| System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360* |  |
| Dev: Ubisoft Montreal | |
| Pub: Ubisoft | |
| Release: December 4, 2012 | |
| Players: 1 (2+ Online) | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs |
There's also the strange problem of over-binding on the gamepad. For some reason, the quick switch button also activates the healing function. So, it's not unusual to accidentally perform one when you're trying to trigger the other. What's worse is that there are multiple healing functions and they're all operated by the same button, but they follow a set hierarchy. So, for example, if I've wandered into a fire and I need to put the flames out, I would normally hold down the heal button. But if wanted to perform an emergency heal before I put the flames out in order to stave off death for a few seconds, it's impossible.
I would love to spend the next few lines luxuriating about Far Cry 3's multiplayer experience, but I just can't do it. It's not bad, per se, but it's certainly not good either. The maps are awkward and lacking in chokepoints, which means that the tactics that make the campaign interesting are completely absent from the multiplayer. Aside from the graphics and the weaponry, it acts like an entirely different game and often feels tacked on.
However, multiplayer components are made and broken in the community. So, if the fan base can find a way to turn the multiplayer into something interesting, perhaps using the included multiplayer map editor, I'm happy to be wrong.
Ubisoft has also included a co-op campaign, which is a pretty impressive little perk. It's built for a four-player crew, and follows a new cast of characters. The campaign steps out of Far Cry 3's overly serious single-player effort and shoots for a more comedic delivery.
Co-op mode also does away with the open world, adopting a semi-strict linear path. Like I said, this mode was designed for four people, and it’s pretty difficult if you try to slide by with fewer players. But it's a decent experience when you get a whole crew together.
One of the things that makes Far Cry brilliant is the ambiance that Ubisoft has created. This is not a game for children, and we're reminded of this fact repeatedly. There's a semi-constant stream of profanity, the violence is not toned down, and the game itself contains a nude scene. Without these things, it would be hard to take Far Cry 3 seriously, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
Far Cry 3 is by far one of the most impressive games of this console generation. It's an ambitious effort on Ubisoft's part and puts a big fat exclamation point on the 2012 gaming year.
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By Josh Engen News Director Date: December 3, 2012 |
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