FarCry4:10EssentialFeatures

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IfyoucloseyoureyesandthinkofyourfavouritemomentsfromFarCry2and3,theyprobably
involve things going haywire in beautifully chaotic ways: being attacked by an alligator while
swimmingtowardshore,silentlytakingoutanenemyoutpostusingonlyyourbowandariledup
panther, or launching a perfectly angled grenade at an oncoming enemy humvee, it exploding
gloriouslyonlytolanddirectlyonyourhead.FarCry2and3exemplifyaspecialkindofsandbox
gamewherethegameisntsomuchaboutallthestuffyoucando,butratherwhatallthestuffcan
do to each other. There are tons of incredible ways the games various systems interact, from
unleashingwildanimalsonfoes,tostartingfiresthatspreadinrealtime,toattachingagrenadeto
abowandaimingdirectlyatthegasbarrelnearabasesalarm.Theinterplaybetweenplayerand
ecosystem,andthatecosystemwithitselfissomethingfewgamesdoatall,withfewerpullingit
off.FarCryscratchesaspecificitchthatcanultimatelyleaveotherfirstpersonshootersfeelinga
littleempty.ThereforeitswonderfullyexcitingtohearthatFarCry4is(hopefully)comingthisyear
toXboxOne,PS4,PS3,Xbox360,andverypossiblytheTI82.Detailsarescant,butwedoknow
that it takes place in the Himalayas, the games protagonist isnotJason Brody, and according to
Ubisoft,Youwillbeequippedwithavastarrayofweapons,animals,andvehicles,andourhighly
detailed and interactive openworld will let players write their own story across an exotic and
variedlandscape.Oh,andyoucanrideanelephant.Yes,rideanelephant.FarCry2and3walked
the line between reality and fantasy in interesting ways, and its the kind of feature that fits
perfectly into Far Crys particular of brand hyperreality. But what other features, ideas, and
mechanics should be included in this much anticipated nextgen debut for the franchise? The
choicesmadebyUbisoftwilldefinethegameslegacy onnewerconsoles,andintheinterestof
lendingahelpinghand,presentedinthislistaretenfeaturesFarCry4hastohaveifitwantsto
impressonthesamelevelFarCry2and3did.
10.MoreLicensedMusic
FarCry3madewonderfuluseofmusicWithM.I.AsPaperPlanessettingaperfecttoneforthe
kindofpeopleJasonandhisfriendswere,thetheuseofRideofValkyriesduringthefinalmission
beingaperfectsummationofJasonsarc.Thekeyofcourseisusingitwisely,whichUbisoftdoesa
decentjobofoddlyenoughintheirRaymanRabbidsseries,whichfeaturedseveralpopularand
zanysongsthatmadethatgamefeelspecial,too.UsingfamiliarmusicinFarCry4couldmakethe
foreign setting both a little more welcoming orallthemore alienating. Considering how
omnipresentAmericanmediaisworldwide,itdbegreattohavepopularsongspopupduringcut
scenes,ontheradio,ororevenduringloadingscreens.Letsrememberhowimportantmusicwas
toFarCry3sflamethrowermission,whereapopularSkrillexsongtookonawholenewlight.IfFar
Cry4coulddothesame,youmayneverthinkofsomemusicthesamewayagain.
9.BetterTakedownMechanics
Far Cry 3s multipletakedown system was a pain in the butt to use. Outside of assassination
missionswhichrequiredyoutokillaspecificNPCwithyourknife,clickingintheanalogsticktotake
outacharacterwithyourmachetefeltalittleawkward.Worse,therewasarobustsysteminthe
game involving those takedowns, where you could string together multiple kills using a
combination of the analog sticks and bumper buttons. It was theoretically possible to take out
threeenemiesquicklyandsilentlythisway,andactuallypullingitoffresultedingreatsatisfaction
andgreatchaininganimation.Butpullingitoffwasharderthanitshouldbe,especiallysincemore
thantheboworthestealthelements,theabilitytokillmultipleenemieswithafewquickbuttons
pressesmadeyoufeellikethetribalwarriorJasonBrodywasbecominginthegame.WithFarCry
4takingplaceinamountainregion,thekindsofmeleeweaponsyouhaveyourdisposalwilllikely
change,asshouldthecontrolsusedforthem.FarCry4shouldlooktotightenupthisonenitpick
fromthepreviousgame,andimproveittothepointwherepullingoffchainkillsbecomesalmost
secondnature.Doingsowillgiveplayersawholenewwaytocombatsituations,makingthegame
moreopenthanever.
