What is the difference exactly? The only visible difference to me is that CE3 supports consoles. They seem to have watered it down for this purpose (why does the demo only have 3 graphics modes btw?). I know they added things like lighting etc but these things aren't really noticeable.

Oddly enough I think Crysis 1 looks better if only because it was set in a jungle sort of setting.

There is a lot of AI and physics improvement in Cryengine 3. I bet Cryengine 3 Is capably of outdoing Cryengine 2 in graphics quality, but alas they had to lower the graphics quality for the consoles. Don't worry, if the graphics aren't spectacular, there will be a mod out that makes them spectacular.

PS: There are probably only three graphics options because its just a beta, but that might be the way they are keeping it. (I hope not)

Go to this link and look at what Cryengine 3 is capable of.

http://crytek.com/cryengine/cryengine3/overview

and even onconsoles it is by far the prettiest game out there

Dammit more freaking developers need to license this engine.

I haven't seen it on consoles yet. But it still doesn't seem like a step forward from Crysis 1.

watch the tech and benchmark demos for cryengine 3 then we'll talk.

that said on consoles it is pretty much the best looking gameout there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WJG14uLA3k

Here's the first video I found with a comparison. Unfortunately they are comparing the PC Cryengine 2 to the console Cryengine 3. I would have preferred a PC-PC comparison running both engines at max.

But still, both engines don't look very different.

here is some more stuff

http://www.gamesas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=9571