When Ubisoft finds success, it sure knows how to capitalise on it, and Far Cry 4 is a strong example of this. In fact, so closely it resembles the template set before it with Far Cry 3 that there’s only really one phrase to use to describe the latest open-world FPS: more of the same. That isn’t inherently such a terrible thing, of course, and there are enough tweaks to the overall package – however subtle they be – that there’s a valid reason for hopping in for another adventure. The difference here, of course, is Kyrat, the fictional Tibetan country that is currently embroiled in a civil war as its freedom fighters hope to overthrow surprisingly amicable dictator Pagan Min.
That, as you may have already gathered, is where you come in. The rather simple premise of the game is unceremoniously cast aside as Ajay Ghale – who only travels to Kyrat to scatter his mother’s ashes – becomes the hero of the Golden Path, the ‘terrorist’ group seeking to dispose of Pagan. It’s almost endearing how quickly this particular story element is cast aside, however, despite the protests of Ajay himself. Before long and without any real convincing, Ajay is capturing towers, combatting outposts and skinning every animal that has the misfortune to cross his path.
But in a fresh approach to iterative gameplay, Ubisoft has opted to ignore the build-up of abilities and opportunities and instead cast you into the fire if not immediately then much quicker than ever before. Tutorial missions are at a minimum and there are no convoluted and unnecessary cutscenes or objectives to explain away particular features – for example, Ajay can tag enemies with his camera immediately and there’s no effort on Ubisoft’s part to hand you that camera. It just is, and that’s enough – not everything needs to be explained, after all.
The core of the gameplay remains the freedom to explore and tackle the game at your own pace. You may be driven to hunt fauna for their skins and the crafted upgrades they lead to, you may feel compelled to unlock every single bell tower the game has or you may simply wish to handle the missions as they come. There’s a decent variety to each of these missions, too, and though they rarely offer much in the way of imagination – they almost always involve killing something – the gameplay itself bolsters the otherwise lacklustre mission design. How you approach a problem is up to you and there are enough elements to combine together that Far Cry 4 emboldens a great sense of creativity. You might wish to simply assault an outpost silently, for example, or lay waste to it by careening a buggy strapped with C4 into its centre before climbing aboard an elephant and crushing any who try to retaliate. It’s a game that provides the tools to deliver chaos, but eliminates any pressure to play in any particular way.
Choice remains a core part of the story missions, too, whereby you’ll have opportunities to pick a future for the Golden Path, and ultimately which of the two potential leaders will take charge. Your options are binary: the traditional, culture-driven side of Sabal, or the modern-thinking but potentially immoral and hot-headed equivalent in Amita. The two are polar opposites, and though these choices don’t really have an effect on the way Far Cry 4 plays out, it’s enough that you care about the option you pick. More could’ve been done to properly realise your actions within the world – as it is, Far Cry 4 is lacklustre in presenting Kyrat with an atmospheric and tangible narrative – but it at least has you caring for the key characters.
Where it does suffer in this regard, however, is in Pagan Min. Despite his opening sequences, he doesn’t offer the same appeal that his forebear in Far Cry 3, Vaas, managed to, and for the largest part takes a backseat to the brewing rivalry between Sabal and Amita. When this is the reason you’re fighting in the first place it’s disappointing that, regardless of how charming and likeable Pagan is, he isn’t made to feel a little more like an antagonist. But then perhaps that’s Pagan’s mistake, he’s just a little too pleasant to be the bad guy. Of course none of this really matters in the grand schemes of Far Cry 4. It makes no pretence to be anything but a playground, one full of opportunity both emergent and scripted.
Much of this same scope carries over to multiplayer, too, which remains a strong outing for the franchise. Here you’ll play as either the Golden Path or the mystical Rakshasa, the tribal warriors of Shangri-La. Where the former comes equipped with a range of weaponry, vehicles and radar functionality, the latter wields bows, invisibility, summonable beasts and the ability to craft empowering syringes from the plants in the area. The disparity between the two forces isn’t hugely original, but it still means Far Cry 4’s multiplayer manages to offer just a little bit more chaos and variety – especially with the addition of wingsuits – than the tried-and-tested online modes we usually see forcibly included in FPS games these days. It’s not particularly inventive, but there is enough that it will – if nothing else – hold your attention for a good amount of time.
Which is probably the best way of explaining Far Cry 4 as a whole, truth be told. While more could be done to make the world feel believable – thereby making you feel more responsible for the choices you make – Ubisoft is just trying to play it safe with its latest in the series, and at this point more of the same is just enough to make Far Cry 4 a valid purchase.
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