Far Cry Primal Review

There is only you and your will to survive.
far cry primal

Encounters while you’re exploring on your own are organic. You’ll stumble across a huge sabertooth tiger and find yourself peeking into an enemy camp full of armored foes. There’s a rush of adrenaline as you move through the world as you please. Story missions, on the other hand, play out in a number of ways. You may find yourself gathering resources, hunting specific animals, or eliminating large numbers of rival tribespeople. They provide plenty of action, yes, but they feel forced. The story places you into these situations with little explanation, removing the element of surprise that makes the game’s core survival aspect so special. What you’re left with is a slow start that fails to hit that fever pitch that the series is known for in later stages.

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The characters fail to captivate as well as those from previous games in the series. Everyone seems to just push you around like an errand boy, never calling to attention the fact that it has been you saving everyone. Enemies are there, too, but they lack any flavor. Say what you want about Far Cry 4, but Pagan Min was a star. Far Cry Primal is left wanting for anyone that can match or even close in on his level of influence.

The weakness in story and character leave emergent gameplay to carry the full weight of the experience. That’s a tall order for such a large game with only one well-executed focus. There are only so many times you can go out for a hunt before the need for something further engaging arises. The animals are a joy, but begin to lose their charm in the absence of a meaningful, driving force. A story should highlight the best elements of a game, not distract you from them, and that’s where this arrow misses its mark.

Far Cry® Primal_20160217212718

One thing the story does do quite well, though, is create immersion through language. Though you cant understand the native words themselves, you can feel the frantic state and emotional gravity of every syllable. You may encounter a problem if you aren’t fond of subtitles, but the required reading is an appreciated trade off for a more genuine feel.

The narrative misses many notes, though, leaving the experience feeling light. While the gameplay is stellar, little in the way of other offerings makes Far Cry Primal feel much less than a full sequel. The new area and mechanics are welcome additions to the franchise, but feel more like an expansion offering a unique way to play. With the last couple of titles making such grand impressions, this hollowness became increasingly difficult to ignore.

All in all, Far Cry Primal is a great entry in the series when it comes down to gameplay alone. The refocus was necessary to rein in the series, introducing a renewed sense of helplessness with more thoughtful engagement. Ultimately, the lack of a gripping story or any standout characters strips a bit too much from the experience. It’s a solid effort that opens up more possibilities for first-person action, but without the highs a strong narrative could have afforded the game, it is left feeling a bit bare.

Score: 3/5


Pros

  • A great sense of urgency.
  • Animals open up gameplay immensely.
  • Lack of technology never feels like a hindrance.

Cons

  • Story is lacking and largely forgettable.
  • No standout characters.
  • Strong mechanics, but otherwise light experience.

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Author
Ishmael Romero
Just a wandering character from Brooklyn, NY. A fan of horrible Spider-Man games, anime, and corny jokes.