There are plenty of video games that put a gun in your hands and have you shoot your way through scores of bad guys in linear levels. Far Cry has always established itself as a far bolder, more flexible, more strategic, more intense type of game than the standard shoot-em-up fare. Although I haven't played much of the first game, the second one became an intriguing challenge for me as I explored the African wilds, playing a lone guerrilla popping out of the jungle to take over outposts and gradually worked my way deeper into enemy territory. The only drag in Far Cry 2 was the repetition in combat, exploration, and missions.
Far Cry 3 offers the best experience yet. It plops you in the dead center of peril, not only having to fight off pirates, but also the elements. The bad guys offer a formidable challenge at times, but more often than not, you really have to watch your back in the jungles and in the ocean, because there's always a snake, a leopard, a shark, or some other crazy animal stalking you. Sometimes, you can get the predators to attack your enemies. Or, you could just rush in with all guns blazing, blowing everything up and blasting your way to victory. Better yet, you can pick off your enemies one by one with stealth. As before, the choice of technique and approaches is flexible; you can achieve the same goals in a number of different ways. The map for this game is huge, offering a plethora of gorgeous sights, unique landscapes, and tactical advantages. It is loaded with collectables, missions of various types, and challenges that will help in earning money and experience points. As you go along, you unlock better weapons, more skills, more vehicles, and more resources. Overall, you can spend hours and hours combing through the map, and it'll never once feel dull or repetitive. It might get aggravating with some challenging hunts and missions, but the game is definitely rewarding and addicting.
What really helps with this game is that the story is strong: much more so than its predecessor, which never felt all that tangible or deep to me. In this game, you play a young man on vacation, who gets captured along with his friends by pirates and subjected to some pretty ugly captivity and torture. It's your job to break out and free (or perhaps avenge) your buddies. As you go along, you are plunged into the middle of a civil war of sorts, and are required to beef up your combat skills. All that in itself makes for a pretty deep and intense experience, as the character is made to get in touch with his primal instincts to become a sharp instrument of death. It's got a strong Heart of Darkness vibe to it (even moreso than the last game), and it really helps that the game focuses on a kid from the civilized world being forced into war, brutality, and raw survivalism in the jungle.
The game looks great, with top-notch graphics. It is notably bright and colorful, lending it to an almost cartoony appearance, but it is beautifully rendered and textured with quality lighting effects. Gameplay is smooth and easy to master. Interfaces and menus are easy. Sound quality and music are phenomenal.
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Game: Very Good)
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