124.1 hours played
Written 8 days ago
[h1] TLDR: 8.5/10 Far Cry 5 Has the Right Mixture of New and Classic Design To Make It the Definitive Modern Far Cry Experience. It Still Has Some Pretty Major Flaws in Multiple Departments However [/h1]
[h3] Actual Review (Light Spoilers Ahead) [/h3]
As this series continues to age, it becomes increasingly clear that the only major change that really needs to happen between titles is having a new, interesting location for Far Cry's already existing design and mechanics to romp around in. Everything else boils down to spicing up gameplay elements and making small gameplay optimizations/QoL. A common complaint about the franchise is every game since FC3 is just FC3 but again. Which is completely fine. Far Cry already found it's niche so there's no reason to not stick to it, unless the setting necessitates it like with Primal. The majority of other successful game franchises do the same thing. Mainline Pokemon has made the same game since literally the beginning because the formula is already good. It's just about shaking up each game with their unique addition to the format or incorporating technological developments accordingly.
[h3] Immersive Gameplay Is Realistically As Back as It Will Ever Be [/h3]
I'm pretty confident that we will never return to FC2 levels of immersion. We're well past the games being simple enough for that to not get in the way constantly. But FC5 continues the trend of including togglable HUD elements, and also for whatever reason, no volume slider for the music. I couldn't even tell you with a gun to my head why there isn't. The biggest immersive change however, is getting rid of the hugeass minimap like in 3 and 4. Now there's just a compass with waypoints at the top of the screen. The overall default UI is very clean and the least distracting it's been since FC2.
One thing that actively harms both immersion and gameflow though, is the mission structure. The way you progress regions is through a liberation meter you fill by doing objectives and missions. It isn't a bad idea, but the game-halting main story quests that happen RIGHT NOW regardless of if you want to or not are definitely the worst part of the liberation system.
As for the actual combat itself, unsurprisingly, it's the same. The only new element of note is melee weapons make a comeback from Primal, and work how they did in that game. Including the ability to throw them. There's a couple new weapons like the slingshot and shovel launcher, but we're at the point now where new weapons mixed in with returning ones only dilute each weapons purpose more and more. Far Cry has historically had powercrept weapons that you slowly unlock as the game progresses, but there's SO many now that it all comes down to "which weapon design is your favorite" instead of "which weapon suites this encounter the best".
[h3] There Is a Lot More Game To Play Outside of Combat [/h3]
There is a wealth of things to do that not only help flesh out the world and characters, but also aids in immersion. Hunting (rip skinning animations), finding sidequest-related collectibles, even the arcade mode being in-universe arcade cabinets. There's even an entire optional fishing system with multiple rods and sidequests. It all comes together to create a pseudo-realistic world that you can genuinely get lost in.
[h3] The Story and Antagonists Are Extremely Interesting but Also Have Tons of Plot Holes [/h3]
Conceptually, this might be my favorite Far Cry story. In execution though, it's hard to take seriously. Literally the entire progression of the game - from the opening scene to ending climax - is riddled with nonsensical story beats and unrealistic decisions.
The only major story arc that is actually pretty sound is John's arc. Ironically though, his is the least interesting. Faith and Jacob's arcs are super interesting, but filled with handwavy magic excused as "the bliss". Far Cry has always had a bit of supernatural flare, but some of these plot points involving bliss have ZERO explanation. Lastly, Joseph isn't given enough screen time for him to be as fleshed out. Due to the ending being the way it is though, it unsatisfyingly doesn't matter.
I should also mention the fact that you are a silent protagonist. For what the game is going for it totally makes sense in theory. But in practice it just feels strange and awkward and only adds more inconsistencies.
[h3] DLC & Achievements [/h3]
The 3 DLCs we got are only worth sale price, but the actual content itself is pretty good. The Vietnam DLC reminds me a lot of the original Far Cry and it's pseudo-open world design. Pretty short but very immersive and just an extremely condensed version of a modern Far Cry game.
The Mars DLC is probably the weakest just because it feels kinda bad to play after a while. No vehicles on a map bigger than the Vietnam map which had them, boring to downright awful Clutch Nixon missions, combat that just kinda blends together after you start unlocking weapons, and Hurk, SHUT UP dude holy shit. You will not go more than 20 seconds without him saying something. It's genuinely impressive how insufferable they made him in this. Like literally right before you teleport home to finish the DLC he quips with Nick for a painful and uninterrupted full minute at bare minimum. The only great thing to come out of this DLC is how hilariously OP using the weapons are in the main campaign. And they're even free.
The zombie DLC has a bit of grindy BS to it, but the story is funny and unlike Hurk, Guy Marvel is the comedic type that isn't just nails on a chalkboard after listening to him for more than 30 seconds. This DLC has a score mode for each of the 7 pitches, but none of them are super hard or annoying to 3 star (besides Escape from the Rooftop, fuck that level).
As for the achievements, literally the only one of moderate difficulty was the arcade mode achievements, due to them being finicky to unlock. Even getting the infamous achievement was easier than that due to again, how OP the mars DLC weapons are. Most achievements came naturally as well, which is always nice.
[h3] I’d Say FC5 Ties With FC3 for Best Game in the Series [/h3]
If you can suspend your disbelief with FC5's story, you'll come to realize just how polished and streamlined Far Cry as a franchise has become. There's a million things to stumble across in this game. And while the location weirdly takes me out of it a little since its not foreign to me. Far Cry 5 is an amazing game nonetheless. 8.5/10