Far Cryis one of gaming’s most prolific AAA franchises, but it’s also one of its most inconsistent and disappointing. While entries likeFar Cry 2andFar Cry 3pushed the open-world genre forwardby blending rewarding exploration, satisfying progression, and thrill-ride storytelling, the releases in their wake seemingly attempted to only recreate that magic rather than innovate in their own way. Of course, very few, if any, of these games can be said to have truly reached the same heights as their predecessors.
That’s not to say that there are no strengths to be found in the likes ofFar Cry 5andFar Cry 6. On the contrary, the later entries in the franchise are quite impressive in terms of their scope and gameplay variety, at the very least. But the essential characteristics that make the olderFar Crygames work so well, namely the sense of being truly lost and an underdog, have mostly melted away, being replaced by a more by-the-numbers power fantasy. At the risk of sounding reductive, modernFar Crycan be said to have lost a bit of its identity, being too easily clumped in with any number of AAA open-world titles, including others by Ubisoft, likeGhost Recon. This is something that Ubisoft reportedly wants to remedy.
Ubisoft Can Switch Up the ‘Far Cry Formula’ By Looking at Far Cry Primal
Ubisoft Reportedly Wants to Update the Far Cry Formula
According to areport from Insider Gaming, both forthcomingFar Crygames are being designed with the intention of majorly overhauling what Ubisoft considers to be the “Far Cryformula.” This is being done through the much-publicizedin-game time limit inFar Cry 7, but also through new movement and inventory mechanics, and perhaps even more radical additions that have yet to be publicized.
That’s all well and good, but these facets may not be enough totruly innovate within theFar Cryframework, at least not beyond the short-term. The time limit function, for instance, probably won’t become a series mainstay, as it is closely tied to the narrative ofFar Cry 7, per rumors and leaks. But asFar Crymoves into the future, looking into the past may yield some interesting solutions towards this end.
Far Cry Primal’s Potential Could Be Realized In Future Far Cry Games
Far Cry Primaldidn’t exactly shake the world when it was released back in 2016. Many fans of the franchise viewed the prehistoric spin-off as a step backwards afterFar Cry 4, which doubled down on the more outlandish andimplausible elements introduced inFar Cry 3, through features like flying machines and advanced weaponry. Going back to literal sticks and stones just wasn’t very interesting in the eyes of many players.
ButPrimalhas a lot more going for it than its detractors may be willing to admit. First of all, its commitment to its setting was steadfast and admirable, with Ubisoft working with real linguists and historians to invent an approximation of prehistoric language, apparel, and culture. These elements lend the game a sense of tangibility and immersion that is sorely lacking in the more over-the-top and even bizarreFar Crygames that followed it. In a sense,Far Cry Primal, though experimental in many ways, pays homage to the series' lifelike, brutally realistic roots.
It still borrows from contemporaryFar Cry, though, with drug-induced set-pieces and a healthy dose of power fantasy injected for good measure. Maybe a true sequel toPrimal, focusing on these strengths, could be in the cards for Ubisoft down the road. Alternatively, a modern-setFar Crygame couldlearn from the more toned-down and immersive focus ofPrimal, paving the way for a firmer, more unique series identity in the long term.
Far Cry
Far Cry is a long-running first-person shooter franchise set across diverse locations around the globe. Developed by Ubisoft, the Far Cry series features open worlds, unique characters and villains, and tons of weapons.
