Far Cry 3: Must Buy Game (review)

Ever since I played the first Crysis (which I loved), I've been looking for a FPS experience that can build off that open world feel.

I've played pretty much all the FPSes since that, and none have really won me over.

The CoD series is too linear. Bioshock is too linear plus creepy (Im a wuss). Battlefield is only good for multiplayer. Far Cry 2 had too many quirks and I wasn't a fan of the muddy world. Crysis 2 was linear and unimaginative. Dishonored's graphics and rat focused motif turned me off. Then came Far Cry 3!

I've only paid $60 for 3 games in my life: diablo 3, starcraft 2, and far cry 3. The two blizzard titles I bought for $60 because they aren't on steam and only have a sale once a year. But Far Cry 3 was the FPS experience I was waiting for...and even though I know if I wait 2 months, I could prob save $30, it was worth it to play it on day 1.

After playing 3 hours so far (according to steam), I can say this is probably the best game I've ever played.

Graphics: I have an alienware m14x r1 so I can't run it on very high, but the world is gorgeous. It isn't cartoony like dishonored yet is isn't drab like far cry 2. The animation is great, and even the cutscenes are very good imo. The characters are interesting as well.

Gameplay: This has just the right level of deepness yet not too complicated. You level up to earn tattoos that give you upgrades, you kill animals to use their hide to build things, you can modify weapons. It's awesome. This is openworld done right. There are no loadscreens, the world is one big connected place. You can engage enemies however you like, or not at all. You can walk around and witness a tiger chasing deers, or a pack of wolves killing a gang of enemies. The world feels ALIVE and REAL. Simply amazing.

What I love about this game is that it offers you so much but it isn't super complicated. I lead a busy life, so its hard for me to get into games that require a tremendous amount of dedication. This game gives me all different kinds of experiences (stealth kills, rambo kills, hunting animals, admiring nature, swimming with sharks, driving a boat, watching day turn to night, watching animals fight animals and animals fight humans)

This is the game I've been waiting for. I am only 3 hours in, and I absolutely love it.

 

Glad you're enjoying it, I've been having a lot of fun with it too... aside from some glitchy shadows and occasional bad textures. Minor gripes though, as it's just a whole lot of fun to play. Lots of weapon and combat variety, tons of things to do, well-implmented rpg elements, and a big truly open-world make it one of the best shooters I've played in a long time.

 

Linearity isn't always bad. Half Life 2 series are extremely linear games, but yet (in this gamers opinion) the best FPS series ever.

I agree though, technical issues aside, Far Cry 3 is a great game!

 

How's the Ubisoft side of things with it? I've avoided all Ubisoft games for years based on their terrible DRM issues, and it appears this one requires a Yuplay connection to play? A quick read through the latest Steam forums is full of problems with activation/auto updating on yuplay or problems with game Keys...

 

You mean Uplay, not Yuplay right?

 

I haven't had any problems with it while using it for AC3 and FC3, though I'd rather be using Steam only (obviously lol)

FC3 is really fun. It's worth the extra few minutes signing up for uplay and the extra step to start the game

 

I have no idea... is Uplay new? I know I've struggle with Yuplay in the past... and the always on server that Ubisoft used, not sure what that was even called... I pretty much have ignored Ubisoft for years now so no idea what they actually call it...

And on a side note, Yuplay is annoying as all crap too if it is different... is that the one that Wings of Prey used?

 

Yuplay is just another game seller (like Gamersgate, Greenmangaming, etc) and Uplay is Ubisoft's game service (like Rocstar Social Club, Battlenet, etc). Uplay has been a while now, one of the reasons I never got my hands on Assassin's Creed 2. I mean how stupid are they, you had to have a constant Internet connection in order to play AC2.

 

Yeah, just checked, Yuplay is what you have to log into for Apache: Air Assault and still to this day I can't get my purchase to update and play properly... I was confused with the Y part in reference to this thread, my bad...

Curious, does Uplay still require you to be logged in and have a constant connection to play Far Cry 3? I remember back when I bought HAWX 2 it required their own client and constant connection... and I've never bought a Ubisoft title since. Have things improved or is it still the same? Thanks

 

you don't need to be online to play...you can play with Uplay in offline mode (although maybe the first time you install it you need to connect online)

I've had no issues with Uplay

 

Thanks for the clarification! I'll put FC3 on my wishlist!

 

Then again, you already have a copy, so I'll give it to someone else.

 

me me me :d

 

It's a good game, but if this is the best game you ever played... you really haven't played good games.

