Don't know your parallax occlusion mapping from your custom shape based bokeh depth of field effects? Don't worry about it! Crytek, maker of Crysis 2, illustrates what new tessellation and displacement mapping technology, part of the game's new "Ultra Upgrade" pack, means for you, PC gamer.
The free DirectX 11 upgrade for Crysis 2—with a few improvements for DirectX 9 too—is now available for download from Crytek, alongside a high res texture pack that will put further hurt on your Windows machine. More details at the official Crysis web site, but if you'd prefer to look at pretty pictures while getting an education on "Realistic Shadows with Variable Penumbra," click through the gallery above.
(Make sure to "Click to expand" each image for maximum Crysis 2.)