The Far Cry series has really taken off in the past few years. Ubisoft stumbled upon the golden formula of creating a massive world full of psycho people and ferocious animals and then letting players loose. Since then it has really just refined the formula.
Far Cry 5 is set in backwater United States. Well, Montana to be exact.
You play as a sheriff’s deputy, roped in to help arrest a cult leader when it all goes horribly wrong. It is a similar opening to the previous games, where all is calm before the proverbial hits the fan.
The prospect of playing a game set in the US, about a cultish leader, seems like a golden opportunity to say something about that country’s current political climate, but this must have dawned on Ubisoft, too, and caused it to panic, as the story does not go anywhere near it.
It ends up being the same kind of story — where a dictator murders innocent people and you are sent in to be the saviour, only to have to murder all the other people. Oh, and there is a drugs aspect too.
That being said, it is still a fun game to play — that is what brings people back to the Far Cry series.
Being let loose in the open world, claiming outposts one by one, sneaking around bashing people over the head from behind or letting wild animals shred them for you is the beauty of the series and it is all here in spades.
There is added comedy this time around though, and it is very welcome. The use of licensed music really adds to it, as well. You will know when you reach the parts I am referring to.
Far Cry 5 is perfect for when you just want to go around and blow stuff up, either by yourself (single player) or with a friend (co-op).
Just do not expect it to have anything interesting or controversial to say.
Far Cry 5
For: PS4, Xbox One, PC
From: Ubisoft
Rating: ★★★+
- by Simon Bishop
