Far Cry

After two very well received demos, CryTek's Far Cry is finally here. Can the game possibly live up to the hype, or is it a case of gorgeous graphics but no substance within? Well read on to find out...

The mercs are often located in bases that are protected some distance away by patrols and watchtowers. Care must be taken with these to avoid the sentries radioing for help or raising the alarm. It's possible to destroy their generators and radios to stop them making contact, or if a kill is swift enough, it achieves the same goal. Anything the player can do to move the odds in his/her favour pays off. This is no high-level military strategy game, yet it's gratifying to plan some sensible tactics and for them to pay off.

Getting around on foot is simple enough and the game really does live up to the promise of go anywhere. Obviously, Jack can't scale cliffs, but there's usually a way of getting to anywhere one wants to go. But all that slogging around isn't necessary when there are vehicles to commandeer. Boats are very common, whether inflatable affairs with an outboard motor, to more substantial speedboats with a mounted machine gun and grenade launcher. Trucks and jeeps are dotted around the islands too, some with mounted weapons. The most fun way of getting around is via hangliders. - using these reminded me of an old Atari ST game called Midwinter. Mercs use vehicles quite extensively too, particularly helicopters, it's a frightening sight to see a group of soldiers rappelling from a chopper after a nearby enemy has called for backup.

The physics within the game is convincing, whether dealing with vehicles or just pushing objects around. It's possible to ride a boat at speed towards a beach and jump pretty far inland. Jeeps and trucks can roll over. The physics can be used against the enemy, for example rolling barrels down a hill to attack mercs. The physics engine isn't fully featured though - it's impossible to damage permanent buildings using grenades, for example. But the world is convincing enough and just like Halo, many players will just have fun experimenting with the possibilities.

Well I've managed to come quite far in this review without eulogising about the graphics. To do so earlier would be unfair to CryTek, the developer has created a really fun world to play in, with an engaging if cheesy storyline and some intelligent foes. But all this gameplay is wrapped up in one of the best-looking games every released. It's simply breathtaking.

From the astonishing water lapping on the beach, to the trees swaying in the dense jungle, this is a game that really pushes forward graphical excellence. CryTek has developed a technique called polybump that involves wrapping high detailed pre-rendered images over simpler models to create very detailed characters. This works very well and even objects as simple as the wheels of a jeep are intricately detailed. The use of bump mapping is even more apparent when moving indoors; dark military labs are a great contrast to the sun-kissed beaches and jungle scenery outside. The draw distance is staggering and this allows the player to snipe over vast distances, and plan well ahead.

The sound design is impressive. It's especially entertaining using the binoculars to listen in on the conversations between mercs. Often they can be heard complaining about their job or some other humours gossip. The music is the best aspect of the soundtrack - it always manages to convey the right mood and has a genuine cinematic sweep. Atmospheric sounds abound, which in the jungle means the sound of insects and birds. With a good surround set up, sound is a real aid to gameplay as a stealth player can hear approaching mercs and the direction they are heading from.

Unfortunately this is a review of the single player game, our review copy was not multiplayer enabled. However, a brief stint at the multiplayer game at Ubisoft HQ gave the impression of an action-packed and entertaining experience. I'll update the review once we've spent more time with the multiplayer modes.



One aspect of the game I didn't like was the save game system. Most first person shooters allow the player to save anywhere. Here the game automatically saves at certain checkpoints. This system is fine for action adventures like Prince of Persia, but it seems out of place in this type of game - especially considering how tough it is. Ubisoft does plan to release a save-anywhere patch next month, so it seems this problem has already been noted. Until then, users who search online for the game's console commands will find the simple command to save anywhere.

A level editor is shipped with the game and I've no doubt we are going to see some very entertaining single and multiplayer mods come along for this game. The jungle settings just scream out for some dinosaurs, but the engine just isn't about island paradises. CryTek has created an editor that is capable of creating any type of location. I don't think it will be long before the Operation Flashpoint modders embrace Far Cry as their new favourite toy.



Sometimes reviewing games isn't the bowl of cherries that you may think it is. There's nothing worse than having to spend hours playing a terrible game to review it - a game that anyone else would just have put down. But then there are times when we receive games like Far Cry and it is a genuine pleasure to play. Right now, there's little in the stores to touch Far Cry. It's a stunning landmark game full of great ideas and impressive technology. From the beautiful graphics to the tough to beat AI enemies, Far Cry is an amazing piece of software that deserves a place in any PC gamer's collection. The game is a triumph and CryTek should be heartily congratulated on producing such a complete and thrilling rollercoaster ride.