I'm here to tell you about a special treat: Black Friday Far Cry sale! Far Cry is one of the long-time running video game series, spanning a total of 15 years and over 10 titles. The evolution of Far Cry games had many interesting twists and turns, with constant change of environments and formulas. Each new iteration brought something new to the table bringing new and long-time fans back into the game. If you were shown the first and the latest game side by side you might not think they belong to the same series. So how did we get from the original modern first-person shooter to today’s installment set in a post-nuclear war America? Keep reading to find out, and don’t forget, all of Far Cry games will be featured on Black Friday sale starting on the 26^th.

How Far Cry kicked off

The first Far Cry game was released in the ancient year of 2004. Well, it’s not really ancient, is it? But as fast as video games evolve it might have been a lifetime ago. Far Cry boasted many advantages over then-popular first-person shooters that dominated the market. Namely, the Far Cry engine pushed the limits of current games by featuring advanced physics, destructible terrain, and motion capture animation. But the engine is not the sole reason why Far Cry became popular.

Far Cry stood out between other first-person shooters by providing realistic gunplay set in a modern world with a splash of monsters. The narrative was engaging and gameplay complimented it perfectly. The enemy’s artificial intelligence was on par with the best of its time, allowing enemies to work as a group. All of which was enriched by a variety of combat action, featuring long-range combat, close-quarters fights, stealth, and combat driving sections. Far Cry had everything it needed to kick off a successful series. And the best part? It still holds up today and I would definitely recommend you to try it out.

Stepping into an open world

Far Cry 2 took a huge step into the formula that would soon become the series’ trademark – open world. Instead of taking place in a monster-infested tropical paradise, Far Cry 2 puts you in the middle of war-torn African country. The game features much more realistic scenarios than the first one, including random attacks of malaria and misfiring guns. The game also changes its tone in relation to the first one. In Far Cry 2 the atmosphere feels much more oppressive. Vehicles need to be fixed, everything is falling apart from old age, and everyone you meet will be aggressive towards you. All of those factors combined make for a much more challenging experience, but nevertheless a great one.

With the release of Far Cry 3 the series’ transformation had been complete. Once again, the game was set on a tropic island. However, this time there were no monsters. Instead of that the world grew even bigger, filled with more enemies, and dangerous animals. Far Cry 3 introduced a crafting system, bringing RPG elements into the game, and polished stealth options. It was also the first game in the series to feature Ubisoft’s world structure as we know it today. Similarly to the Assassin’s Creed games you will have to climb towers to reveal areas. After that you can scope out enemy base before attacking it and choose your approach. Finally, Far Cry 3 has the most recognizable (and my personal favorite) villain of the series: Vass Montenegro. Vaas’ monologues and sadistic nature made him one of the most memorable villains in gaming. Did you ever hear the definition of insanity?

Totally 80s

Far Cry 3 also received a standalone expansion called Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Although the game doesn’t really take a step further for the series it is nevertheless a great experience. Everything about it is either homage or a play on the stuff from the 80s. With its (intentionally) bad dialogue, the VHS loading screen, and 80s action movie plot it brings a true retro experience. The game is set in the dystopian “future” of 2007, and your character voiced by action star Michael Biehn is a good old-fashioned cyber commando who has to save his old commander. If that alone doesn’t peak your interest enough, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon also features an original synthwave soundtrack.

The new branch of Far Cry

Following the success of Far Cry 3, Ubisoft released Far Cry 4. This time the game takes you to a fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat. Most of the gameplay and design choices from the last game carried over to Far Cry 4, with one notable exception. The narrative of the game was no longer linear. Far Cry 4 featured branching choices that determine which character you follow, which in turn determines the quests you receive and story paths. It has multiple ending, including a secret one. Thanks to the secret ending the game can be completed in less than 20 minutes! Far Cry 4 was also the first in the series which added co-op to the game.

I know I’m going slightly out of order here, but in 2018 Far Cry 5 was released as a sequel to Far Cry 4. In this installment you are taken to USA and into a fictional Hope County in the state of Montana. It included much of what made Far Cry special, with some added benefits. For one, it was the first game where you could create your own protagonist. Meaning that, unlike in the previous games, you get to choose the character you play as. And secondly, Far Cry 5 improved upon the co-op options of Far Cry 4, including more means of playing together. In case you required assistance but couldn’t find a friend to help out the game had you covered. When playing alone you could summon AI buddies that would assist you in your missions. The buddies also included animals such as dogs or bears.

Showcasing the evolution of Far Cry

In 2016 Far Cry developers made a brave decision to take the series way into the past. About 12.000 years to be precise. Far Cry Primal, set in 10.000 B.C., lets you play as primitive tribe’s hunter. Given the setting of the game it would be silly to expect guns. For that reason the game focuses more on melee combat. To make up for the lack of firepower Far Cry Primal introduced a new mechanic: taming animals. With plenty of animals to choose from you can expand your tactics and choose the best approach. For example, you can use a bird to scout the area before moving forward, or use the bear to wreak havoc on enemy encampment. Make sure to check out what a badger can do as well, you’ll be surprised.

Far Cry New Dawn is another great example of experimentation Ubisoft does with the series. It is also the latest installment, released in 2019. The game is set in the same Hope County as Far Cry 5, but 12 years and one nuclear war later. The game brings back all the features from its predecessor with upgrades. More customization options, new and returning characters, more survivor and animal companions, and more guns. Most prominent of upgrades is probably the upgradable home base called Prosperity. Prosperity grows in size and features the more you progress through the game. There is also an expedition mode which allows you to travel some of the other US states and bring back resources. With all of that you’re more than likely to sink hours into it.

Once again, don’t forget that all of the Far Cry games will go on sale for Black Friday starting on the 26^th, right here on 2game.

• Far Cry – 60% discount – £3.48
• Far Cry 2 – 60% discount - £3.48
• Far Cry 3 – 60% discount - £6.40
• Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon – 60% discount - £4.80
• Far Cry 4 – 60% discount - £10.80
• Far Cry Primal – 80% discount - £8.00
• Far Cry 5 – 75% discount - £12.50
• Far Cry New Dawn – 60% discount - £15.20

Prepare for our Black Friday Far Cry sale, and I’ll see you next time!