Far Cry 4 Review

(250 word review originally published in The Wake student magazine at the University of Minnesota)

Far Cry 4 lets you hunt leopards from the back of an elephant

Released 11/18 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC

                Far Cry’s new location is one rather unlike the jungles of the previous game- Kyrat, a fictional Himalayan country next to India. Other than the differences in deadly fauna and the spectacular world of Kyrat, suprising little about how Far Cry 4 plays compared to its predecessor has changed.

                You play as Ajay Ghale, a native of Kyrat, who returns from America to bring his mother’s ashes back to their homeland. Ajay gets caught up in a rebellion against the despotic and fashionable “king” of Kyrat, Pagan Min. Min is my favorite kind of villain, funny yet hateable. It seems like writers in recent videogames love to focus on the world and its main antagonist.

The eclectic and exciting cast of characters defines the story of Far Cry 4. There’s a power struggle between the two leaders of the rebellion that the player has to choose between, and a host of memorable other characters like Longinus, the gun-crazed priest who says “for the meek shall inherit the earth, my friend, all they need are some good guns!” However, Ajay’s character leaves a lot to be desired.

Far Cry 4’s gameplay is almost exactly the same as Far Cry 3, Hunt animals to upgrade your gear and take on missions, capture outposts, even climb towers to uncover the map. There’s now co-op, but not in story missions. Nothing groundbreaking, but very well done, and the world of Kyrat is a breathtaking place to behold. Just watch out for honey badgers!