Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2 is Ubisoft’s latest first person shooter, sequel to the reasonably acclaimed Far Cry for PC. The similarities between the two games are few and far between however, indeed the latest instalment of the series was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, whereas the original game was developed by German company Crytek. The protagonist from the first instalment has been axed, replaced by the players choice of 9 different mercenaries with different backgrounds. The other characters the player does not pick are active as “Buddies”, who assist the player after they are rescued. The feral abilities of console spin-off Far Cry Instincts have also been removed, replaced by the altogether less desirable malaria, which the player must earn medicine for through underground missions, lest it kill him. Played out in an unnamed African state embroiled in a violent civil war, the player must complete missions to gain information about an arms dealer known as “The Jackal”, the man he must assassinate, who is guilty of “fuelling the fires” of the ongoing conflict by supplying both sides. Blood diamonds are the main currency, and they can be used to purchase new weapons.

      The biggest difference, however, is the game’s setting, the map itself is enormous, 50km² of entirely open-ended terrain. The landscape is gorgeous, ranging from convincing desert to incredible lush forest tracks. The realism of vegetation and buildings is uncanny, every blade of grass and every leaf on every branch is individually rendered. If this wasn’t enough, the game boasts “the most realistic fire ever seen in a game”, with which a player can reduce this plant life to charcoal. Animal life is also present in the game, and occasionally one will come across a hang-glider at different high points in the terrain, and it is one of the game’s most memorable moments to glide silently over the more peaceful areas of the map.

      As far as the gameplay is concerned, Far Cry 2 has a good deal to be said for it. The control scheme is simplistic and easy to pick up, AI is impressive for the most part, as they will try to surround the player, who can avoid this by scouting the area before an attack and depleting enemy forces using a sniper rifle or mortar. In many ways this game is similar to a sandbox game (such as the GTA series), or perhaps even an RPG, but the shooter aspect is successful in its aims, despite the lack of a cover system. The action is present from every angle, are the eye watering explosions.

      The game does have flaws however, principally the ridiculous size and the difficulty in travelling across it, while gangs attack the player at every crossroads. The Buddy system too can be more of a nuisance than a help, as after you are rescued when dying you must protect them until all opposition has been destroyed.

      For the most part, however, this is a unique FPS experience with as many as 100 hours of single player gameplay, and many more with a decent online multiplayer and a map creator. If you have the patience for some repetition, this is certainly a worthwhile, different and deeply thematic shooter. 

4/5

Byron Murphy