Have I ever told you the definition of insanity? Well insanity is to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Far Cry 3 has been my most anticipated game for a very long time, and thankfully for me it hasn’t disappointed at all, in fact it’s surpassed any expectations I had.
You are Jason Brody. A blind sky dive with a group of friends in the South Pacific sees you land on the mysterious Rook Island, where immediately you are taken hostage by an insane drug addicted pirate named Vaas. The tragic events that unfold from your hostage set the fast pace of the game – a game which is fueled by insanity. It’s now up to you to save your captured friends and save the Raykat people, the true inhabitants, from the oppression of Vaas and his boss Hoyt.
Aside from being hunted down by trigger happy pirates and mercenaries the island itself is equally as dangerous. Tigers, leopards, alligators and sharks roam the terrain and ocean of the luscious tropical island and all have an acquired taste for human flesh. Not only is Far Cry 3 a fight against pirates and nature, it’s also a fight against insanity. It’s a large and ever present theme in the game.
Run Forrest, Run!
I have been totally engrossed by the main story path. The characters are so strange and quite frankly crazy that it makes every piece of dialogue and cutscene a joy to watch. It’s also quite a lengthy story, with a few changes in direction. To me it feels like the story shouldn’t be taken at face value but I’ll let you figure that one out for yourself.
As for the Island; it’s stunning. It puts many open world games and full fleshed RPG’s to shame. Firstly the presentation is beautiful. The terrain and plants are vibrant. The way the canopy distorts the suns rays is a lovely touch. Even the ocean is as detailed as the main island; under water crevasses, sunken boats and marine wildlife will take your breathe away.
That’s not to mention the wildlife which makes the island bustling with activity. There’s a wide range of wild animals that you’ll encounter from bloody thirsty predators to the more timid prey. The animals also account for a few funny stories, many times have I casually been searching the jungle for a stalking Tiger to pounce out of the bushes. It gives you quite a shock. If you think the water is a safe haven well good luck with that!
Lush tropical island – hidden danger.
More importantly the gameplay is on par with the visuals. It has a heavy touch to it and feels more realistic than arcade. There’s a nice balance to the recoil and reloading as well, not too long or not too sudden. So don’t expect Call of Duty on the shooting front. It’s also very tactical. Many missions give you the choice to go all guns blazing or to take a more stealthy approach. Silenced weapons and the ability to perform melee takedowns allow you to clear whole outposts without raising an alarm.
Outside of the main story path are a lot of other activities to complete. Clearing enemy outposts and fixing broadcast towers (to clear the map) are vital. Completing wanted dead, path of the hunter and supply drop quests act as side missions. On top of that you can play Poker and mini games like Sharpshooter and races. If exploration is your thing you can also collect relics, memory cards and lost letters dotted around the island. All in all there’s more than enough to keep you occupied. Once again Far Cry 3 doesn’t disappoint, this time in the content department.
All in – fancy a game of Poker?
The game, although primarily a FPS, has many RPG elements. A level up/XP system is in place which results in you unlocking new skills. Crafting new equipment is needed to succeed which requires animal skins, so hunting plays a big role in the game. In my opinion if offers everything you would want from a FPS/RPG game.
There are a few flaws to the game. Screen tearing and bugs do pop up every now and then. It’s not frequent though. However, you can’t expect an open world game to be flawless. I also felt that some of the characters deserved a bigger part in the story, but I never like to argue with the direction the writes have taken.
For me Far Cry 3, just based on it’s single player offerings, is the best game I have played in the last few years. Ubisoft have done a fantastic job in creating a visual masterpiece which is immensely satisfying to engage with. The story is exciting and the whole theme to it is really interesting. Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?…
10/10
