I want to start off by saying that there is a reason I don’t really play shooters very often: I’m horrendous at them. My aim is always off, I use up too much ammo, and I never fail to scream and scare my dog. Normally, if a game involves guns as the primary weapon, I skip it and move onto another title. The Far Cry series is one of exceptions to my rule. I fell in love with the third game after I bought it on a whim one day for my PS3. The stunning graphics, fun gameplay and open-world feel had me sitting on the couch playing it for weeks straight, throwing my other games out of the rotation. Far Cry 4 did the same thing. You start off the game on a bus ride through the hillside of Kyrat, the fictional country near the Himalayan mountains. The opening sequence was a bit of a throwback to Far Cry 2 (which I began after I completed the third title) and immediately throws you into the action.
The graphics. Upon first glance, the graphics are stunning. Upon second and third glance, the graphics remain gorgeous. To this very day, I still drool over the foliage, the rolling Himalayan in the background, the sophistication of detail put into an animal’s fur. Far Cry 4 is the definition of beautiful modern games, and really shows off the power of the Dunia Engine. The gameplay and weapon mechanics are just as beautiful. Coming from an individual who doesn’t play very many shooters, Far Cry 4’s gameplay mechanics are very simple and easy to use. Adjusting to them during the prologue was relatively painless, and by the time I made it to the start of the campaign I felt as though the controls had been mastered.
The challenges. That’s not to say that the game doesn’t offer its challenges for the more experienced gamer. Far Cry 4 offers difficulty levels and dozens of weapons, all with their each individual quirks and challenges to get past. The design of the weapons and learning how to use them is a exceptionally fun part of the game. In Kyrat, there’s always something to do, which is something that I adore from the Far Cry series. Just like the other titles, you can chose to follow the campaign or go off on your own: Whether it be hunting or liberating outposts and towers. Along with the numerous characters and their individual tasks and assignments, I don’t see you running out of things to do in this game for months.
Perhaps, one of the only downfalls to the game is the lack of weather changes in the game. The weather is always sunny and clear and quite frankly, that bores me. I would love to look out of the scope of a sniper rifle in the pouring rain or snow. I think that level of immersion was something that was sorely lacking from this otherwise remarkable title. If you are a fan of the series, you definitely need to add this to your collection. If you are a newcomer, I say grab it as well. The title is great for someone who wants a game with beautiful graphics and fun gameplay that will provide them with endless hours of content.