With the advent of the financial crisis, many game companies attempted to release their magnum opus early to take the advantage of the still well off populace. Thus a trickle of games that were supposed to be released near the holiday season was released early in September and October. This scheme worked and many of those highly anticipated titles were eagerly bought by the players (making the game industry one of the few expanding industries during recession.) Some of the released games met full expectations such as “Fallout 3” and “Guitar Hero World Tour,” but many of them did not, including “Mirror’s Edge” and “Fable 2.”
“Far Cry 2” falls within the category of the former, and delivers a rich gaming experience that would worth your spare holiday cash.
When considering purchasing this title, the players should note that the story and the gaming experience is really a “far cry” compared to the game’s predecessor, the original “Far Cry.” While “Far Cry” centers around a shipwrecked bodyguard stranded on a beautiful tropical island, hunted by mercenaries and vicious sci-fi mutant apes, “Far Cry 2” revolves around an ensemble of completely unrelated cast that’s set in the modern African Savannah.
So many things have changed that this installment really feels and looks like a different game. But no worries, “Far Cry 2” still hold well as an independent title.
Although there are no unsuspecting apes leaping to gore you to a pulp now, the visceral atmosphere and the relentless gunmen hired by African warlords will be just as challenging. Often will you dodge their attacks and improvise to hide within underbrush to escape the incoming gunshots: the intensity of the two games seemed unaltered, especially when the gun totting enemies will attempt to surprise you at every occasion.
For this game, the developers have completely revamped the AI of all the non-player characters, so when a firefight starts, they will hunt you down and flank you from the most unsuspecting corners. Sometimes with grenades.
This is one of the best features of this game: the enemies actually felt like scheming, challenging, real soldiers that are determined to hunt you down. Don’t worry too much about them, though. When your character does outsmart the enemies, the reward will also be equally exciting.
Despite the hostile soldiers’ smart actions, they are fairly easy to be taken down, so most of the time you will be enthralled by their actions and survive the battle in awed- hysteria instead of having to replay the battle in frustration. The combat mechanics thus only heightens your joy while fluidly moving you from location to location.
Another rewarding feature the game offers is the immersion factor. When the player wanders and looks around his surroundings, he or she will actually feel the “authentic dilapidation” of the war- ravaged region. The baobab trees and the shifting blade of grass are almost spiritual as you gaze at them, and they sometimes catch fire, depending on the direction the wind blows. In summary, this is the richest experience of being in Africa than any travel brochures, YouTube videos, or documentaries could offer.
Although the story is very short, and seemed to have condensed from the early release, “Far Cry 2” is a title that demands your attention. It has a monumental production value, and hey, it’s a much cheaper vacation experience than actually going to that holy and exotic continent.
