"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting things to change." That's how Vaas, Far Cry 3's psychopathic poster boy, introduced himself and Ubisoft's latest open world shooter back at E3 2011.
Given the context - one and the same line of dialogue begins and ends a brutally freeform shootout - it's hard not to feel like the writers are having a sly pop at the rest of the genre. All too often, the variety theoretically offered by an open world is lost beneath mindless drudgery, as designers replicate tasks and rewards to fill space. Far Cry 2 gave us many a Coppola-worthy sunset but, for some players, the tedium of gutting guard posts over and over was too much of an ask. Appropriately for a game modelled on Africa's inhospitable backwaters, it was a world that resented being explored, seeking to mire play in the same battle with the same, eternally cycling handful of goons.
Incredibly, it's also a game with a sense of humour. The 10-15 hour main campaign (pushing 30 hours, at a guess, if you're keen on collectables) charts fish-out-of-water Jason Brody's attempts to revenge himself on Rook Island's community of well-armed nutjobs, without becoming just another well-armed nutjob in the process. That's the kind of story that could have been conducted with an unrelenting po face, especially coming after the marble-hard example of Spec Ops: The Line, and indeed the urgency of the game's need to bury players neck-deep in horror is wearisome at times. Among other stand-outs, you'll claw your way out of a heap of corpses, stand to attention while somebody's cooked "till his skin crackles" and confront a disco hallucination of Vaas while he spreads his arms to receive your blade like a mohawked Christ.
But there are cunning stabs at self-referentiality. People are rarely what they seem, whether it's the wild-eyed human trafficker with an eerie knack for anticipating your movements, or the hulking Aryan privateer who later reveals himself to be a flamboyant play actor, more Bruno than Arnie. Contrary to what the trailers imply, not everybody's a screeching, gesticulating parody of craziness out to upstage Jack Nicholson either. There's also the ex-pat Dr Earnhardt, a damaged and kindness-prone man who, at one point, sends you on a drug-addled trip into the depths of the earth. Further in, meanwhile, there's the obsessed CIA agent Willis Huntley, a burned-out Sam Fisher caught in his own web of conspiracies. Sadly your own character, Brody, isn't among the star turns - he and his abducted friends are modelled a little too closely on the hateful, pampered tourists from Alex Garland's The Beach, and the introduction of some contrived tribal bromance only muddies the waters.
32 comments so far...
vadersmyfather on 21 Nov '12 said:
Interesting review. Somehow I didn't quite feel the tone of it quite matched the score, somehow.
Also, did you actually address any of the questions we asked in the previous thread??
OXM ETboy on 21 Nov '12 said:
I'll do a separate Q&A for the reviews questions thread - didn't quite find the time to look into them in detail when writing this.
vadersmyfather on 21 Nov '12 said:
No worries - thanks for clarifying, Ed.
Will be good to read your answers because for me the re-spawning enemies, checkpoint system, and fast travel were game-breaking last time.
OXM ETboy on 21 Nov '12 said:
I'll answer that one right away: the respawning guard posts are gone. There are the outposts which contain the safe houses, but you only have to clean them out once, and there are roving enemies (and randomised setpieces like trains of hostages) in the field, but you can always walk around them.
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Skipped through a lot but what i have read has me well happy.Thought the story might be a bit longer as standard but given i will be exploring the s**t out off it,think it will take me nearer the higher time frame.The words what FC 2 should have been sealed it for me and while as alluded to the frame rate takes the odd dip,was expecting a little bit given the graphics.Certainly glad i went for the Insane edition.
Metalrodent on 21 Nov '12 said:
you missed the most important question - do the fire physics return?
OXM ETboy on 21 Nov '12 said:
Yep.
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Somebody already answered you that in the other thread.
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Ed so i get the idea from the little i read the crafting and skinning etc does feel a bit tacked on and a bit of a chore after a bit.????
OXM ETboy on 21 Nov '12 said:
The crafting system's a bit of an unnecessary inconvenience, yes. You actually have to make yourself a bigger wallet. That said, it's another incentive to explore.
True story: when you skin something it looks like you're carving your own knee off.
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Thanks Ed,hmmm in RDR though all you see is blood splats all over the screen.
