Far Cry 4
Review
A new coat of paint
by Johnathan Irwin
reviewed on PC
Chaos In The Orient
Much like Far Cry 3, the majority of the gameplay is going to revolve around you being tasked with taking down strongholds and assets of the enemy force. This time around, they bring back a lot of old toys and several new ones. Ever wanted to rain fire down on your enemies from above? Take to the skies in a gyro copter and commit to strafing runs over enemy positions. I hope you're a good shot because otherwise you're just a buzzing target with a great view of the ground. A far more imposing way to take on your enemy would be to mount up on the back of an elephant. I found myself doing this quite a bit when I just wanted to let loose and tear things up. You'd think after a while rampaging around and shooting a fully automatic weapon from atop the noble beast would get boring, but for me it didn't.
Those two are the two biggest newcomers to the game, followed close behind by the grappling hook which unfortunately is often squandered. Given that it can only be use at pre-marked and determined destinations, it undermines the potential usefulness and fun of the device. Outside of those three, we have more firearms than I'd ever know what to do with. Honestly, as awesome as that is, I once again found the best way to approach most situations to be with stealth and finesse. What better way to do that than with the returning bow and arrow? Most of the time if I had to hit an enemy camp, or a group of them on patrol, I did it quickly and quietly. The bow and arrow is still a one hit kill even on hard difficulty, as are the throwing knives. Melee is also an instant kill, as long as it is through an execution and not an outright fight. In that case you will have to strike your enemy a few times.
As I've said, for the most part it plays like Far Cry 3. So what is the major part that makes this game shine? The setting. Kyrat is not only a beautiful place, but also one of much more variety. From the snowy peaks of mountains, to the grassy farm-filled valleys, even when you've seen it all it feels new depending on your perspective of the land. It also feels much more alive, with friends, enemies, and civilians all going about their day to day tasks. They may not have a full running schedule like NPCs in an RPG, but their menial background tasks add that extra layer that makes it feel more fleshed out.
Should I Stay? Or Should I Go?
Far Cry 4 overall is a worthy successor to Far Cry 3, if only slightly less mind blowing than the previous entry. It has only been a couple years since Far Cry 3's release after all, and for many it may be a game that was played to death and they desperately needed a break from after all that time. If you don't need a break, Far Cry 4 is worth checking out immediately. If you still need some time away from Far Cry 3, then chances are you're not going to be impressed by Far Cry 4. It takes what the last game did, and makes it better, but at the same time it's because of this that it doesn't break new ground. I enjoyed my time in Kyrat immensely, but I also feel that this sequel could've and should've done much more.
8.0
fun score
Pros
A more visually appealing and alive setting, mostly better characters, the same gameplay we came to love from Far Cry 3 with some improvements.
Cons
Bow and Arrow still majorly overpowered, almost too similar in many aspects.
