Far Cry 4 has been out for a few months now and I’ve been having an amazing time stalking my prey in the Himalayas. As a big fan of the series some things about this game did disappoint me though. Mainly being that so much is a rehash of Far Cry 3. Far Cry 3 was an amazing game and all but up until 4 every release was completely different to it’s predecessor and this one falls short of that. Even with this being the case I have greatly enjoyed my time with Fc4 and was already daydreaming about the future of the franchise well before Ubisoft released their fan poll 2 weeks ago about possible settings for the next title in the series. Some of Ubi’s options were, shall we say, “unorthodox” for the franchise. Vampires, dinosaurs, zombies (of course) and Vietnam were all proposed by the Canadian mega-publisher and many fans were excited about the concept of another off-beat entry in the series. Being a big fan…and a big nerd…(and having way too much free time on my hands) I decided to put some thought into what I myself would like to see happen with the next installment in this top selling franchise. Here’s what I have come up with.
1.) Pick a Direction
First and foremost I would like to see the Far Cry team decide if they want a game set in a semi realistic world or one that is more along the lines of Far Cry Blood Dragon. Fc4 sets you about in a 3rd world nation and hands you the quest of overthrowing the tyrannical Pagan Min and restoring freedom to the people of Kyrat. This is a somewhat “believable” scenario. Of course one man with a wingsuit and an RPG is not going to be able to solely win a war but the setting, the antagonist and the resistance are all very real life concepts. So why I ask is the Kyrati Royal Army throwing knives at me? I don’t think there’s an army on earth that trains soldiers to run straight at the enemy chucking Ginsus. Why are their pockets loaded with pagers and maxi pads? I could go on about the inconsistencies with reality but the fact is it’s a video game not a simulator and I understand that. I loved Blood Dragon which is by far the craziest entry in the series and I also greatly enjoyed Fc2 which was the most realistic. I really don’t care which direction the next game goes in I just hope it embraces that direction. If they want to build a photo-realistic world and pit me against humans and animals that’s fine, that’s what the series has been about, but please try to bring some more depth to the game play. If they want to add some magic or monsters than I hope they go all out with it like they did in Blood Dragon.
2.) Teach Us How To Kill Again
Fc3 was a large departure from the malaria infested desert of Africa with it’s constant need for meds and repawning roadside patrols. Many fans of the previous game cried foul and accused Ubi of dumbing down the series. I was too busy enjoying 2012’s best shooter to really care all that much. Besides Ubi had found another way to immerse the player without constantly sending them out to search for medicine. That way was Jason. Some people 
couldn’t stand Jason in Fc3 and I agree that the preppy trust fund kid is a bit of a turn off but that was the whole point. Watching this spoiled, affluent, man-child turn into a cold blooded killer as you progressed through the game was one of it’s most heralded aspects. Jason learned how to fight in that jungle and his quips and skills progressed along with him. Transforming from the guy who turned down cash for weapons to the guy who laughed maniacally as he launched grenades and created massive body counts was one of the most ingenious ways of drawing a player into a story I have ever experienced. Sadly this element was mostly vacant in Fc4 with Ajay being a very static and almost lifeless personality. The majority of reviews have pointed this out as well so I hope Ubisoft is hearing the message loud and clear; Us Far Cry fans want a character who progresses with the story.
3.) Vehicular Firepower
Fc4 brought us a funky new driving mechanic that took a little bit to get the hang of but once mastered could be used to pull off some seriously action packed maneuvers. The sentence “I pulled a drive by on a rhino” sums it up pretty well. I really enjoy what they’ve done with the driving, freeing me up to shoot while behind the wheel, and now I have the urge to mix gunpowder and petro even more. Whichever direction they decide to take the series, be it realistic or fictional, I’d like to see some large vehicles with more firepower. If they decide to put the game in Dinosaur-land that’s fine but give me a tank that shoots electric pulses or something. If they put it in Vietnam that’s fine too but stick some mortars on the boats or maybe even let the player fly attack choppers.
4.) Remember the Definition of Insanity
Pagan is a fun villain, he’s power hungry, enjoys his evilness and is overly fashionable. There just isn’t enough of him. I can’t believe I am actually asking for more cutscenes but I am actually asking for more cutscenes. C’mon Ubi! You have made two iconic villains in your last 2 Far Cry games. We want to see more of them.
5.) Wait
Of all my suggestions this is most paramount. I don’t want to see another Far Cry for at least 5 years. The phrase “Skyrim with guns” gets thrown around a lot pertaining to Far Cry. I hope that Ubisoft begins to take some inspiration from the way Bethesda handles their top selling RPG and not just the way they design it’s world. In my mind Far Cry has become the crown jewel of Ubisoft and should be treated as such. The yearly releases of the Assassin’s Creed franchise have grown stale with more than a few gamers and Sam Fisher isn’t the draw he used to be either. Being the best received release the publisher has had this year I hope that their primary concern is not running Far Cry into the ground by overdoing things and rushing out releases. Fc4 is one of the most amazing open worlds I have ever traversed through but more time in development could have easily put it on the short list for “best open world game ever”. Unfortunately too many reused assets, not enough new enemy types, not enough new weapons and vehicles really make the game feel kind of unfinished in some aspects. Take your time Ubi! When I see the next Far Cry I want to be dying for it. I want the developers to beam with pride on release day knowing they’ve created one of the best video games ever made. All the potential is there for this series to take the last step and become that. It just needs time.
