Far Cry 3

- Reviewed on PS4 -

Far Cry 3 released on November 29th, 2012.

Highly regarded as a fan favorite of the Far Cry series, Far Cry 3 is definitely a must play for fans of the base series and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this installment even though it released a while ago. 

There were a few negative aspects like the voice acting and repetitiveness to name a few in this game, but the base game itself was a joy to learn and of course, play, over its approximately 20-hour length. 

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

Taking the role of Jason Brody, brother to Grant and Riley Brody, you are immediately thrown into the action with a video clip of you and your friends on an island partying, but then taken hostage by pirates, led by one of the main antagonists, Vaas. 

I loved the transition Ubisoft did with the main plot, as the video you watched is actually on a camera held by Vaas and so you are immediately introduced to the first antagonist and being held prisoner in one of his camps. 

The voice acting (as mentioned earlier) isn't truly up to today's standards, specifically for Jason Brody. 

I did find the yelling (from Jason Brody) to be a little silly and unbelievable in certain parts of the game especially when Grant, Jason's brother, (SPOILER) is killed by Vaas in the opening segment.  

I had no idea this game was about liberation as well, and what I mean by that is, like other games I've played, you must help get rid of Outposts and liberate the Rook Islands of Far Cry 3. 

Clearing out the Outposts in Far Cry 3 is optional but serves as a peaceful bonus for completing, as those bases won't have enemies there anymore when you need to restock, travel, or do side missions. 

The Outposts are the most fun in this game I had, and I was actually sad when there weren't any more to liberate, as those Outposts were more fun than the actual story missions at times.

Speaking of the story, the main idea of Far Cry 3's plot is that Jason must save all his friends and escape the island while also helping the Rakyat Tribe take back their island(s). 

Here's the catch, and one of the things I loved about the plot, as you (Jason) help the Rakyat Tribe, Jason's innocence flounders and you eventually become a warrior and "promoted" in the tribe by Citra (leader of the Rakyat and sister of Vaas). 

The friends of Jason eventually notice how cruel the story has taken on him with all the killing and such, and this eventually leads to a divide between him (Jason) and his comrades he saves / saved. 

Character progression is at an all-time high in this game and to be honest, is more detailed than current Far Cry installments (as of writing this blog post).  

The location of Far Cry 3 (the Rook Islands) is very beautiful and unique, as the main two islands have different structures in terms of terrain. 

The first island is more jungle while the second island (with the other antagonist Hoyt) is more plains and mountainous. 

To uncover the map, you must climb the Radio Towers and reach the top, to open the view of the select portion.

Each tower is structed differently and serves as a parkour type obstacle, something I really could've done without.

I wasn't much of a fan of this mechanic but, props to Ubisoft as this is definitely a lot more engaging than just unlocking portions one by one. 

Upgrading your equipment is extremely rewarding / crucial to the gameplay as you must actually put in the time and effort to gather the right materials (plants and / or hunting animals), maintain your inventory (Loot Rucksack), and meet certain requirements (completing a certain number of missions). 

These upgrades can be for (not limited to)...

    - Increased Money Cap

    - Number of Weapons

    - Amount of Loot

    - Medicine (Syringe) Amount

    - Number of Throwables

At the end of the day, with the exception of the voice acting, repetitive lines, final boss battles (encounters with Vaas and Hoyt), and lack of flying opportunities (by helicopter and / or plane), Far Cry 3 is an exceptional game and definitely worth your time and money!

Pros: 

    - Outstanding Character Development / Progress (for Jason Brody)

    - Extremely Fun / Satisfying to Clear Outposts

    - Great Story and End Game Decision(s)

    - Charming Antagonists (Believable) 

    - Amazing Combat and Upgrades

    - Plenty of Variety (for Weapons, Vehicles, Items, and more)

Cons:

    - Bad Voice Acting (for Jason Brody)

    - Repetitive (NPC Dialogue and Gameplay at Times)

    - Boring Radio Tower Mechanic (but Still Interesting / Good Idea)

My Rating for Far Cry 3 (on PS4):

4 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.