“Like Skyrim with guns” is how Adam Kovac, host of the popular Machinima YouTube channel, referred to Far Cry 3. Ubisoft, the game’s developer and publisher, apparently liked the quote enough to put it on the box’s cover. I myself thoroughly enjoyed Skyrim, and also have a certain fondness for games with guns, so I purchased Far Cry 3. Far Cry 3 was not “like Skyrim with guns,” and neither is Far Cry 4—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Skyrim is a massive open-world game, as is Far Cry 4. However, to complete all the content within Skyrim (which is impossible in a single play-through), you will literally need to set aside a couple hundred hours. Far Cry 4 is closer to 25 (which, during the semester, is a relief for me personally). Far Cry 4 is a modern first-person shooter, and like Skyrim, it takes place in a sandbox-style open-world (this means that you exert a good deal of influence over said world, and are free to roam it). However, whereas almost everything you do in Skyrim is narrative driven, more often than not you will be making your own fun in Far Cry games.
Whereas Far Cry 3 was set on the tropical rock islands, Far Cry 4 is set in Kyrat, a fictional country in the Himalayas. The plot follows Ajay Ghale, who was born in Kyrat, but grew up in the US. He has no memory of Kyrat (he was too young) but returns there at the age of 26 to deliver his mother’s ashes to a certain shrine. Ajay quickly finds himself getting caught up in a civil war, fighting against a sadistic dictator, Pagan Min.
The gameplay, audio, and visuals of Far Cry 4 are some of the highest quality I have ever seen. The controls feel precise and the AI is intelligent (typically). The sounds/music are well designed, and Kyrat looks stunning. You will have the opportunity to use a wide array of weapons, and I was more than satisfied by the ones provided to me (a flamethrower, crossbow, grenade launchers, bows, landmines, throwing knives, and many varieties of guns). The bow was particularly fun and varied in its potential uses. One can use it close range or long range for silent takedowns to avoid alerting guards. It also allows one to get clean kills when hunting, providing extra loot. Special arrows can be used with the bow, grenade and Molotov, allowing it to take down difficult targets (such as a helicopter, or a body-armor wearing person).
The vehicles of Far Cry 4 are very well designed. Driving feels great, whether you’re driving a truck, ATV, or just an everyday car. Aside from land vehicles, there are also several boats, a buzzer (like a very small helicopter), a hang glider, and a wingsuit. The wingsuit in particular was a cool mechanic, you keep it on your person at all times. This means that you can simply jump off a cliff, deploy it, and glide around the Himalayas.
An abundance of side content exists in Far Cry 4, such as the hunting of wildlife, a prominent mechanic in the Far Cry series. One travels throughout Kyrat hunting the indigenous wildlife and collecting skins, which can be used for crafting or sold for money. Events in the world of Far Cry 4 occur frequently; you might just be crossing the map when you stumble across an enemy messenger, a hostage situation, or even an assault on friendly territory. Side-missions are also spread throughout the world of Far Cry 4, involving hunting, racing, rescuing, assassinating, and much more.
Overall, the goal of Far Cry 4 is to be an over-the-top first person shooter (expect quirky characters and flamboyant music). The game’s antagonist, Pagan Min, often encourages the player to just do what they want and have fun. It seems like Min is addressing the player holding the controller, rather than Ajay Ghale in the context of the plot. Some critics took issue with this, but I see it as the series admitting what it is. Far Cry is a fun game, and that’s all it has to be. It has some moments of narrative depth and interesting characters, but at its core it’s all about giving the player a wild ride.
There are tons of fun moments, like shooting down a helicopter with a grenade arrow for example. You will go off a cliff on an ATV, bail, and glide to safety with your wingsuit. You will be helpless, armed only with a knife, and hunted by a group of armed men; then you’ll single one of them out, take their gun, and kill the rest (or simply escape, if that is your preference). Far Cry 4 clearly isn’t about realism (never have I heard of an eagle attacking and wiping out armed men in real life), it’s about letting the player have fun and blow off steam.
At times, the plotline of Far Cry 4 can be surprisingly deep. Far Cry 4 turns a critical eye to both drugs and religion, making direct and indirect comparisons between the two. There is also commentary on the corrupting influence of power. One memorable storyline takes place in the mythical location of Shangri-La (a holy place described as an earthly paradise). During this narrative, the player leaves behind modern weapons to ally with a tiger spirit and fight demons, armed with only a bow and knife. It is an irregular storyline for a Far Cry game; some may feel that it seems out of place, but I personally thought it elevated the series.
In terms of pure fun, Far Cry 4 may have been the best game I’ve played in over a year. It’s low stress and never overly difficult, but challenging enough to keep you engaged. You have a wide array of playstyles available to you (provided by different kinds of weapons, vehicles, and in-game mechanics). I personally wish the main storyline lasted longer (it took me about 20 hours), but many people see that as the perfect length for a game. I wasn’t moved or stimulated by this game’s narrative, aside from some rare exceptions, but that’s more of a personal issue, if you’re just here for the fun, Far Cry 4 will not disappoint. I feel that Far Cry 4 has earned a 9 out of 10 as its score. Maybe $60 is a little much for some people to pay right now, but if you at all enjoy shooters, be sure to pick this one up at some point.
IMAGE TAKEN from gamer.nl
