Far Cry Instincts

8.5
Great

Gameplay	8.5	"Takes Far Cry to a whole new platform."
Graphics	8.5
Sound	7.5
Value	8.5

By Emily Buxton

ADVERTISEMENT

When Ubisoft announced they were going to take their successful PC first person shooter title Far Cry and launch it on the Xbox, the news was met with uncertainty. Far Cry pushed the graphical and technical limits of the PC and people were dubious as to whether this would successfully transfer onto the Xbox. However, the end result of the developers’ efforts, Far Cry Instincts, has blown away any lingering feelings of suspicion many may have had. Far Cry has been taken to new heights, proving without a doubt that even with the impending release of the Xbox 360, there’s still a lot of life left in the black box yet.

You play as Jack Carver, a retired Navy commando taking tourists for boat trips around Pacific islands, who suddenly finds himself under heavy attack from ruthless mercenaries. Trapped on the island he must hunt or be hunted, and use every trick in the book to survive.

Everything is seen through Jack’s eyes, including all the action shots, so you’ll truly be feeling his panic as you’re thrown overboard by massive explosions and peppered with bullets from all angles. The game will surround you with lush jungle settings and sweeping island views, balanced out by times spent in dark, dank underground caves and facilities. While the graphics are detailed and intense, the game still has a slightly hyper real cartoon like feel to it. The grass beneath your well worn boots is green enough to glow in the dark, and the blood that spurts from your enemies’ veins is a bright red. Rather than detracting from the realistic experience, this seems to add to the intensity of the game, making everything seem a little louder, faster and generally more frightening. Some of the textures in the game at times seem rough and not quite as sharp as the PC version. Bushes and flora are fairly static and disappear as you crawl through them. This is done no doubt so you can keep an eye on your prey as you wriggle unseen behind them, but still feels slightly strange.

An effort has been made to incorporate realistic physics into the game. Boxes break up or tumble away if you kick them, and debris rolls down slopes if it’s given a helping hand. Other small but appreciated effects add to the list of well thought out touches that have been included – see if you notice Jack has slightly blurry vision for a second as he comes up out of the water.

An in game tutorial at the beginning will help give you a feel for things as you start off. The tactics involved in Far Cry Instincts vary from one end of the spectrum to the other. You have to be able to change from stealth tactics to assault tactics at the flick of a gun safety, and won’t last two seconds if you just run through the forests like a man possessed. The actual combat itself can be quite hard at times. Ammo is usually plentiful, but you’ll go through it far quicker than you would imagine. Luckily, guns aren’t your only means of attack. You’ll be equipped with a knife, or in a last resort, you can set tree branch traps and lure enemies in by throwing rocks nearby, which they’ll immediately investigate. An onscreen radar will plot enemies positions and their awareness levels, but these guys can move fast, and are equipped with a good deal of AI. They’ll spread out and surround you, or wait and hold back while you try and make your move. The ability to dual weld weapons in the game is both a blessing and a curse, as you gun down your enemies in a flash, and find yourself out of ammo even quicker than that. Be prepared to cringe, as your health is cut down amazingly quickly. Thankfully, health kits and body armor are provided in plenty, so try and remember that first aid training from your school days – you’ll be patching yourself up every second step you take.

While the human enemies are fast and deadly, it’s not them you’ll fear most. An assortment of chilling and creepy creatures will have you shaking like a leaf long before you even encounter them. Paranoia will be sure to set in as you catch momentary glimpses of creatures, or suddenly become aware of something rustling in the bushes only a few feet from where you crouch.

Aside from the usual assault rifles, handguns and rocket launchers, you’ll also discover a weapon that’s much more… at hand. You’ll not only become more competent with the weaponry as you progress through the game, but learn new skills to push your body further in battle. Given some of the hideous creatures you’ll encounter, it seems only fair that you should evolve to match some of the brutal abilities they have. Boosts of adrenaline will help you to unleash your inner beast, and you’ll also start to find yourself getting worked up for the kill as you stalk your enemies through the wilds.

The game's music usually comes in at the right moment to help push you over the edge until you’re a tense and trembling mess. Plenty of primal drumming fits right in with the jungle theme, but Far Cry Instincts also remembers that sometimes, less is more. Long stretches of silence are often just as effective at jangling your nerves as the frantic techno.

The levels are big – really big. Occasionally they can feel like they drag a little, especially when the much needed save points just don’t seem to appear. The monotony of redoing the same troublesome parts of levels can get a little frustrating. The multiplayer section of the game is noticeably better than in the original Far Cry. Standard death matches, and capture the flag style games are included, but a predator mode game will probably generate the most interest. One player gains all of the feral abilities from the single player game, and uses them to literally hunt down the other players. A built in editor will also allow you to create your own levels, but patience is required to build a level that is even remotely exciting.

Far Cry Instincts for Xbox undoubtedly improves upon the 2004 PC version. While not perfect, Instincts lifts everything up a notch to create a well thought out exhilarating FPS. While this won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, this is title that isn’t going to disappoint.

NZGamer.com - Far Cry Instincts Facebook