I was initially sceptical about the idea of Far Cry Primal. But it turns out it might actually be my favourite one yet.
Far Cry Primal
For: PS4, XboxOne, PC
From: Ubisoft
Rating: R16 ★★★★
When a Ubisoft property hits the big time, they milk it to within an inch of its life.
Assassins Creed is a prime example: there's books, a movie, a million games across all platforms, clothes, and only now is it beginning to die off.
Far Cry seems to have stepped up to take its place.
Far Cry Primal is set in prehistoric times, with you assuming the role of Takkar, a member of the lost Wenja tribe.
The goal of the game is to meet other Wenja stragglers, unite, and reclaim the land of Oros.
Obviously, because its prehistoric, guns are out of the equation. In their place are clubs, spears and a bow and arrow.
It seems many are against this change but I feel it actually makes the combat a lot more cerebral.
If you're using the bow, you have to be careful with your shots, if you're using the club you have to time your swings.
It adds a dynamic that wasn't there in the previous ‘‘stand behind cover, shoot other dudes'' games.
Ammo is also surprisingly scarce, so you have to pick your shots or run around hastily cutting down trees.
Also different is the flora and fauna, well, subtly.
Tigers now become sabre-toothed tigers, elephants are mammoths and those irritating eagles, well they're still irritating eagles.
A new wrinkle this time though is the ability to tame and command animals.
Taming is as easy as tossing a chunk of meat at them then sneaking up on them.
Once tamed, you can ride them into battle like a noble steed, or have them attack by your side.
As you can unlock controlling tigers very early on in the game, it becomes a little trivial, however.
I'm not sure why you'd ever want a small dog at your side when you could have a sabre-toothed tiger.
Aside from the aforementioned changes, Far Cry Primal plays like Far Cry 4, which in turn played like Far Cry 3.
If you liked either of those, you'll like this.
If you didn't like that style of gameplay, Far Cry Primal isn't going to sway you.
The cut scenes are still jarring, with irritating characters getting in your face.
There are still moments of ‘‘comedy'' that often fall flat, although the guy who hits himself in the nether regions with a club is a highlight.
All in all I had low-ish expectations when I heard about this.
Happily though, Far Cry Primal has not only cleared the bar but cleared the bar with ease.
- by Simon Bishop
