Review: Far Cry 4

Ubisoft’s FPS action-adventure transports players to Kyrat in the Himalayas, showcasing impressive technical execution.

Far Cry 3 was a notable advancement for the series, featuring a larger, more cohesive world and a variety of impressive environments, such as underwater encounters with sharks. Far Cry 4 shifts the setting from the Pacific islands to the fictional country of Kyrat, inspired by Nepal and the Himalayan mountains. Players assume the role of Ajay Ghale, tasked with fulfilling his mother’s final wish: to scatter her ashes at Lakshmana in Kyrat, his birthplace before he emigrated to America. However, Kyrat is embroiled in a civil war. The tyrannical Pagan Min controls the northern region, opposed only by the resistance movement, The Golden Path. The narrative begins with an attack on Ajay’s bus by Pagan Min’s forces, leading to his rescue by the rebels.

Veterans of the Far Cry series will immediately recognize the established formula. The game is a first-person shooter with action elements and light role-playing mechanics, including hunting wildlife and collecting resources to craft equipment. A new addition is the ability to use animal hearts as bait. Deploying bait near enemy soldiers can attract predators, providing a chaotic advantage. Ubisoft has also expanded the arsenal, allowing players to create havoc with explosive arrows and utilize a bazooka. Animals are not merely resources; elephants, for example, play a significant role. These creatures can be formidable if provoked and can later be used to demolish enemy fortifications and serve as transportation.

The visual fidelity of Far Cry 4 on PS4 is immediately striking. It is arguably one of the most visually impressive games on the platform. Despite its availability on previous-generation consoles (PS3/Xbox 360), the developers have fully utilized the capabilities of the new hardware. The graphics are near photorealistic, enhanced by vibrant colors, lighting effects, and intricate details. Character models are well-rendered, animations are fluid, and the game maintains a stable performance. While the game is locked at 30 FPS (at least currently), the consistency of the frame rate contributes to a smooth experience. Kyrat is depicted as a visually stunning land, featuring snow-capped mountains, forests, caves, rivers, and jungle environments. This title serves as a compelling demonstration of the graphical improvements on current-generation consoles. Players are encouraged to discover Shangri-La, an exceptionally well-crafted area within the game.

The audio design is equally commendable. Far Cry 4 features a dynamic soundscape that complements the on-screen action. Sound effects and music are appropriately balanced. The voice acting is generally well-executed, with consistent use of Kyrat’s language and English with an Indian inflection. Notable performances include Troy Baker as the villain Pagan Min (demonstrating his vocal range from Joel in The Last of Us) and Naveen Andrews from Lost and The English Patient.

A key addition to Far Cry 4 is the multiplayer mode. Cooperative gameplay allows players to share experiences with a friend, while competitive modes support up to ten players (5v5). Far Cry 4 offers more content than its predecessors, with a range of missions from liberating radio towers to escorting valuable cargo, rescuing hostages, and capturing enemy outposts. These missions can be replayed, encouraging experimentation with different approaches. Players can attempt stealthy assassinations with a knife or utilize a silenced pistol for ranged engagements. For solo players, AI support can be summoned through karma (earned by assisting locals) and special tokens.

Far Cry 4 is technically proficient and offers an abundance of content. However, the narrative and characters are a relative weakness. The introduction shows promise, presenting the engaging villain Pagan Min. However, the storyline subsequently becomes generic, tasking players with dismantling Min’s control while uncovering information about Ajay’s family. The strength of Far Cry games lies in their open-world design and opportunities for emergent gameplay. While Far Cry 4 provides these elements and expands upon them with multiplayer, the narrative is less compelling than its predecessor, Far Cry 3.