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Far Cry 4 Game preview

Game preview 17 October 2014, 15:02

author: Pawlik

Far Cry 4 hands-on: A Lovely Trip to the Himalayas

For a few hours, we got an opportunity to relish the new installment in the Far Cry series. After a very solid ‘part three’, Ubisoft is offering us a well known mayhem in a quite different environment – and it looks very good!

This article was written prior to the game's release.

This text was based on the PC version.

I adore the Far Cry 3. Enough being said, in my opinion it is one of the best written and balanced shooters of the recent years, and hands down the game of the year of 2012. The game sales, as well as the Metacritic score balancing around 90, prove that I am not alone with my admiration of the game.

Unsurprisingly, the developer decided to go with the flow, and barely 2 years after the release of Far Cry 3, is about to release another installment of a acknowledged series, which, for a change, takes us away to a Himalayan land of Kyrat, which is much more diverse in comparison to Rook islands, when in comes to geography, as well as its flora and fauna. I got to experience first-hand how diverse the setting is during a 4-hour long hands on, behind closed doors in Paris. A period of 3 hours in singleplayer, and an hour or so in two player co-op were enough to rid me of any doubt, regarding the final shape of the newest creation of Ubisoft and Alex Hutchinson of Assassins Creed III fame. So, is a true revolution at hand? Or is it simply a cashing-in attempt on a established franchise? For the game’s sake… none of the above.

I will start with an rather obvious remark, conflicting with the saying, that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. When it comes to Far Cry 4, the so-called ‘cover’ (the visual side) simply entices you to experience the product, awing any visualizer more, than its 2-year-old predecessor. Woody plains, bathed in early-autumn colors, majestic snowy mountain passes, and dreamy, warm color soaked views of the mythic land of Shangri-La, are just a fraction of sights awaiting the players (keeping in mind that I played a game build from September, which was greatly enhanced since the last time, not mentioning the final product that you will get to play).

Similarly, as in the previous game, the fruit of the graphics labor is best view from an aerial view, and in that case while using a glider or a gyroplane. Our sense of direction will be supported by a vibrant map, which traditionally was filled to the brim with animal habitats, chests with useful tools, vehicles, defense positions in case of a grim rendez-vous with blood-thirsty opponents and so on. The lastly mentioned coming in forms of the king’s guard patrolling Kyrat and also wild animals that do not take too kindly to tourists on their turf.

The game world is full of life, which astonishes greatly, if not more, than the splendid Far Cry 3. Forests are inhabited by macaques, wild Tibetan wolves roam the mountain passes, ever-hungry demon fish lurk in water basins, while the air is ruled by Slender-billed vultures, posing a real threat to both animals and careless humans. The producers have stated time and time again, that the game will force on us a vertical perception of the Himalayan-based Kyrat. An attack can be expected at any moment. Either by snow leopards, rhinos, yaks, elephants, tigers or… bees. Naturally, some of them we will be able to process into wallets or ammo patches in the, well-known from the previous game, crafting system. Sadly, the designers didn’t bother to implement any fresh ideas in this matter, but on the other hand, why should they fix what ain’t broken?

Character development tree of the protagonist also presents itself in a similar fashion. While receiving experience points, our hero will get to invest in additional skills, extending the Tiger Path (offense) or the Elephant Path (defense). Some of the abilities are making a comeback, such as vitality points or an ability to kill off opponents hanging of a ledge. However, a few new welcome additions are present, such us strengthening elephant skin, thanks to which we will lay waste to Pagan Min’s minions. Honestly, I find some of them forced and I was reluctant to upgrade further, but I guess You shouldn’t look a gifted horse in the mouth.

XP is awarded by doing main missions (which will be about 50 of), taking over enemy outposts, ‘synchronizing’ with the flamboyant dictator’s towers, taking over enemy forts in co-op or solo, collecting numerous collectibles (lost letters, diary pages, propaganda posters, Yalunga masks and prayer wheels) or doing some of the many side quests. The later including the likes of rescuing captives, disarming explosives, supplies delivery on time or... collecting variety of trinkets, feathers or ornaments for the local ‘fashion show’. In other words, we will not be bored despite the fact that the game area does not surpass in size the one known from the misadventures of Jason Brody.

