17/11/2008
Farcry 2 is unlike most FPS games that console owners get to play. It's played out in a seemingly non-linear fashion, on a 30 square mile map in an unnamed African nation. You are a mercenary thrown into a conflict between two warring factions, one military minded and the other revolutionary, but your target is The Jackal, a good old-fashioned bad guy who is supplying both sides with weapons. Situated in a beautifully rendered environment, the game involves missions from your many contacts, buddies, gun dealers, the UFLL and the APR (the factions), and anyone who will pay you with information, diamonds, guns or medicine (you contract malaria during the opening scenes).
The open plan structure of Farcry 2 works admirably. It isn’t long before getting a mission from your gun dealer, saving your progress in a safe house, stealing a boat to get across the map, destroying the weapons convoy a dealer told you to stop, stealing some diamonds, and then returning to the gun dealer to see which new weapons have been made available, is like second nature. But most importantly, the combat is satisfying and varied, values thoughtful approach, and has more than enough “wham bam thank you mam” just when you need it. This is as much because of the open world structure rather than despite it.
With days rolling through into nights and weather conditions like wind and rain affecting battles, how you will approach the missions varies. When ambushing a base, the cover of night and silenced weapons can be key, or perhaps using the wind and setting a fire that spreads throughout the base could be better, allowing you to profit from the ensuing mayhem. The buddies you meet throughout the game also come to your aid in times of need, sometimes even fighting alongside you. Although your changing reputation with them bears little on the eventual plot, they are a nice aside to the main story and add depth to a game that would challenge even Captain Nemo, providing you with 30+ hours of play.
If you're looking for a little bit more than your average 'on the rails' FPS then Farcry 2 is well worth a look. It is a thoughtful, well-executed shooter; with some of the best graphics I’ve seen on 360 and a great audio package to support it. The enemy AI is frightening at times and the multitude of ways you can approach a battle will let your imagination run amok. You will need a little patience and commitment, but as you unlock a wider arsenal and progress through the action, your battles and pre battle decisions become more and more engrossing. The range of multiplayer options and the map editor, should ensure more hours of fun even when the lengthy campaign has been overcome.
Farcry 2, improving on its predecessor in every aspect, well deserves its title as the second in a top-class series. |
