This is sad because I actually like Crysis games...
Anyways, yeah, BS. Crysis IS a game that utilizes cutting edge graphic to great effect. I'd say that they actually make games that rely on graphics to deliver a fun experience more than nearly any other game. It seems weird to throw percentages around, but I'd say that just Crysis is like...30% the graphics. And that is incredibly high. Most AAA games like this are probably 10-15% the graphics, If I'm generous. And once you get to smaller games, it can be completely insignificant.
Id like to imagine that at Crytek, there is some group of harried developers constantly rolling their eyes at the manchild, "Bro-gamer" mentality of some people at the top, trying to keep their heads down, getting no respect, but being the heart and soul of the company as they do there best to interject a strong aesthetic, story, and gameplay into the Crysis games. Because I havn't played 3, but the other ones were fun, had fun if completely uninspired stories and settings, and Crysis 2 was actually pretty from an art direction sense.