This is one of my favorite games ever. The graphics and sounds are excellent, but the gameplay is really what sets Far Cry apart from the competition.
Maybe it's because I'm a bit older than the average gamer, but I don't find 'twitch' games like UT and Quake all that enjoyable. I prefer a more slow paced and strategic style of gameplay. I'm sure that you could complete Far Cry by running full speed and taking the enemies on directly, but I loved that I could plan every attack carefully and more often than not dispatch my enemies from a distance. This really made the game enjoyable for me.
The game is pretty long (20 levels) and there are some difficult parts, so this one will keep you busy for a while!