How does the latest instalment of the Far Cry series hold up compared to past releases? Read on…
The second Far Cry in 2 years, New Dawn is an interesting addition to the series, and it is the first ever sequel. It follows on from one of the possible outcomes at the end of Far Cry 5–a nuclear war–and you are roaming around in the post apocalyptic Hope County 17 years after the previous game. This time you are facing new enemies, twins Mickey and Lou who head up a group of bandits called the Highwaymen, who have invaded and taken over Hope County to suck it dry of resources.
This version of Hope County is not as large as the previous game and uses only a section of it, but under the new aesthetic is largely unrecognisable. I feel that for many post apocalyptic games, the developers relish the challenge of discovering how many shades of brown and grey they can possibly use, but not so in New Dawn. I think the aesthetic they have gone for is very apt for the rural nature of the game. With the destruction of most of the human population, and the passage of time, nature is reclaiming the land. Buildings have fallen into disrepair, structures have fauna growing through them and the world is full of brightly coloured plants and animals. Things built by humans now have a cobbled together aesthetic, from the vehicles to the weapons you find, and as such they can be modified in the game. But unlike in previous games these upgrades aren’t bought with money but instead need to be crafted with materials found in the world.
To counteract the smaller size of the county, you can now go on expeditions which take you to other completely different maps unrelated to any we have seen before These expedition maps are smaller than the main map, but the developer has included more detail and it is overall a more complex environment.
I mentioned ‘crafting’ earlier, and yes some RPG elements have been introduced into the game, such as weapon modifications, base upgrading and the ability to improve the skills of the various allies you meet throughout the game. The developers have wisely kept the excellent ‘buddy system’, that was introduced in the 5th instalment of the game. This is an interesting addition to the game, which whilst I haven’t managed to play around with all the aspects of crafting, I think gives you a greater sense of accomplishment when you get that upgrade. To upgrade your base you need ethanol, and whilst not an actual currency, it is the most valuable in-game resource, which is obtained by taking over the outpost of the Highwaymen. However, in this game once you have gained control of an outpost you can relinquish it, giving you the opportunity to retake it and gain more ethanol but with more challenges and featuring harder enemies, more alarms and deadlier reinforcements – the difficulty of which increases each time you relinquish an outpost. This adds extra replay value and challenge to the game rather than having to wait till you have completed the game and then resetting the entire world.
So how does this new game play? In one word ‘good’, but in another ‘meh’. Let me clarify: the aesthetic to the game I most definitely approve of. It is awesome and it’s nice to see a change from the drab and dreary looks we most often see in this genre of games. I also like the new RPG elements, it feels good to be able to actually have to work and look for the right components on the game instead of having to just save money. I also like the fact that you can have a character customisation this time round, a small but personal touch.
The various tweaks have added to a world I think is more fun to run around in and a more enjoyable experience compared with Far Cry 4 and 5 which were a little serious at times. However, this is still a Far Cry game – this can be both a positive and a negative depending on if you are a fan of the game. It does boil down to the same formula and only time will tell if the new elements introduced do enough to keep the game feeling fresh on your romp through Hope County. Is it worth buying? If you are a fan of the franchise it 100% is, but for others, it might merit waiting for a possible sale price on the game.
Author: Jon P, Cardiff store
