I must be the only one who thinks PS2 isnt all that stunning, I like the effects (that blur!) and shaders but the actual geometry is very baren and 90% of the maps are quite empty.
Spazznid´s shots are awesome though.
Honestly, while I can agree, I believe that's all for a reason.
For someone who is new, the game seems empty, and it feels like there's nothing going on. In games like battlefield, you have some small areas of the map where nobody goes, but it's all relatively action-packed, unless you stay at base. But Planetside is a different beast, I've found....
For someone who knows what to do, where to go, and how to play, the maps may seem very active. You have to remember that this is a war raging between three factions sizing in the 1000+s. If you play for a while you realize that every square inch of the maps is used, and like me, you begin noticing places you've been before and eventually know parts of the mpa by heart. These maps are many times the size of Caspian Border, mind you and as a comparison, I'll say that there are parts of that map I've never been to and likely never will go.
Every hex area in Planetside 2's maps are used and each battle feels significant and distinct, due to the fact that you aren't always fighting in the same place, or the same direction, or the same team, or the same level (Infantry, Vehicle, or Air).
There are some notable areas that are centers for the biggest fights, such as The Crown, but these places are where all the other battles culminate and eventually end up, or start from. It's a very different kind of game, but I love it. If anything there could be more space between some areas.
((Also of note is that Continents like Esamir are made with fewer bases and more open space to promote tanks, AA, and Larger-scale battles at bases. This was in response to Indar having a lot of bases and fewer large-scale battles. Amerish, for me, is the happy medium. I can't wait to see the next Continents))