Developers across the globe take note, Farcry 3 is here and it’s the epitome of learning from the past, evolving and delivering gamers one finely tuned beast of a game.
Ubisoft have finally found the right formula for their sun drenched shooter and Farcry has gone almost instantly from also-ran to being absolutely vital for any self-respecting armchair gunslinger.
The game’s beginnings smack of pure Hollywood. Through the lens of the handheld cam we view a group of young American tourists living the high life. Pushing the limits and soaking up the adrenaline on the dream vacation.
Then cut to the moment. Through the eyes of our protagonist, Jason Brody, we scan the bamboo cage that holds him captive, sat in the dirt with arms bound above his head. Opposite is Jason’s brother and to the right on the other side of the bars the sneering face of Vaas Montenegro.
Farcry 3 is, at its core, a classic tale of revenge. It’s just that this time it includes a host of lunatic, machine gun toting pirates, mythical tattoo’s and an open world environment that will have you picking your jaw up from the floor every at every turn. And yes, I did say mythical tattoos!
You see our hero, Jason, comes into our lives as a typical little rich boy, spending on his parents plastic, downing shots, leaping from the rocks to the cool depths of the rockpool far below, living it large and loving every minute. An athlete most likely, but a one man army, no chance.
The use of the tattoo as a means of bestowing some strange unearthly power upon Jason, despite sounding slightly silly, actually gives far more credence to the narrative than just having some kid raising hell and ripping through the natives with casual ease. It works, and the story throughout, which sees our man attempting to liberate both his friends and the islands freedom fighters from the grip of the pirates and more specifically, twisted psychopath, Vaas Montenegro.
Farcry 3 is a game that grips and will not let go, it sucks you into one of the most incredible open world locations and lets the contrast of beauty and horror lap over you like the gentle waves on the golden sands of this tropical paradise.
Ubisoft have created a living, breathing world of untold potential and treasures for the brave of heart. Exploration is a joy. You’ll stumble upon long lost temples, hidden villages and places so stunning your eyes may actually water.
As for the island itself, well to use the immortal words of Dr Frankenstein, “It’s alive!”
The island is teeming with wildlife, and not just of the pirate variety. Tigers, crocodiles, birds, sharks and on and on. There’s enough here to keep David Attenborough in work for another ten years and it all looks amazing!
Farcry 3 is one of those games that catches you out, now and then you’ll suddenly snap back to the matter in hand after losing yourself within the surroundings for minutes on end, and I loved every sweeping treetop view and colourful explosion of this tropical wonderland.
The journey will throw up a myriad of bizarre and imaginative characters that again add yet more depth to an already ocean deep adventure. It’s blatantly obvious the amount of thought and care that has been lavished upon Farcry 3 and it simply bleeds quality.
In terms of gameplay the game doesn’t dip.
The classic FPS stylings are blended nicely with some RPG-like ranking up. Skills can be learned and weapons boosted via the medium of earning XP. Tis tried and tested route works really well and the more you do in the world the quicker you’ll become an adept jungle killer ready to bring the pain to the bad guys.
The gunplay is top notch, feeling wonderfully precise and meaty and the Hollywood moments are fantastically thrilling, it’s a game that demands to be played from the edge of the seat and you might as well start there because that’s where you’ll end up sat, heart pounding and eyes popping at the glorious action on screen!
There are a huge amount of side-quests and mini games scattered throughout the island but all seem to still manage to drive the story along. Now there’s a trick others should take note of.
The multiplayer side is solid also. Co-op is a lot of fun and pretty much does exactly what we’ve come to expect.
The competitive multiplayer is fun but, in a slightly novel way in this day and age, is definitely a side-dish to the main course that is the single player campaign.
There are some interesting game modes and plenty of options to keep things fresh, but it’s likely Ubisoft know the multiplayer is a war Farcry 3 is unlikely to win so they’ve decided to kick some serious arse with their single player. And thank god they did.
To sum up Farcry 3 is one the best things to happen to gaming in 2012, or most other years for that matter. It’s a beautiful slice of violent and well thought out action, driven by a solid story of depth and character. It’s in equal parts jaw dropping and chaotic, it can have your heart pounding your chest like you’re about to re-enact a certain scene from Alien and then have you lost in a world of stunning beauty. There can be few games that harbour as much life as inhabits this island and even fewer that can reach such gloriously dizzying heights of gameplay that Farcy 3 reaches.
