I guess I should play it then (and 2, judging by the replies). The only one I’ve played is 4, which has some really fun gameplay, and one of my favorite villains ever, Pagan Min. I didn’t care much at all for the overall conflict or most of the other characters. What kept me going was taking out the outposts, climbing the towers (until it got repetitive), hunting, and flying around in that dinky little helicopter.
I enjoy a good power fantasy as much as anyone, but I have a soft spot for the crushing bleakness of Far Cry 2. Everyone is a shithead. You’re a shithead. You will always end up taking missions for both sides in the conflict, perpetuating it. Most of them involving war crimes. The only missions where you don’t do evil are the ones where you’re paid in malaria medicine which you need to not die.
You get a bunch of buddies which will likely get killed one by one, possibly by you as a mercy killing. And those who survive will end up betraying you.
It’s such a nihilistic game. No hope, no redemption. I couldn’t get into FC3 after that. Even though it was a ton of fun mechanically, Far Cry 2 just hits different.
Edit: Happy to see from other replies that this is not a completely fringe opinion any more.
My opinion about Far Cry 2 did a complete 180 over the last few years. When it first came out, all I remember thinking was that it was less technically impressive than Crysis. (I was just obsessed with graphics in 2008. There were many of us like that. I have changed.) Now I see it as the most distinct entry in the series.
I appreciate that the other games, even if they’re 90% power fantasy, retain a tiny bit of that nihilism in the story of each game.
3: Jason becomes totally disconnected from society and almost feels like he can’t come back from the killing.
4: Help the rebels, and they become despots just like Pagan Min. Give up on the rebellion at the beginning of the game, and even Min admits he’s tired of the cycle.
5 I won’t even spoil, definitely a bit less of an artistic message even if it’s a huge twist.
Well it was probably the best of the series.
I guess I should play it then (and 2, judging by the replies). The only one I’ve played is 4, which has some really fun gameplay, and one of my favorite villains ever, Pagan Min. I didn’t care much at all for the overall conflict or most of the other characters. What kept me going was taking out the outposts, climbing the towers (until it got repetitive), hunting, and flying around in that dinky little helicopter.
Guess I gotta replay that one too now…
I enjoy a good power fantasy as much as anyone, but I have a soft spot for the crushing bleakness of Far Cry 2. Everyone is a shithead. You’re a shithead. You will always end up taking missions for both sides in the conflict, perpetuating it. Most of them involving war crimes. The only missions where you don’t do evil are the ones where you’re paid in malaria medicine which you need to not die.
You get a bunch of buddies which will likely get killed one by one, possibly by you as a mercy killing. And those who survive will end up betraying you.
It’s such a nihilistic game. No hope, no redemption. I couldn’t get into FC3 after that. Even though it was a ton of fun mechanically, Far Cry 2 just hits different.
Edit: Happy to see from other replies that this is not a completely fringe opinion any more.
My opinion about Far Cry 2 did a complete 180 over the last few years. When it first came out, all I remember thinking was that it was less technically impressive than Crysis. (I was just obsessed with graphics in 2008. There were many of us like that. I have changed.) Now I see it as the most distinct entry in the series.
I appreciate that the other games, even if they’re 90% power fantasy, retain a tiny bit of that nihilism in the story of each game.
3: Jason becomes totally disconnected from society and almost feels like he can’t come back from the killing. 4: Help the rebels, and they become despots just like Pagan Min. Give up on the rebellion at the beginning of the game, and even Min admits he’s tired of the cycle. 5 I won’t even spoil, definitely a bit less of an artistic message even if it’s a huge twist.
Easily my favorite enemy ai, too. Actually fanning out to find what made a noise, playing dead so you may need to double-tap to be sure, etc
And the “physical” map to get around with was great
Later on in the game enemies just dropping their weapons and running when they find out it’s you they’re fighting. God I need to play it again.
Oh yeah, the game leans really heavily into diegetic design, with weapon degradation and the map and stuff. Love that.
In fact, I just installed it. I wonder how far I’ll make it before it gets too depressing to go on =D
Far Cry 2 is really underrated imho.
Nah. If they patched it up real good and modernised the graphics, 2 wins that prize. They’d absolutely fuck it up though.
My favorites are 2 and 3, I replay them both occasionally. 4 was OK. 5 was garbage. Haven’t played 6.
2 was a bit repeptitive and rough around the edges for me, but still a ground breaking game.
3 is my favorite, also one of my all time top games, though I haven’t replayed a while.
4 is just 3+ in my opinion, so good but not unique.
I was surprised that I liked 5, I expected not to.
6 is quite bad, you are not missing anything.
I enjoyed 5 in coop, 4 was too much like 3. 6 was utter garbage.