The Far Cry games have become fan-favourites thanks to their ability to find a balance between bombastic action and tactical strategy; and Far Cry 5 is no different. Ubisoft is back with their biggest, most refined, and gorgeous Far Cry game to date, that both longtime fans and newcomers will enjoy.
The game turns its back on the tropical islands and exotic foreign locations that the franchise is known for, and shifts focus to Hope County, Montana – an unassuming, gritty chunk of middle America. However, like with all Far Cry games, nothing is as it initially seems. Hostile religious extremists have a stranglehold on the region, and it’s up to you and a motley crew of resistance fighters to chip away at the zealots and their warped plans. The story and hyper-religious themes are enjoyable dressings for the action, which in itself is as solid as ever – the shooting mechanics are punchy, the exploration elements are all there. This is a Far Cry game that knows exactly what it’s good at.
Of course, you have a huge variety of weapon types to take on the hostiles that await in Hope County. While the weapons are great, the real enjoyment comes from how you approach each situation and use your firepower, and FC5 provides a lot of variety in the form of using resistance backup, animal compatriots, hiring a plane to attack from the sky, or just going in guns-blazing ala Rambo.
The map is as jam-packed and admittedly overwhelming as ever, but thankfully, the game does present the main strain of primary objectives clearly in order to help you get through it’s somewhat lengthy-campaign in a reasonable time. That said, there are more than enough side distractions and subsidiary tasks to please completionists. While there is no competitive multiplayer, there is co-op for the entire campaign, which is a huge plus for those looking to take on the gun-wielding crazies of Montana with a friend!
With Far Cry 5, you know what you’re getting – and that’s not a bad thing at all. Ubisoft has returned to the recipe that works best, providing a colourful and interesting setting, tons of bad guys to shoot, the firepower to do it with, and delivered a villain for some just motivation – and that’s all we really want from a Far Cry game.
Far Cry 5 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