ItchyRash on 21 Nov '12 said:
I had Far Cry 2 crash on me just after getting the majority of the diamonds. All 144 saves corrupted. Added to that the game was a chore and a bore. Those respawning checkpoints and forever fixing my vehicle with a spanner send shivers down my spine. Tell me those things aren't back? Ubisoft never acknowledged there was an issue with the game corrupting saves. Thus I shall not be risking my money on this. Plus I thought the trailer looked awful. Just seemed really cheesy
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Why cheesy??? plus they sorted the save thing in 2 with a patch i played through it about four times to the end with no probs.
Plus if you read some of the other posts or the review you would know spawning has gone.
ItchyRash on 21 Nov '12 said:
Not sure, just the magic dust thing. The whole vibe of the trailer. I was watching it in front of my family at the time and just felt awkward. Don't know why, Don't doubt my opinion is very jaded and i'm sure there will be plenty of people that take a lot of enjoyment out of this game, but based on my experiences with 2 I don't think it's for me. 2 was one of the worst games I've played on 360. After the issues I experienced with that game this one hasn't even been on my radar and Halo, Hitman and Dishonored will be taking up my time
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
Yeah cool meant no offence just you didn't give much of an answer about why.Also one of the first sentences in the review says it is the game 2 should have been so get the sense it is nothing like 2.????
ItchyRash on 21 Nov '12 said:
It's cool bro, it's cool. Get that opinions should be explained otherwise you don't really contribute to a debate. I want to like it like I wanted to like 2. It's visually stunning for sure. 2 just promised much more than it delivered and would worry 3 is more style than substance. Maybe I'll review how things play out over the coming months in terms of any game breaking glitches and then pick it up on the cheap during a quiet period. When that'll be though is anyone's guess. The calendar is packed leading up to GTA V
d4nx2y on 21 Nov '12 said:
OMG have you seen the level editor? OMG!
AW LOST SOLDIER on 21 Nov '12 said:
Cant wait to start building maps in this
some of my fc2 map work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQJ28kQEW0w&feature=plcp
Bezza89 on 21 Nov '12 said:
lol at people answering questions answered within the review. It sounds pretty, pretty, pretty goooood. Bit short imo, FC2 was 20-30 hours, but I'm sure I can cope. Nice review though, nice to see stuff getting more than 1 page.
Clanger67 on 21 Nov '12 said:
I thought and said the same Bezza but like Ed says if you have a good explore more nearer thirty.I reckon i will be doing that given how amazing it looks and seems there will be plenty to do not including the need for crafting etc.Plus i am glad i went for the Insane as that you gives quite a bit more on the how long it lasts stakes.Sounds like the Co-op is pretty good fun to.
FishyGinger on 22 Nov '12 said:
Whiggity wham wham wozzle?
Clanger67 on 22 Nov '12 said:
Eh Fishy.
Take it you aren't bothering with FC 3 then.
FishyGinger on 22 Nov '12 said:
Oh I will be, looks great and quite enjoyed the last ones, even 2....
I was just questioning whether Slurms MacKenzie was in it. I will have to wait quite some time though, I've got far too much to play already. Given that I'm still on AC3 and I started that some time ago things aren't going well on the clearing...
Clanger67 on 22 Nov '12 said:
Oh right cool,i think the characters have to be insane to be in it though,lol.
CunningSmile on 22 Nov '12 said:
Bezza, Clang you guys hold him down I'll try and force his medication down his throat!
FishyGinger on 22 Nov '12 said:
Thanks for the vote of confidence on my sanity
and coming from a fully grown man watching my little pony!
Clanger67 on 22 Nov '12 said:
Lancer Armstrong on 28 Nov '12 said:
Anyone play the co-op missions yet? Are they any good?
Heck, if they're anything like Left 4 Dead, then I'll be a happy camper.
Also, are they playable solo offline?
Bezza89 on 28 Nov '12 said:
I've heard they're not overly long but are very left 4 deady and not only are they playable offline, they're splitscreen capable baby!
*Not heard anything about needing an online pass either, with splitscreen I'm doubtful it'll require one... the map editor also has bots and is also playable split-screen... meaning you can create your own spec ops levels, though you'll know where the enemies spawn from lol.
Plamsa wing on 28 Nov '12 said:
Knowing is half the battle.
PonderingWalrus on 29 Nov '12 said:
I think I read somewhere that, for whatever reason, you need at least one other person in tow to play the coop missions. Can anyone confirm this?
ePg x Ben on 14 Jan '13 said:
Played this game with my friend and now really want to get it the survival and the battles and the different ways you are able to clear the camps are really cool and funny cannot wait to get this game