Far Cry 2 is totally different from the first one it's a bit more of a role play style game than an action shooter like the first one.
Makes the game play a lot slower..... eg:
go here collect this..... go there speak to so and so..... he gives you this....... which you must take to her....... she'll give you a blah blah blah.....etc.. etc..

So people really like it, I find it a bit slow.
Best game of last couple of years IMO was Crysis and Crysis Warhead!