Far Cry 3 Review
Welcome to the jungle, we've got guns and big game hunting
Far Cry 3 does have a bit of a two-faced approach at times. The very best open world gameplay moments can happen, when the player comes across a random group of enemies and wild animals at the same time. Many outposts have curiously positioned cages with a tiger surprise just waiting to be set free and do your bidding for you. Seeing random events happen in the world, or causing/participating in them, has the potential to be unique every time. Animal AI is similar to humans’, in that it isn’t very diverse and can often run in circles, but every encounter can be unpredictable and entertaining none the less. Story missions, meanwhile, present a change of pace with strict requirements and frequently linear gameplay. Some may say this is detracting from the overall experience, but that’s not really the case, as it gives you a different challenge from simply surviving as you have in the open world.
The game does have its share of problems, though none too impacting. There are multiple similarities between it and Assassin’s Creed 3, which is eerie at times, everything from climbing towers to some sound effects and even quotes from Alice in Wonderland. Thankfully, ideas like hunting and fast travel are better implemented here than in AC3. Also problematic is the action prompt, which appears when you want to loot, harvest, or interact with anything in the world. The issue is – the button is extremely picky of when it appears, often requiring you to readjust your position and view multiple times before it shows up. Inconveniently, it also always puts preference on swapping to a nearby gun instead of looting a body. Finally, the inventory system is completely basic to the point that items don’t stack so you’ll be full often, which puts a dent in your loot-everything ambitions.
An online component is also included. The islands have a few challenge scenarios which offer you a chance to see how well you can perform against others via leaderboards. There’s also a cooperative mode where up to four players can complete missions on linear levels. A bit of story is thrown in, but the characters you play as are just unlikable as those from the main game. Further, the cooperative experience is currently riddled with bugs relating to AI and scripting, as we’ve often had to restart missions because the friendly AI had a glitch and could not advance, or the last enemy to be killed got stuck somewhere. Those still looking for the classic coop experience will be happy to learn the coop missions can be played offline in split screen. Finally, competitive multiplayer is present with all the usual character and weapon upgrade systems and streaks. It’s a nice diversion but nothing on the multiplayer side can make up for the lack of true open-world roaming with friends.
Visually, Far Cry 3 doesn’t quite impress at times, with a poor draw distance, some low resolution textures and frequent object pop-in. Lush vegetation and great lighting effects mostly make up for it though – along with immersive day/night and weather cycles. Some of the animations for animals and lip syncing of characters can be a bit glitchy. Besides Vaas, voice acting is fine but the writing is often not up to par, and Jason’s voice fails to provide confidence in his ability to even tie his own shoes. The rest of audio design works; guns are a pleasure to see and fire, plus the animal life on the island adds an authentic soundtrack to your hunting expeditions.
Probably the best open-world game of 2012, Far Cry 3 delivers in most aspects. You’ve got plenty to do and many ways to do it, whether that’s hunting (humans or animals), exploring, or being a gun for hire. Story missions are linear, and feature a disappointing cast of survivors against the much more interesting island natives. Online modes are present but largely unnecessary or aren’t quite polished, as is the case with cooperative play. If not for a few shortcomings, Far Cry 3 could have been amazing and a great way to finish off 2012. None the less, this is still a great experience and finishes the year off with an explosive arrow, fired from across a natural ridge overlooking a deep yet peaceful lake. While being chased by a tiger.