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Far Cry 6 - Review

Viva More Far Cry
Score: 3/5
Reviewed by Oliver VanDervoort on Xbox Series X/S - October 01, 2021   

Far Cry games have long been games that try to blend heart-wrenching stories with over-the-top action and lots of explosions. When it comes to Far Cry 6, the game certainly fits the bill when it comes to over-the-top action and plenty of explosions. As has been the case with the last few games, players can blow up or set aflame almost anything in Yarra.


That’s the name of the fictional island nation that the game takes place on, which is quite reminiscent of real-life Cuba. That includes an El Presidente that came to power with promises of making everyone on the island rich but ended up using soldiers and guns to create an iron grip on the country’s people.


Because this is the sixth numbered game in the series, and it’s more like the eighth in the franchise, it needed to find something to stand out from the pack. Instead, it feels as though Ubisoft stuck to a formula that has sold a lot of copies, but doesn’t exactly make the games feel different from one year to the next.


Far Cry 6 is overwhelmingly full of stuff. While a lot of its ideas seem interesting on paper, in practice, they're easily ignored. There's a whole lot to do, plan for, and keep in mind at any given time, and a large portion of it can feel superfluous and overbearing.


One of the newer mechanics is that players can build supercharged weapons, both that they can carry as a gun or they can even carry a missile pack on their back. There are a ton of different combinations of weapons that people can carry throughout the world. The problem is that there isn’t a ton of reason to change up from the original loadout that users can get in the opening few hours, that serves as the tutorial. I put on the backpack that shoots missiles and never looked back. It turned out to be quite effective in all sorts of situations and was super-powered enough that the rest of the choices just didn’t seem like they were worth it.


The same can be said for craftable guns. Sure, it seems fun to run around with a flamethrower and a blunderbuss-looking pistol, but in the heat of the moment, they just become kind of annoying. To the game’s credit, it tries to make it so that players are going to want to use different guns for different situations. There’s a mechanic that allows players to hover over enemies with their camera phone from a distance to determine the best way to kill different kinds of enemies. However, when you’re trying to singlehandedly take down an entire enemy base, blasting and running tend to win the day. So does being able to fire missiles from your backpack from time to time.


As for the story in Far Cry 6, Giancarlo Esposito’s inclusion was supposed to signal a deeper dive there. However, returning Far Cry players will recognize the usual setup: A charismatic but obviously evil villain you love to hate and a cast of wacky characters who assist you in taking him down. Most of those characters just delight in the over-the-top warfare, and so the more pointed emotional moments Far Cry 6 tries to hit don't always really stick, although a few members of the cast are fleshed-out enough that when the war claims them in the narrative, you hate Castillo all the more for their loss. While the plot itself is that much more in-depth than say, Far Cry 4 it is deeper than Far Cry 5. Esposito does do a very good job of playing a dictator who is absolutely ruthless. The fact that he routinely abuses his son by trying to turn him into a ruthless dictator as well resonates quite well.
There is also a real lesson underneath it all that shows that Far Cry 6 was trying to do a bit more than in Far Cry 4, which was all about overthrowing the dictator. This time around, that message is that getting rid of the bad guy is only the start. In fact, there’s even one conversation between your character Dani and Clara the leader of the guerilla group La Libertad where they talk about what’s “next.” It’s certainly a nice addition if for no other reason than we don’t normally see serious conversations about how to rule in these kinds of games.


One aspect of Far Cry 6 that does actually work better than some of its predecessors, is that the game is still open-world, but not so open that you’re going to find yourself wandering in the woods with no idea where to go or what to do next. The story seems far more strung together than in some of the previous iterations. There are still side missions players can go on if they want to do and see everything Yarra has to offer. However, the game pushes players forward on the main story beat that is honestly refreshing. It felt easier to decide what side missions to do (such as taking out anti-aircraft launchers so I could fly helicopters) and which ones to ignore until later.


Having said that, for those who want to do and see everything Yarra has to offer, there’s plenty. Even after the story is completed. I've still got what feels like a ludicrous number of additional things to cross off my list. Co-op missions, weekly insurrection missions, treasure hunts, recruiting new Amigos, crafting more guns, buying more Supremos, adding more vehicles to my bases, chasing unique weapons, finding roosters for a cockfight minigame, fishing, hunting, gathering materials to upgrade my base structures--it all feels like so much more than necessary, gumming up the works of the fun element of getting into fights and setting things aflame.


Your mileage may vary as to whether or not that’s “too much” or “just enough” as far as activities to do beyond the main campaign. It feels like a game that wants people to come back and play more. The good news is that it’s fun enough that there’s a reason to do so. 


The bottom line is that Far Cry 6 is more Far Cry. For those who like the series and want more in a different setting, they certainly got it with this installment. However, for those who were hoping that this game was going to set itself apart and drive the franchise in a new direction, it falls a bit short. Having said that the game is good, if not great. There may be a few too many mechanics for its own good, but players don’t have to partake in them in order to finish the campaign. There aren’t any kind of roadblocks to fun as there seemed to be in Far Cry 5 especially. 


Far Cry 6 is good. It’s not great. It’s not going to compete for game of the year, but it’s likely the best one of these since Far Cry 3. It’s even possible it’s better. That’s good enough to make it worth your time.
 

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