8.CreativeMeansOfTransportation
If youre not excited to ride an Elephant in Far Cry 4, youre crazy. Are there Elephants in the
Himalayas?Whocares!Youreonafreakingpachyderm!Ideallywhilewieldingasniperrifleand
crushingenemiesunderneathyourgiantleatheryfoot.Yet,TheHimalayansettingposesathreat
toFarCry4thatlongtimefansofUbisoftandSquareEnixknowalltoowell.Theresaboutan80
percentchancethatadesigndocumentexistssuggestingacoregameplaymechanicofFarCry4
be spelunking in the Tomb Raider/Assassins Creed/Thief vein, and this could be a disaster.
Platformingandfirstpersongaminghasnevergonewell,nordoestheideaofstandingonatiny
littleledgeandshootingenemiesaboveyousoundparticularlyappealingunlessthisalloccurred
incompartmentalisedsectionsofthegamesuchaswhateverFarCry4sradiotowerpuzzlesare.
Look,comeheckorhighwateryouregonnabeclimbingmountainsinFarCry4.Makingitexciting
isofparamountimportance.ThankfullytheideaofaridableelephantinFarCry4isencouraging
andcontinuestoevolvethegamesrelationshipwithmotorvehicleswhichhaveincludedjetskis,
cars, and trucks that handled serviceably but werent particularly exciting, as well asnon
motorisedtransportoptionslikehangglidersandwingsuitsthatmadetheplayerfeellikeaNavy
Sealinasummerblockbuster.Withanelephantbeingsomewhereinthemiddle,andskiingbeing
anobrainer,FarCry4shoulddeliveratraversalsystemthatisentertainingasitisunique.
7.DestructibleEnvironments
Remember Red Faction: Guerrilla? That incredible game set on Mars where entire structures
collapsedwhenyouwallopedthemwithyourmightyThorlikehammer?Rememberthetruckload
of games that followed it up with similarly destructible environments? Yeah, didnt think so.
Despitebeingsocool,destructibleenvironmentsandstructuresseemrelegatedtotheBattlefield
series,andthatsaboutit.IfFarCry4wantstofeeltrulynextgenanduptheanteonwhatgamers
canexpectfromfirstpersonshootersthatdontinvolvethemilitary,itneedstobringtheboom.
WithinreasonofcourseFarCry4shouldabsolutelynotbeagamewherearocketlauncherand
handgrenadearetoolsofworldflatteningdestruction,buttheideaofplowingvehiclesthrough
huts, blowing holes in walls and knocking down radio towers is so appetising it should be on a
restaurantmenusomewhere.Itsalsoentirelypossible.Watch_DogsonXboxOneisanopenworld
sandboxgamewherethereareveryfewinvisiblewalls.Youcanknockdownfences,trees,light
posts,anditsfreeingasheck.ComparethistoGrandTheftAutogameswhereyoudoccasionally
runupagainstafencethatwouldntbudgeorastrangeinclineyourcarwouldjustsmashinto.This
littlechangeinWatch_Dogsmadetheideaofdrivingoffroadathrillingridebecausesomuchof
the stuff in your way could be driven through. Now extrapolate that into a First Person Shooter
wheremoststructuresappearmadeoutofplastic.Beingabletocollapsearoofonenemiesviaa
well placed shot, plow into a camp via a truck youve rigged with C4 to blow up their
communications,orhavingtheabilitytocutaholeinafenceandsneakthroughsilentlyaddsso
manypossibilitiesthatthegamesreplayfactor,itwouldexpandmissionapproachesexponentially.
AGrandTheftAutoretrospectiveonGameTrailerssaiditbest;Liketoys,thebestgamesarenot
only the ones you play, but the ones you can play with and destructible environments would
makeFarCry4amacabretoyboxofdestruction.
