Far Cry 4 review round-up

After the not-so-great Assassin’s Creed Unity reviews last week, Ubisoft really needs something. Assassin’s Creed might be their biggest franchise, but Far Cry always seems to deliver with every sequel. This year’s entry doesn’t sway much from the insanity theme the game has going for it, but is it as engrossing as Vaas’ Rook Island getaway?

Eurogamer – 8/10

Far Cry 4 does all the things that its predecessor did and more – more weapons, more vehicles, more modes, more ground to cover – so if all you’re looking for is a big old wide open space to tear up with a friend, go forth and make merry with mortar. That said, more does not necessarily mean better, and the truth is that the wilds of Kyrat simply aren’t as beguiling as the Rook Islands were. Far Cry 4 is well worth a visit, but it’s more a backpacker’s delight than a five-star island paradise.

Videogamer – 8/10

Far Cry 4 is a superb Skinner box, staving off monotony with constant upgrades, and it’s so expertly crafted to appeal to baser instincts, so rewarding of you embracing them, that there’s a strong chance you’ll miss the broader point that all of what you’re doing is utterly despotic. Like, say, a dictator might. A lot of games are about killing. Far Cry is about hunting. They’re not the same thing, and it is as disquieting as it is enjoyable.

Destructoid – 9/10

Far Cry 4 could have all of the multiplayer elements stripped away and it would still be a very strong game. If you enjoyed its predecessor and didn’t grow tired of Ubisoft Montreal’s open world formula, you’ll have a blast living the experience again.

Joystiq – 4.5/5

There’s a staggering number of adventures to extract from Far Cry 4, whether you chase the ones laid out by the game explicitly, or the ones that develop naturally as you take in the sights. It’s another interesting and absorbing world to fall into, shoot through, burn and then guide to new beginnings. Far Cry 4 may have installed a despot, but it’s still the undisputed king of the open-world shooter.

Metro Game Central – 9/10

Still, like we say, these are minor complaints in the scheme of things. Far Cry 4 might not be doing anything terribly new but it does do almost everything it sets out to extremely well. And there’s few games, no matter what they are, that can ever say that.

So it seems like Ubisoft is delivering with Far Cry yet again. It’s almost identical to the year when Far Cry 3 launched, acting as a soothing balm to the scathing Assassin’s Creed III reviews. At least we know Ubisoft hasn’t lost their touch with this franchise. Far Cry 4 launches worldwide tomorrow.

Last Updated: November 17, 2014