Revolution with little evolution...
Latest Far Cry title doesn’t break the mould but there’s plenty for fans to enjoy
Far Cry 6
(PEGI 18) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC
★★★II
WHEN the first Far Cry game landed on consoles 17 years ago, it was a huge success.
It was one of a wave of next generation first-person shooters released that year, taking advantage of improving technology to produce something very special.
Not only was Far Cry stunning on a technical level, it also happened to be a fantastic game that hooked players from the off.
Fast forward a decade though, and it was a very different story.
The franchise was struggling, with critics wanting to see more from the series which was languishing in a bit of a rut.
Even die hard fans wanted to see the game do something different – and with Far Cry 6, developer Ubisoft is hoping to deliver just that.
The game’s setup isn’t exactly mould-breaking, taking place on the fictional Cuba-esque island of Yara which is under the iron rule of President Anton Castillo.
If Castillo looks familiar, that’s because he’s modelled on and voiced by the incredible Giancarlo Esposito, well known to fans of Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, and Better Call Saul.
You’re dropped into the mix as guerilla fighter Dani Rojas who you must help topple ‘El Presidente’ and his regime.
Dani is not alone in seeking revolution, meeting other revolutionaries fighting against the powers that be as the island is explored.
The island itself is breathtaking, with lush verdant jungles, vibrant streets in the capital city and shanty coastal villages.
It’s incredible just how big this game is – almost needlessly so – and at times I felt overwhelmed with all the things I had to remember to plan for or take into account as I carried out missions.
Each section of Yara presents its own challenges, with enemy soldiers becoming better equipped, and their locations more heavily fortified as Dani ‘ranks up’.
Having an organised army to fight presents much more of a test, with reinforcements being called in and army medics able to heal injured combatants.
They can even call in air strikes to flush you out of the jungle.
As well as the usual weapons at your disposal, you can customise your arsenal A-Team style, using materials you’ve scavenged on your missions.
These ‘resolver’ weapons are more important than ever as certain baddies now have distinct vulnerabilities, meaning they’re much easier to dispatch with the right ammunition.
There’s also the trademark outlandish guns you can create, from a minigun fashioned from a bike engine, to the ‘Macarena Gun’ that fires CDs at the enemy, all the while blasting out the Los Del Río hit.
Esposito gives a standout performance as El Presidente, a quiet menace that commands the screen – definitely one of the series’ best antagonists.
As much fun as I’ve already had on Yara, I have barely scraped the surface of what this game has to offer.
And while those hoping for a vastly different Far Cry experience will quickly find this much more of the same, fans will not be disappointed by what’s on offer.
Buy it: £46.49 from 365games.co.uk/