6.LotsOfThingsToDo(ThatGet
ProgressivelyHarder)
Far Cry 3 had a wonderful way of unlocking new side missions by moreorless forcing you to
engageinthebestpartofthegametakingdownguardoutposts.Withasuccessfuloverthrow
ofaguardpost,amessageboardopenedupwithbountycontracts,huntingmissions,andsome
other distractions. As you moved your way south on the Far Cry 3 map, these outposts became
morechallengingwithheavilyarmouredguards,snipersandartillerypreparedforyourassault,
plus the side missions they unlocked got harder too yielding their own rewards like upgrades,
newweapons,healthbonuses,andsoon.Thisimportanceofthisescalationofactivitiescannot
beoverstated.Iftheguardpostswereallsimilar,orthesidemissionswererandomlygenerated
content,thegamewouldlosethatsenseofyourcharactergrowingstrongerandmoreadeptover
time,andtheexcitementoftacklingthenextobjectivewouldwane.FarCry4wouldbewiseto
apethisprogression.Theresnothingtastierthaneliminatingallthreatsandbeingrewardedwith
newgoodiesandnewkindsofobjectivestotacklethatwereharderthenthelast.ifWatch_Dogs
onXboxOneisanyindicationitseemsthenextgenhasbeenkindtosidecontent,withdozensof
sidemissionsthatalsogrowindifficulty,sohopefullyUbisFarCryfollowupfollowssuitandgives
playersoodlesofescalatingadventurestopartakein.
5.Restraint
Okay,okay,thisoneisboringbutitsimportant.DespiteFarCry3beingagamewithmultipledrug
trips,ahangglider,undergroundruinsandanamazonianprincessthatowesZoeSaldanaaroyalty
check it never winked at the camera. The characters took their situation and plight seriously,
whichmadethewildstuffresonateinmeaningfulways.IfFarCry4wantstomaintainthemagic
theprevioustwogamesinthefranchiseheld,itmustdemonstratesimilarnarrativeauthenticity.
The Far Cry 3 DLCFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon actually went fullbore parody and it didnt wear the
genrewell.Themethodicalandtacticalgameplayclashedwithamacho80saestheticandtiredin
jokesaboutvideogameviolence.ItfeltabitlikethejumpfromSaintsRow2toSaintsRow3,where
suddenlyarelativelygroundedinrealitygameworldturnedintoonewithmutants,robotcarsand
othergoofyasides.Thus FarCry4mustbecarefultomindthelinebetweenamovielikeLethal
Weapon and one like The Naked Gun. Far Cry 2 and 3 walked this line wonderfully. Many
unbelievablethingshappeninthosegames,buttheyarenotimpossibleorouttherealmofwhat
yourewillingtoacceptinanactiongame.IfJasonBrodyproducesagunoutofthinair,orFarCry
4santagonistisanoverthetopflamboyantstereotypewithnodepth,ortheybreaktheforthwall
inanydeliberatesortofway,thewholeshebangbecomesalittlelessspecialandgenuinelycool
and exciting events or gameplay moments become a touch hollow. If Far Cry 4 demonstrates
restraint in a few specific areas to keep players invested in the characters as human beings and
dontaskplayerstoacceptridiculousleapsoffaith,itswellonitswaytobeinggreat.
4.EncouragedImprovisation
ThecoreappealofFarCry2and3ishowitletsyouapproachsituationsinseeminglylimitlessways,
inlushenvironmentteemingwithoptions.Theresbows,explosives,grenades,wildlifetorelease,
vehicles to crash, and lets not forget all those fires you can start. Its equally as satisfying to
approachanoutpostwithastealthyplaninmindandexecuteitflawlesslyasitistohavethewhole
shebanggopearshapedandwhipoutthatflamethrowerforalittleimpromptuhidesavingBBQ.
ThemoreofthisUbisoftdeliverstoplayers,thebetter.Beingabletorigavehicle(orperson)with
explosivesforaTrojanhorseeffectwouldbewonderful.PETAmaynotlikethisone,buthowgreat
woulditbetouseajaguar,falconorsharkasaonewaybombdeliveryservice?NaturallyUbisoft
hastobecarefultonotrunthisgameintoDeadRising2territorywhereyourecombiningabroom
handle and a wheel chair to create a cartoonishly makeshift chariot nor should combining
weaponsbecomethemainfocusofthegamebutgivingplayerstheoptiontoutilisethegame
worlds objects like vehicles and animals in ways beyond just transportation, crafting and
distractionmakesthatworldallthemorepotentandexcitingtospendtimein.
