REVIEW: Far Cry 2

Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: Xbox 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

Far Cry 2 is the new step for FPS gaming, tearing up the rule book as it goes it offers a deeply satisfying and thorough entertaining ride. The overall sense of freedom and sheer spectacle on offer from the non stop action marks Far Cary 2 as the definite next generation FPS thus far.

Right from the start the game tries to set it’s self apart from the original by setting the action in Africa rather than some tropical paradise. Playing as a mercenary you encounter some bad luck when you are ambushed by a group of soldiers working for a local gunrunner named the Jackal as well as contacting Malaria. From here your mission is quite simple, find and kill the Jackal while making waste of his organisation.

Much like GTA4, Far Cry 2 offers an open ended world and allows you to complete your missions and objectives in any order you wish. There is no linear way in way goals must be completed and given that you can pretty much go anywhere. You can steal vehicles and drive off into the hills shooting guards and wildlife to you hearts content. The game is so full jam packed with freedom that no matter how often you replay the game you will never play the same adventure twice.

When you finally decide to go about completing your task you can decided just how exactly you wish to do so. You can use stealth, slice your enemy from left to right with a machete or go for the preferred route and recreate the ending of the last Rambo. Waltz into a enemy compound with a missile launcher and lay waste to hordes of enemy soldiers with blatant disregard for all living entities, it does bring a smile to ones face.

The combat is fantastic and coming up with new ways to dispatch enemies is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend an evening. From causing multi-vechicle car crashes then tossing a few grenades in just for the hell of it to mowing down groups of guards with a jeep, it’s unbelievably fun. The sheer joy one can gain from the sadistic dispatching of enemies may be slightly worrying.

In addition to the substantial single player the game boasts a 16 player multiplayer which includes all the usual modes such as Capture the Flag as well as a new mode Uprising. In this you and your team must guard someone as they attempt to capture checkpoints. While far from the next great step in multiplayer gaming it remains a hell of a lot of fun.

Far Cry 2 is at risk of being just a blip on the radar in the upcoming Christmas race but if there is a agaming God then justice will prevail and Far Cry 2 will reign triumphant. It’s sheer size, aweinspiring visuals and ability to do as you please makes he game worth every cent.