Action and adventure hit new heights in Far Cry 4, a game that sticks to the open world shooter mechanics developed from previous additions in the franchise pretty closely while adding its own light spin. While new mechanics are few and far between in Far Cry 4 it’s a solid adventure experience none the less which is also set in one of the most unique settings of the series to date.
Set in fictional Kyrat players assume the role of Ajay Ghale who returns home from America to spread his mother’s ashes after her passing. Upon returning though you find yourself in the centre of the civil war taking place between the Royal Army and the rebel movement known as Golden Path. The back and forth engagements that you’ll have with the leader of the Royal Army (Pagan Min) are particularly well written which does help give some context to your endless Far Cry style rampage.
This rampage sees players caught in the middle of these two factions with the opportunity for the player to decide the ultimate fate of the game world. With exploration you’ll find side quests but more frequently combat encounters with enemy soldiers but also the wildlife of the area that can sometimes be just as deadly. Split between South and North regions players will move across forests and rivers while also climbing the highest mountain with a range of vehicles that can be driven manually or automatically take players to their next objective. To help movement players can also claim the four powerful fortresses that serve as capstone content in the region they are placed while enabling fast travel once conquered.
As a result gameplay in Far Cry 4 has little variation from Far Cry 3 in the grand scheme of things as players will still be roaming the countryside accepting side missions while slowly moving through the underlying main plot line that twists and turns around the two primary factions. Side missions this time around will have you assassinating key targets, taking over key map locations or helping the citizens in various ways which does bring decent diversity to your Far Cry 4 adventure.
Just like the previous Far Cry games the best moments of the game will happen while you’re exploring the game world by car, foot and even wingsuit. This exploration will ensure you get a host of random events to earn karma, find a pack of animals to hunt for useful resources or encounter traders offering to sell some powerful signature weapons that allow you to reach an even higher level of destruction. These weapons include the options players would expect to see with throwables, short and long range firearms alongside melee weapons that can be used for new stealth opportunities given Far Cry 4 introduces the ability to move enemy corpses.
Along your adventure there is plenty to unlock in Far Cry 4 in RPG style in terms of both skills and weapons providing you can complete the requirements. These vary from achieving a certain karma level, completing certain quests or simply ringing bells and add that extra layer to the game that encourages you to experience everything that is on offer. With the points earned players can invest into offensive abilities in The Tiger skill tree or defensive options in The Elephant skill tree.
Summary:
- Explore the hilly mountain terrain in fictional Kyrat which is split between South and North regions.
- Countless side objectives in addition to an interesting main plot line that gives players plenty of encouragement to explore.
- Improve your skills based on your playstyle with an aggressive Tiger and defensive Elephant skill trees available.
- Over the top destruction that Far Cry is known for with a range of explosive and traditional weapons.
- Traverse the world with a range of vehicles and unique transportation methods.
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Review Platform: PC