I've noticed that whenever I enter any vehicle in Far Cry 2, the FOV immediately drops, seemingly as a way for the game engine to accommodate for the increase in movement speed. At least that's just my guess. I'm no game designer, but I know for a fact that moving super-fast in open world games can result in game freezing or crashing. So maybe in FC 2's case lowering the FOV was the developer's way of making compromises for the game engine to prevent crashing or freezing. Is that what's going on here? The drop in FOV is most apparent when hopping onto the ATV, since there's no cockpit to obscure the effect. In any case, it's super annoying and I would like to know if there's an easy fix for this.

I don't remember the FOV dropping while driving or entering vehicles in the first Far Cry; perhaps this is because Crytek didn't have to make this compromise to the game engine since it was developed & optimized exclusively for the PC, unlike Far Cry 2. And, unlike with the original Far Cry, there's no option for a third-person perspective while driving vehicles in Far Cry 2, which further limits my options for avoiding this issue.

So, either it's just me, or the FOV really does tank when entering/driving vehicles in Far Cry 2. If I'm correct, then how can this problem be fixed? I really would like a solution to this.

I think it's just you.

Without a 3rd-party mod, this game's FOV is not adjustable. It is the same all the time and to everyone. I have no such issues as you described.

That said, you can always attempt to change your "perceived" FOV by playing the game at a different resolution, toggling between full screen and windowed mode, enabling or disabling widescreen adjustments. But the game itself has no innate option/command to set FOV to a number you pick.

BTW, moving super-fast does not affect the stability of a game. I can glide in FC 2. I can fly in newer FC games, or even enjoy a free fall from 1000s of feet above and then safely land on a hard surface or in water. How fast that can be! However, doing that doesn't subject these games to an easier crash or freeze.

By my exp, FC 2 is an extremely stable game - more so than FC 5 or 6. I don't recall any crash or freeze in 100s of hours of playing this game.

Happy gaming!