 

this is one of the best games I've ever played...the world is one big place, filled with life

the weapons are awesome, so many to choose from, and all with upgrades
the storyline is pretty good, very good animation during cutscenes and good voice acting...mature plot
I've already logged in 22 hours and I've only completed 60% of the story and only 20% of side quests
the world is pretty and realistic, the terrain is diverse
its so fun to find different ways to take outposts and you have SO MANY options (go in guns blazing, snipe everyone, break cage of tiger, etc etc)

I haven't played a game that gave me more freedom and fun since the original crysis

What other FPS can you think of can give me as good an experience, cuz I've played them all. Ever since the first crysis, I've been wanting a similar game that is better, and this is the first game to succeed in that regard.

 

Skyrim ...

deus ex...

Mass Effect...

RPG's mainly but similar.

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Whose are a bit different kind of games.
Deus Ex HR isn't as open as Far Cry 3.
Skyrim is a fantasy and ME is a sci-fi game.

 

Does the AI in this game have the same issues in Far Cry and Crysis where they have bionic laser vision, able to spot and blast you while you're lying prone in half cover 500 yards away?

 

I'm scratching FC3 game off the list. I could not get Rocstar Social Club to let me play offline yet others had no problem. If all the big games are going to their own "Sheeple Play" then I'll vote no with my one stinky non purchase. Or, wait till it's offered by GOG.com One wonders why game theft is rampant?

D3 is another pass due to Battlenet and buying better "real money" equipment BS.

There seems to be a lot of complaints with broken quests with FC3 so, if you can wait, then the patched versions are normally way better? Guess it's time to dust off my original FC.

 

skyrim - not a FPS, no guns. I don't recall nearly as much wildlife.

deus ex - poor graphics, stiff animation. not one seamless world, tons of loading. not nearly as much freedom.

mass effect - not an open world game. no where near the freedom of far cry 3.

I have played every game that has a score over 80 on metacritic since 2007, and not one is as fun as Far Cry in that I can lose myself for hours in far cry3 or just play for 25 minutes and still get alot of value.

 

not at all...its very easy to sneak as long as you're patient.

in one level, the one they demoed in E3 2011, I played the entire level taking out guard by guard with stealth...it was nerveracking and exciting and it worked.

far cry 3 is an experiment for players to try what they want. it is the only non-blizzard game I've spent $60 on and it is worth every penny. I will buy every Dlc that comes out for this game as long as they're singleplayer focused.

 

Foilage really makes a difference.

Not sure exactly how the game can tell when you are hiding in foilage, but it would make a great mod for Skyrim IMO.

 

LOL! So true. That's what turned me off from the original Far Cry. I liked it, except I was prone behind a rock in deep grass down a hill, yet they could still spot me and hit me with a hand gun from 500 yards away. Although other times I'd be standing right next to them and they'd just stand there like an idiot.

I know they're not FPS really, but similar open world exploring. Deus Ex I meant the original. Graphics are obviously crap now, but still an incredible game. Riddick games were pretty good too. Not all that open world, but somewhat.

I'll probably buy when it drops in price as long as it doesn't require a constant internet connection to play.

 

Well, went ahead and bought it through Steam.... it does require uplay to play the game which is a bit annoying but so far hasn't been an issue. I don't think a constant internet connection is required but I haven't tested that theory yet. As far as gameplay, it started exciting but then turned a bit slow and had me very worried, but has improved greatly.... initially once the intro madness stopped it felt identical to FC2 which was really boring, ie attack this camp, rinse repeat etc.... still very similar mechanic but is expanded enough and appears to be a fun experience... I've already experienced way more gameplay in a few hours of FC3 than more of FC2.... so far I'm impressed and excited to play more. We shall see where it goes from here but I'm confident to say it's better than FC2 even based on my limited play... plus the world is simply gorgeous! This is truly an open world game thus far.

 

I agree - I think im spending more time exploring cave and ruins, and hunting than I am on the main quest!

A

 

ALL the god damn time...

 

29 hours in...and this game still rocks

now that I have taken over strongholds...when i'm doing some side missions against enemies, after awhile, the good villagers show up in jeeps and help me against enemies...how friggin awesome is that

I've decided not to clear the strongholds in the south island, that way, I'll always have enemies to fight and waste ammo on

 

So true! Love the game for the most part, but I finally did part of the main quest after ignoring it for a long time and there is one mission that I hated.

In this mission you have to escape from a burning building. It was a series of lame quicktime events and it felt like the opposite of this fun open world sandbox game, it was as if a completely different team designed this part.

 

eh, I didn't mind it and I normally hate scripted events. but it's very brief and in far cry 3, i actually like the linear events because 99% of the time im free roaming, so its a nice breath of fresh air.