Please keep in mind that the last images are made by one single person (Christian) as a side work
while making a new model package. GC is only the tool he had chosen to show his work in real-time.

But I can assure you that GC can do both: apply static shadow-maps as well as use real-time shadows
(stencils and/or soft-shadows via shaders). So if you want, then you can do an overdose on shadows
but you don't have to if you want big amount of fps.
And all the shadowing can happen with normal-mapping or other shaders on textures (yes, even the static shadows).

It is up to you.

By the way: I like the shots and I barely see so nice real-time level design from single persons in the
game forums. Christian is talented without any questions.