It’s a Farcry from what I’m used to…. Far Cry 2: Reviewed (360, PS3)
Farcry 2 seems to be dividing people’s opinions right across the board from pole to pole, continent to continent and (just to make it sound like we’re keeping with US politics here) sea to shining sea.
Indeed Ubisoft’s sequel to Crytek’s “it’s too big to transfer to a console” hit has been cocooned in a bubble whilst the hype machine powered up almost as much as MGS 4 in it’s sheer power. Thing is though, what is the damned things REALLY like? Allow me to tell you what I think….
The game starts off with a nice enough intro. It comes across Half Life in style, as you hear a vocal narrative from in-game as you travel toward your destination, with the only difference being that the person is actually there chatting away to you in the form of an African taxi driver. He tells you it’s rather difficult to get back off of the island, but then if it were easy you’d have the game finished in half an hour. Anyway, one thing leads to another and you end up collapsing due to a rather bad case of Malaria, only to wake up with a rather nasty weapon pointed at your head. The gentleman holding this instrument of destruction is simply known as “The Jackal” who is (thankfully) nothing to do with the rather dodgy movie starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Interestingly, with you at his mercy he decides to spare you from death, assuming that the infectious malaria will get you first. He leaves and you then end up close to death after killing a few armed natives, but become outnumbered. As payback you’re then employed by the leader and so begins your main foray into the Farcry 2’s extensive 50 square kilometre map.
It’s a bloody huge bit of area to cover too, you know. There are a fair few times where you will think to yourself “My God, is this it?” as you start off on your coverage, mainly because it does look rather similar quite often, but then the balance is restored by the fact that this is one of the most non linear first person shooters yet to be released. There are no invisible walls blocking your path or any high buildings that almost force you to head down a narrow alley to your next objective. Here you have total freedom to go and do whatever you please and it’s a much bigger innovation than a lot of people will either think or, to be honest, notice. The actual graphics in the game are pretty sweet and the fire effects, which Ubisoft have been raving about with much gusto, are indeed effective and convincing.
The audio is a rather different story though. The guns and spot effects are solid and dependable, as are the vocals, but the music is nothing short of excruciatingly annoying. The constant loop of drums and the occasional note will make you click the off switch in such a manner that the Guinness Book of Records will come round to your door to confirm it. Its shame the game is let down by the score because there is definitely an atmosphere created and as the game comes along it starts to add to it a little. If you need an example, imagine a tense thriller where all you can hear is the world outside as the killer homes in on his prey, only to then constantly hear the Eastender drums on a loop. Just doesn’t fit well.
There is a very decent gaming experience held within the data on this disc, but it’s one that lends the odd quality to some of the really good RPG’s out there. The first hour may well be tedious and dull, but as you move beyond that and let the story kick in it manages to suck you in a little more each day until you feel you want to do that little bit more until you realise it’s 3 AM. It’s what you could call a slow burner, but as you play more of the game you see more of those little ideas and touches which make this more interesting than you’d think. One of the missions involves you taking out a major target near the border, but just as you leave the briefing, one of your new found allies springs up and suggests a different take on the mission. This can often change the advantage in your (and his) favour, but it pays to analyse first before you undertake your selected actions.
There are a few of the Farcry stalwart ideas that have made it across, some loved, others loathed. The weapon jamming is still present, as is the pestering annoyance of having to swap seats in vehicles to eradicate the rebels before you can carry on, although I just see these as extras that help to add to the atmosphere. The hang gliders are also back, but due to the game’s lack of linearity it’s a little harder to find, let alone use them.
The multiplayer is a strange one. You would think with the inclusion of an editor, which allows ANYONE to make whatever maps they want to, would be a Godsend. It’s more like a double edged sword. Sure, the amount of maps are limitless, but what I found is that nobody plays the original maps included on the disc. Some of them may well be the best maps to play FPS in the world, but you would never know as someone is no doubt playing the Farcry equivalent of Carentan from Call of Duty 2. The graphics are downscaled as well, which is a bit of an annoyance when you consider just how impressive games like Gears of War, Quantum of Solace and, yes I have to say it AGAIN, Call of Duty 4 can throw multiplayer battles around with grace, beauty and style. It looks more like up-scaled XBOX rather than 360, if truth be told.
As a full package it doesn’t do too badly, but the online mode can leave even the most addicted virtual killer with a bad taste in the mouth, almost feeling unfulfilled. The single player is something you will either get or you won’t. Perseverance is the key here. If you have the patience to last beyond the tutorial/first hour then you will start to see the real game and start to see the potential it opens up, but with a lot of games these days requiring an all guns blazing introduction, it will find it hard to attract the masses.
All in all, a patient gamer’s title and worth a little butchers if you fancy something capable of growing in stature with you, but if you “just wanna kill shit” hold off for Call of Duty: World at War or Gears of War 2.
Graphics: 7.5
Sound: 7.0
Gameplay: 8.0
Multiplayer: 6.5
Overall: 7.5
Written By:- Billy Withers