We will torment our enemies by almost sixty different types of customizable weapons (usable also while behind the wheel) and we will traverse Kyrat by the means of up to twenty vehicles such as auto richshaws, tuk-tuks, ever disobedient quads, ‘flying squirrel costumes’ or exceptionally nimble gyrocopters. The above-mentioned gyrocopter will prove useful while scouting the hills, keeping in mind that playing Icarus will end up as fatal, as in a greek tragedy. In any case, we can always search for climbing spots in form of ropes scattered here and there or gliders – if, by any chance, we end up in a dire need of reaching lower ground, and won’t necessarily want to break all of our bones from jumping from a nearby cliff.

Gameplay changes, in comparison to the former installment, will be mostly cosmetic. Naturally, nuances specific to the game, such as: travelling via elephant (both comfortable and deadly when it comes to massacring the followers of Min), trading with nomad Sherpa traders, grinding the karma level by supporting Himalayan rebels or worshiping local deities by lighting candles will also be present.

What gives us karma? Discounts when buying arms and an ability to summon reinforcements when the odds are not in our favor. The locals, willing to overthrow the flashy suit-wearing and self-proclaimed dictator, will be more than willing to give us a hand, especially when we will offer them regular support in their civil war against the dictator’s propaganda. What is more, the big baddie himself is someone very close to us… but let us not get ahead of ourselves. You will have to see for Yourselves, how the story of Ajaya Ghale unfolds, while he encounters various, more or less. mentally unstable characters. I must admit though, in the early stages, neither the character creation, nor the dialogues, have managed to blow me away, the same way that those brilliant lines of the sociopathic Vaas and his friends’ managed to. Maybe the case being the change of the script writer. Not jinxing it, let’s hope the real fun begins later on. It remains to be seen at launch date.

Another interesting solution is, without a doubt, implementing various approaches to story missions. More than a few times we will have to decide, which companion to support and what tactics to choose, which will naturally result in certain consequences, including an alienation of those left to their own devices. Like in real life – we won’t please everyone. Even if we get guilt-stricken after a sever dose of complaints, we can always be accompanied by a human companion in two-player cooperation. Alongside a faithful companion, we will traverse Kyrat, siege forts, raid outposts, hunt game, save hostages and cut down trees together. In other words – we will be able to do what we please in co-op. It’s a ton of genuinely entertaining, refreshing, fun. Especially, when we can calibrate with our partner and carry out various tactics while completing tasks. Sadly, only on our own, will we advance the plot. There won’t be a splitscreen option, but that wouldn’t be practical anyway (this game ain’t exactly Rayman).

Before we conclude, we must touch on a subject essential to the games focusing on immersion – the music. While the soundtrack of Far Cry 3 was made by Brian Tyler (and oh boy, what a splendid job did he do) the production of the soundtrack to the upcoming sandbox game was tasked to a newcomer – Cliff Martinez, familiar to the fans of motion picture soundtracks. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer did, amongst other things, music to movies like Drive, Traffic, Only God Forgives, or the currently aired medical show The Knick. His works revolve around ambient, experimental rock and industrial themes. Each and every time he manages to craft an uncanny, hypnotizing atmosphere – which, in case of Far Cry 4 works splendidly. It is the artist’s first videogame project, but if the entire soundtrack maintains the level of what I have heard during my playthrough in Paris – we may have a soundtrack of the year on our hands.

However, will the game itself turn out to be the interactive sensation of the season, remains to be seen this November. You should not expect a revolution in the field of FPS games, but rather a polishing of the proven ideas and mechanics from the previous game done by Ubisoft Montreal.

In that case, is the title of Far Cry 4 accurate? Well, Far Cry 3.5 doesn’t sound much appealing, but that is the one that most accurately summarizes the game. That doesn’t change the fact, that the game is still a must-have for both fans of the series and open-world FPS enthusiasts who have yet to experience Far Cry. More the reason, if they have already invested in a next-gen or a capable PC, on which the game from the canadian developers seems to make the greatest impression. And it certainly will.

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