Far Cry 6 review | PS5

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The Far Cry series is now over 15 years old, giving Far Cry 6 a lot of different expectations to live up to. With any established franchise like this, it can be a challenge to surprise players without making the established formula too different - losing what made people fall in love with it in the first place.

​by James Michael Parry

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​@james_parry

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Developer: Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Players: 1-2

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Right off the bat, some decidedly Far Cry boxes are ticked: there’s a seemingly idyllic island setting, a bow available as the primary weapon, plus a charismatic antagonist. The latter is Antón Castillo, as portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian), who looms over the Cuba-esque island of Yara as dictator.

After a cinematic introduction, with opening credits you might see at the beginning of Sicario or a James Bond film, we’re introduced to protagonist Dani Rojas. Dani can be male or female, though, either way, is prevented from fleeing the island by Castillo. Not taking it lying down, Dani joins up with the Libertad, a group of resistance fighters, to help liberate Yara. 

The Libertad hosts a cast of colourful characters that are archetypes at best, stereotypes at worst. Yara itself is potentially more memorable; the setting is vast, spanning across several zones spread across land and water. Although it seems minor the water effects are underwhelming, particularly on the coast, which you come across quite often while exploring a series of islands.

Exploring the map is a mixed bag. Locations can be claimed for Libertad via a familiar stronghold-capturing mechanic, though not if they relate to a specific quest. Visiting locations too soon leads to being unable to claim the area, all while enemies spawn endlessly to take it back.

You can travel around by horse, which, though it feels a little floaty compared to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, is more practical than using a car on uneven terrain. You’re quickly introduced to a grappling hook for climbing, but the complimentary parachute is handed out a little later, which can lead to a few unnecessary deaths early on.

Initially mainlining the story is a good idea to get properly equipped, though it also allows for teaming up with a friend. There’s no narrative explanation for the delay, which might rub anyone looking to jump straight into co-op the wrong way.

Choosing to carry on solo isn’t a solitary experience, however, thanks to a selection of animal sidekicks. Amigos range from a crocodile to a sausage dog and each have different abilities, adding alternate tactical elements to encounters.

​There’s a reasonable selection of weapons for Dani to equip, plus a bunch of customisation options in the form of useful attachments and cosmetic alterations. Far from the gunsmithing of Ghost Recon you only get the basics here, but some credit is due for not falling into the trap of needlessly overcomplicating things. There’s a carry limit of three primary weapons at a time, though that might include a beefy flamethrower which you somehow manage to stash about your person.

While there isn’t a huge amount about Far Cry 6 which really breaks its own mould, the gameplay is dependable.

FC6’s signature weapon, and something of an ultimate attack, is the Supremo - a rocket launcher backpack which fires a salvo of missiles into the (fairly unpredictable) distance to act as crowd control. This can be upgraded as well, but is more a fire-and-forget ability for the beginning or end of encounters.

While there isn’t a huge amount about Far Cry 6 which really breaks its own mould, the gameplay is dependable and there are enough hidden shortcuts, unique weapons and against-the-odds encounters to make exploration feel worthwhile. At the same time, buying into the world can be difficult when (for example) there’s no penalty for attacking Libertad allies in full view of their leader.

This is a minor symptom, but one of several actions that lack consequences that could add weight to players’ actions; it’s key to creating a believable experience, helping people to forget that they’re playing a game. Perhaps the DLC content, which puts you in the shoes of some of the series’ prior antagonists, might prove more engrossing.

​Anyone that fancies an island getaway could do a lot worse than taking a trip to Yara. Far Cry 6 is an entertaining means to blow things up and mindlessly shoot people, though probably won’t prove to be memorable in a few years’ (or possibly even months’) time.

Pros

• Another charismatic antagonist
• Gameplay is solid and dependable
• Some new ideas nestled within a familiar formula

Cons
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• Plot and characters feel a little wrote
• Can be quite linear for an open-world experience
• Lacking character mobility

7/10