Are Graphical Improvements Slowing Down?

Yes, now look at the 2 meter draw distance.

thats because its not an open world demo. Its just to show a section of map.

They could've at least tried to make them looks post 2008.

well, it looks nice but ripples on water render unrealistically as the angle changes, you can tell that the sand is just a texture and all of the textures seem slightly out of focus as if you're looking at them through a smeared lens instead of with your naked eye. i could easily tell it was 3D at the first shot that wasn't a close-up

Halo 2 looks the best.

Halo 3 looks like shiny plastic and Halo 4 has too much going on and is very grey and boring looking.

See my earlier point about Texel density. I agree with you guys though, there is much more he could be doing. Not that it matters though because these sort of work would take months… months for rocks. Yeah great.