Far Cry 2

[mattstep]

Finished Far Cry 2 last night.

I really enjoyed it for the most part. I often lose interest in open world games (see GTA4), but I really enjoyed exploring the African landscape. Maybe it 's just because it's unlike any environment I've played in before, but I was really impressed. Everything felt very authentic. The guard posts did get annoying but I usually just sped through them at top speed then stopped to kill any pursuers further up the road.

I did however find the actual story rather disappointing. I can't help but feel there was so much amazing potential basing the story around Heart of Darkness, but it wasn't utilised at all. I found it very hard to follow who was who and what was going on. It sure didn't help that the dialogue was spoken so quickly and softly, even with subs on, I often missed what was being said. If more time had been spent tapping into the themes and narrative of the novel on which it's based, and constructing a more focused and captivating story this could have risen up into my all time favourites. Ah well. Still a great game despite my disappointments.
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ALL THINGS PILKINGTON

[Guffers]

I'm up to the Heart of Darkness part and just spent 25 minutes traversing my way through the foliage trying to find a way across a certain ravine. I fell to my death and of course the game deposited me right back at the save point 25 minutes before...Might give this a rest for a few days.

(How hard could it be for developers to put in a save anywhere function in most of the games that come out these days? Splinter Cell Chaos Theory had it on the original Xbox. Checkpoints are so 1998)

[Guffers]

Finished Far Cry 2 tonight. I loved this for the most part but the story just didn't live up to its potential. There was no need for it to be quite as long as it was I feel, the game would of felt far less tedious and repetitive if it had finished up hours earlier.

I just didn't feel I understood any of the characters or the story properly even after sinking nearly 30 hours into this game. The conclusion was an anti climax and felt out of place.

Still the tech on show was just stunning and I loved some of the ideas the game brought to the table. (Jamming weapons, repairing cars, Malaria etc) Just feels like it should of brought along a truly moving story to match the environment.

[mattstep]

Stumbled upon this blog post regarding Far Cry 2. While the post itself is rather amusing, check out the comments as Clint Hocking himself actually chimes in and discusses certain design decisions and what not. Absolutely fascinating read. I really wish I had found this before I began the game. As it makes me appreciate it so much more.

http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-10-24-far-cry-2-impersonation-of-a-buddy

I highly recommend everyone check it out!
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ALL THINGS PILKINGTON

[ppjim3]

I finished this game on Monday night and would consider snapping the disc in half if I were a lesser man. This game has some brilliant aspects (fire, graphics, the world itself) however it is riddled with so many frustrating and mind-numbingly stupid design decision I have learned to hate it in a way.

My #1 example of this will happen to a player oh.. 10 times in any given hour of gameplay:

You get in a car - you drive 30 seconds and you hear/see another car come up behind you/in front of you. You have to stop - kill the guys in the other car. You can get out and use your gun or the turret - this is all okay. While they are driving up to you/you switch to a weapon they have damaged your car beyond use in the first few bullets they shoot. You steal their car rather than wasting 30 seconds to fix your own damn car with some magical, annoying, and slow tool. You get in car #2 and before you even move an inch - ANOTHER CAR COMES AND DESTROYS YOUR NEW ONE! This happened 5 times in a row, without moving a foot. This is the most annoying situation I have ever found in a game and it happens constantly!

Add to that the ridiculous respawning guard posts, the massive distance between missions (GTA4 has NOTHING on this for driving around pointlessly between missions), and the enemies ridiculously good awareness and accuracy with an assault rifle from 300 meters and you've gone one hell of a game!

Overall - I'm glad I played it. The story sucks, but the gameplay in sections is great and the graphics and immersion is wonderful. The online mode is also much better than you'd expect and I had a good bit of fun playing for a bunch of hours. Overall though, it was a test of will and some unhealthy masochism that got me through.
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[Putrefied Goon]

This would probably be my favourite FPS of this generation if there was a F*CKING GODDAMN FAST-TRAVEL!
Warp to any unlocked safe houses. Done. Hours of frustation gone, just like that.
What the frick were they thinking? Especially when it's this big.
Oh and having massive mountains that you can NEVER climb on either side of nearly every road so you can hardly ever avoid gaurd posts is the icing on the cake.
So very much fun when none of the above is happening though!
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Collection

