Eurogamer Expo: Hands on with Far Cry 3
Words by: Gregg Remmer | Posted: 7 months ago | Filed under: Eurogamer 2012, Previews.
The tropical set FPS was all I expected it to be. A slick-looking environment screaming out to be explored. Set as a man attempting to simply find his lost girlfriend, it quickly becomes clear that everyone else on the island is completely bonkers. And dangerously so.
After starting off in a small town, I interacted with the inhabitants until I found myself involved in a knife throwing mini-game. Placing wager with a strange-looking fellow to see who could hit the target most consistently. However, this friendly atmosphere didn’t last long. Leaving the town and heading into the dense jungle caused my character to automatically arm his pistol. Within the next thirty seconds, I found myself in the middle of a firefight, donning a crossbow with flaming arrows as I watched a man engulfed in flames flee from the scene. Lesson learnt.
I approached the next meet with much more caution. The new stealth mechanics were clear to see and having the option to perform silent takedowns gave a sense of freedom, which wasn’t present in the earlier games of the series. Many benefits can be had by initially avoiding conflict and doing so to gain an advantage is sometimes necessary.
Other small touches such as, the ability to shoot from behind cover blind assisted in making the game a more free will feeling experience. In shootouts, weapons are weighty and handle appropriately. You feel the effects of firing and the raw power of the guns you hold.
The environment reacts intelligently – trees sway and plants disintegrate on bullet impact. Enemies react to injuries and bodies tumble realistically. Vehicles are also scattered throughout the island and can be used as explosive aids or escape routes. As much fun as Far Cry 3 was to play, I really think the story and its characters will be where it really shines.
About Gregg Remmer
Struggles to finish any game that isn't Portal and loves nothing more than a little bit of nostalgia, which is evident from his ONLY 1k'd game - TMNT
