Far Cry 3 Review

Far Cry 3, a popular open world mature FPS (first person shooter) game, realizes the potential hinted at by its predecessors and, in fact, propels the series into new territory to give players a thrilling virtual experience that combines survival tactics, enemy combat, and rescue missions. Moreover, a myriad of gameplay dynamics allow players to explore, experience the climate and terrain, and encounter a multitude of setting/plot platforms that offer a level of authenticity that is redefining open world gaming. Players can effectively customize their game, choose their objective, and create an extraordinary playing experience every time they play.

We listed Far Cry 3 as the best game of 2012 followed by The Walking Dead, Mass Effect 3, Journey and Borderlands 2.

Story

Set somewhere (called Rook Island) in the jungles of the Malay Archipelago, the storyline of Far Cry 3 opens with a carefree group of friends and relatives, eco-adventurists who’ve come to South Asia for the highlife—to skydive and have a good time. Unfortunately, they land in the middle of guerilla territory and fall into the arms of nefarious warlords who like nothing more than to ransom western hostages. Suddenly, the thrill-seekers’ holiday turns into a deadly encounter with the violent undercurrent of jungle thugs. More than that, there is the jungle itself—Komodo dragons that attack, crocodiles that ambush, serpents that menace, and even bull sharks that overwhelm their prey. Far Cry 3 is an action boost from the get-go and the adrenaline seems to flow as soon as our hero, the younger brother of one of the captives, escapes from his bamboo confines running for his life and desperate to save his companions.

Presentation

The first person point-of-view sees jungle—authentic, up-close, and in your face kind of jungle. The fronds of tropical plants move, the light darkens as you scramble down a murky path, and the atmosphere explodes with realistic features like animals darting, the banging of a door, or the shouts of pursuers. Even the weather can be downright ominous. Players are immersed in a 360 degree jungle environment and the feeling of being there amidst the bad guys and the scary terrain fuels the experience. Already Far Cry 3 has received several nominations by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Achievement for awards including the Game of the Year. Upon occasion, a character might act glitchy or get stuck, but this is almost so rare as to be not worth mentioning especially when you compare it to other sandbox type games. Some reviews have mentioned the monotony of the jungle scenes, but the remote tropical forests of Malaysia and Indonesia have a one-track mind—all jungle all the time. Each particular scene and setting of the presented jungle are, however, unique and live up to the highest expectations for realism and setting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzSwgULhY4?modestbranding=1

Graphics

The graphics are stellar and optimally realistic—almost tangible. If the goal was to make the player feel like the lead character, it hits its mark. The technology is designed to get close to that movie experience; only in this case the player has the ability to direct where he looks, what he touches, and what he does. The people also embody a gritty physicality that is simply slick from a design standpoint—they look intensely real from the glinting whites of their eyes to the tattoos on their bodies. You can just about see the sweat. Gamers that seek out realistic graphics will thoroughly enjoy this experience for its sharp and well defined imagery. The streams look and flow like water and object surfaces show texture. All in all, the graphics hook you in to this entrancing world—dangerous, but thrilling.

Sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGpzGu9Yp6Y?modestbranding=1

Like the graphics, the sounds are done right. You hear the waterfall before you see it. Voices sound real and authentic to the characters. The sound is also essential to the action. Players have to use their ears as well as their eyes to combat the jungle or the guerillas. Sound hints at the approach of animals—tiger or deer? It helps build the suspense and keeps the player on guard. It also enriches the gaming experience by making it as realistic as the technology will allow. It seems as though the game’s developers really invested a lot of energy into sound and it pays off by making the game feel like an incredibly lush experience.

Gameplay

If you had to break this game down into various modes, there is the expected shooter mode with its myriad of guns and RPG weaponry and its goal to liberate the island. There is an explorative mode that takes the player on interesting tangents or adventures like hang-gliding or off-roading. There is even a crafting component that underlies the survival element of the game; players can concoct tonics from medicinal plants. A player also has to hunt and skin animals. Seeking out various plants and skins amounts to “loot” that players will need to purchase weapons, medicine, or other supplies. All these elements combine to deliver a full jungle and survival experience. There’s also a learning curve; you can flame a tiger, but it’s fairly easy to catch yourself on fire trying to ward off the predator. The element of stealth is integral to the game as well. Players have to carefully weigh decisions—do they shoot and alert the entire complex of huts or do they carefully slip through the tall plants to get a better lay of the land. The game will certainly bring out different aspects of the gamer’s own personality which is why these open world theatres are so compelling in the first place.

Multiplayer

The co-op experience seems more fully realized, but it can be tough with just two players. The mode is satisfying, but ultimately feels like a lesser experience than the single player game. The preface of the co-op platform is, well, a preface to the single player version. The co-op features a group of ex-military and professional thugs on a campaign on different Malay island. Players experience less freedom and are tied more closely to the plot thread. The competitive mode does feel redundant to other shooter games and is, perhaps, not quite ready to leave the competition games in the dust on this count, but then again, as an added element it is pretty entertaining. The game can easily stand on its own as a single player experience, but these add-ons offer more bang for the buck and are done well nonetheless.

Lasting Appeal

It’s probably safe to say that this Far Cry more than trumps the appeal of the first two in the series whose appeal will surely wane in comparison to this fine third installment. As a thoroughly enjoyable first person game that’s easily one of the state of the art examples pushing the gaming envelope further than ever, it’s probably going to set a benchmark. It’s proving that a successful game involves an adept handling of all the production elements—plot, action, backstory, setting. Far Cry 3 takes all these into consideration to create a realistic experience as well as a new experience—it feels novel; it feels edgy; it feels like nowhere you’ve been before and that’s why it’s such a standout and likely to be a favorite for a long time to come.

This is an exclusive Stagger’d review written by Jennifer Young. All rights reserved.