenging, gorgeous new video game that should please first-person shooter fans -- provided you have a powerful computer and a stomach for cliched science fiction.

This time, it's sailor Jack Carver who gets caught in a conspiracy involving genetically altered soldiers gone haywire, megalomaniacal corporate bosses and shady government operatives.

I've played through similar video game scenarios countless times. In a slight innovation for the genre, "Far Cry" is set in a chain of tropical islands instead of the usual derelict space ship or hellish dungeon.

The lush outdoor environments let "Far Cry" flex some impressive graphic muscle. Water ripples, splashes and shimmers like it does in the real world. Surfaces like metal machines and ancient stone statues are etched with tiny cracks, pock marks and other detail.

The creators at Crytek have even brought new beauty to palm trees, which gently sway in tropical breezes.

Whether you're prancing through the jungle or crawling through subterranean catacombs, the levels are enormous.

Look down in this three-dimensional world and you'll see whiskers of grass growing at your feet. Peer toward the horizon to gaze at distant mountaintops.

Listen, and you'll hear a symphonic cacophony of tropical birds and insects chattering all around you.

Soaking in all this atmosphere is enjoyable, but the point of the game is beating the bad guys, of course.

The enemies are plentiful and fairly smart. They work in teams to kill you, and once you've been spotted, the bad guys will duck behind trees for cover as they advance on your position.

Playing "Far Cry" on anything less than the most powerful computer will surely bring tears to your eyes.

On my aging, 1.5 gigahertz Pentium 4, load times between levels were measured in minutes instead of seconds. Often, I was able to walk to the kitchen, grab a fresh cup of coffee, and return to find the game still loading.

Games sometimes became slow and choppy during battles involving lots of monsters, soldiers and wide-open spaces. I suppose it's understandable though, because "Far Cry" really pushes the visual envelope.

A version for PlayStation2 and Xbox called "Far Cry Instincts" is in the works but no release date has been announced.

Once you've solved the single-player mode, "Far Cry" provides endless replay value with online matches against as many as 20 others. There's even a bonus program that lets you design your own levels.