3.MoreHallucinations
ThewayJasonBrodywasintroducedtothewayofthewarriorinFarCry3throughvariousdrug
induced hallucinations and the seductive goading of Citra is actually a little bit like how child
soldiers are forced into duty in third world countries, and its a chilling mirror into the horrible
things people can do to brainwash others. But beyond that, Far Cry 3 was one of few games to
highlightthemetaphysicallyexpandingpropertiesofhallucinogenicdrugs.Throughoutthegame,
major moments in the story of Jason Brody occur when he has ingested some kind of drug and
begins to trip into a whole different plane of existence. At one point hes literally drowning, at
anotherhesclimbinganevergrowingwall,andtowardtheendofthegameheliterallybattleshis
innerdemonsandwins.Thesesequenceshaveanedgy,unsettlingfeelbecauseyourarelyseethis
kindofthingdepictedingames,unlessitsagagorEasteregglikebeingabletosmokeajointin
theSaintsRowseries.DrugsshouldntbeinFarCry4justasaneatwaytoshowsomecoolstuff,
but alsobecause it seems Far Cry 3 had an angle on the appeal, seduction and pitfalls of such
substances,genuinelyseemingtohavesomethingtosayaboutthem.Itdbeinterestingtoseehow
theywouldbuilduponthatsurprisinglychillingfoundation.
2.AFuckingYeti
ThelegendoftheYetiowesitscreationtothepeoplesoftheHimalayas.WithFarCry4takingplace
intheregion,thereabsolutelyhastobeaYeti,orYetilikebadguy.FarCryisatitsbestwhenit
walksthelinebetweenrealityandoutlandishvisualorgies,andincludingthemythicalabominable
snowmanisagreatideaaslongashemakessense.A*real*Yetiisabadideabutsomesortof
lumbering,foreboding,omnipresentmountainmanmenacecladinpoundsoffur,wieldinganax
or something not unlike the Tyrant from Resident Evil 2, could make the Far Cry 4 experience
transcendent, especially if handled correctly. Imagine finally scoring the final piece of leather or
lootyouneedtocraftanewbow,onlytohearthebloodcurdlingyelloftheYeti.Thereisnoescape,
hesfaster,stronger,andbetterarmoredthanyou.Theonlyescape?Runandjumpofacliffand
hope to God your parachute or wing suit works. The most important part of implementing this
featureisgettingitright.TheYetishouldbeanearlyimpossiblefoethatpopsupbothrandomly
and in story missions, adding an element of narrative intrigue and gameplay variety that will
happilyterrifyplayersandleadtocountlessstoriesaboutthattimeIgotkilledbytheYeti.
1.ACaptivatingVillain
VaasfromFarCry3issofreakincool.Thekindofvillainthatneverneedstoraisehisvoicebecause
his unsettling aura demands attention. Far too often in video games, the acting portion of a
charactercomesalmostasanafterthought.Heck,DishonoredhadacastfeaturingJohnSlattery
andSusanSarandonandtheybothsleptthroughtheentireplot,withoutanounceofinflection
and creativedelivery between them. Which is why its so refreshing that Vaass characterisation
makes him an insidious personality. Its not so much what he says, but how he says it. He talks
himselfintocircles,raisinghisvoice,loweringit,trailingoff,wildlychangingmoodswithinseconds
itwasntjustvoiceoverwork,itwashonesttogoodnessacting.ItsactuallysomethingUbisoftis
reallygoodat.BothAssassinsCreedandSplinterCellfeatureconsistentlymemorablepersonalities
despitesomenarrativepeaksandvalleys,soifrumoursholdtrueandthecreepyguyonthecover
ofFarCry4isourbadguy,thereisquitealotofroomforsomethingtrulycaptivating.Asitsone
thingtofindyourselfterrifiedofamanwithmuscles,agun,andscarsacrosshisface,itsawhole
newballgametofindyourselfspookedbytheguyinawildpinkleisuresuitandfrostedtips.One
ofthemorechillingvillainsinrecenthistoryisBBCSherlocksMoriartyasinistercharacterwho
appearstobeanythingbutaruthlessmastermind,thenproceedstooutthinkSherlockatevery
turn. Ubisoft has a lot to live up to, but given their track record and zeal for delivering quality
performances and truly personal moments, players should expect nothing less than yet another
fascinatingcharacteryoulovetohatefromFarCry4.
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