Far Cry 3 Review

"Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?" Vaas asks. "It's doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Well I'm pleased to tell you that Ubisoft has done the opposite. In a market flooded by cookie-cutter first person shooters, it's refreshing to see a developer learn from past mistakes and improve on its source material in every single way.

So where to start on this ambitious title? Graphics? Story? Sound?

I'll start with the graphics. Make no mistake, Far Cry 3 looks amazing. Rook Island (The games setting) plays host to rolling grass plains, lush tropical rainforests, ancient ruins reminiscent of the Uncharted series and the remnants of a WWII occupation. Gone are the desolate browns of the desert, replaced with a vibrant colour pallete. The empty game space of its predescessors has been filled with caves to explore, outposts to destroy and treasures to find. During your quest you will not only encounter dangerous mercenaries but also the vicious wildlife Rook Island has to offer. These animals are not just a placeholder however, as many can be hunted and skinned to make ammo pouches and bags to hold your loot.

The story is where Far Cry 3 really shines however. In most shooters you are a character named "Badman McShooterguy" who has a bodycount that could make Rambo poop a chicken, but in Far Cry 3 you are a spoiled rich kid with no combat experience. Jason, the character you play, starts off as a fumbling mess, barely surviving and frantically searching fallen foes for money and supplies before re-inforcements arrive. Over time, you gain more XP as you eliminate your enemies and learn to throw knives, assassinate opponents from the air or even use them as human shields. The lack of combat experience is conveyed to the player well. I was wondering if I should risk scrounging for ammo or simply hide until a patrol passes and this is quite effective in the early hours of the game, but I did find it wasn't long until my character was able to engage entire squads of enemies. While I can see this as a fault, the combat system is too enjoyable to be bothered by it.

To compliment the excellent combat system is a unique crafting system. I found myself mixing herbs under fire to deliver and emergency first aid shot, or hunting a shark for a bigger ammo pouch. These elements also help convey the survival elements that make playing the character of Jason so appealing.

Jason however, is not the only great character in the game. All of the islands inhabitants come to life due to excellent voice acting and great animations. The real star of the game however, is Vaas. Vaas has a presence much like Bane from the Dark Knight Rises. Everytime Vaas appears on screen, you know something is about to go down. His voice is a perfect mix of crazy and desperation, clinging to his last bits of sanity. The sound effects are crisp and clear, relaxing you one minute while you stroll through the forest then jumping your heart when the tranquil sounds are cut down by gunfire.

So the game is pretty fantastic but not without its faults. Multiplayer is a very standard affair and although it's a nice distraction, you can't help but compare it to the production values of the main story. Also included is a Co-op side story. While enjoyable it can be a slog with only 2 players as it's primarily designed with 4 player Co-op.

So What's it Like?

Best described as Skyrim + Drug Trips + Guns = Far Cry 3.

I give it an 9/10

Well, call me insane but I'm off to give it a second playthrough.

-Sarge