[grizzly61]

playing the ps3 version of this today ( 13/11 ) there was a version update v1.03 heres the problem got online noticed that beforehand i was rank 5 , after update rank 1 . game starting to annoy me , anybody else had same problem

just looked at my trophies for this game and i have still got the trophy for getting to rank 5 , beats me

[Peveus]

I didn't mind the hours of driving. I could stand the constant checkpoints and car battles. I even accepted the vehicle repairs, especially with the upgrade that makes cars stronger and repair faster... what I can't forgive is the pathetic excuse for a story. So I sold this game.
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Currently Playing: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

[Putrefied Goon]

Yeah the story is a let-down, especially after the brilliant intro.
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Collection

[GooberMan]

This thread is quickly becoming an excellent counterpoint to the quest for realism in video games.

Anyone constantly complaining that their games aren't realistic enough just need to sit down with this game and play it through to the very end. If you still feel the need to complain, then you either have a point or actually are a mercenary in operation during a war in another country. The character is rightly as far removed from the plot as possible in the game, and needs to go to painstaking lengths to complete his job.

Strangely enough, I'm against the constant quest for realism in games yet am enjoying it immensely solely because it's giving me an experience that I can't get in real life or from any other game.
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[Guffers]

I sold this on ebay as well. I just can't see myself going back to it. I ended up despising all of the other characters (to be fair thats probably what the designers were going for) and getting around the map was far more tedious than fun. The checkpoint thing was just a really dumb design decision that brings the whole game down. The actual combat and the ability to try missions in different ways was great though. Although the enemies are far too aware and accurate. Getting sniped with a shotgun is not at all fun.

[Putrefied Goon]

I'm enjoying it immensly too, just needs a fast-travel.
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Collection

[Azza]

Played it for about 1 hour yesterday. I don't like it...

"awaits stonage"
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Facebook | Youtube | XBL Gamertag: Comrade Azza | Steam ID: Comrade_Azza

[Putrefied Goon]

Yeah, you should await stonage.
You don't come in to a thread about a game and just say 'I don't like it'.

Give some reason, boy!
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Collection

[Limericklad]

Whats the map editor like?
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[LeonJ]

I've played this for about 10 hours and about 20% through. I'm finding the game very labourous and considering trading it in.

For those who have finsihed it, does the second half of the game ramp up and have some really great experiences, or is it pretty much the same the whole way through?
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Shin J Leon.

XBL - LeonJ
PSN - LeonJ

[Guffers]

Its essentially the same. The ending was a massive dissapointment to me, I just didn't find the character development realistic. If your bored now then its probably only to get worse as nothing really changes.

I'm so sick of these games that are built on stunning engines and visuals but are ruined by idiotic design decisions. Those checkpoints will go down as one the most annoying features of gaming in 08 for me.

[LeonJ]

OK, I just read above about the 'Heart of Darkness'. Thought it may have ramped up a bit later on.

Might have it another 5 hours and see how it goes. Certainly a LONG game.
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Shin J Leon.

XBL - LeonJ
PSN - LeonJ

[Peveus]

The second half of the game is worse. And the ending is unforgivably crap.

In short, a crap game, with some good ideas.
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Currently Playing: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

[Shorty]

Seeing has how nobody's posted this yet, Brad Shoemaker over at Giant Bomb has posted a helpful guide for making the game easier. The hints are relatively easy to follow and they become really helpful the further you go into the game (the ones dealing with the weapons are literally a lifesaver).

I like Far Cry 2 because it's a suprisingly intelligent albeit cynical look at the continuing African conflict and the roles and motives of the people fighting it. In a sense, it's a rather effective political commentary. It's just that the game has a bit of a steep learning curve that can put off new gamers that are used to more forgiving FPSs.
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

[GooberMan]

[LeonJ]

See the problem I have with these type of games, much like GTA, is most of the game feels like filler. Because everything if focused on letting the player do what they want the little bits of detail tend to get left behind.
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Shin J Leon.

XBL - LeonJ
PSN - LeonJ

[Guffers]

Although I've critized this game a lot I did just buy the collectors edition on ebay. It has a lot of brillant ideas and the fact that you can approach missions in a multitude of ways means I'll definitely revisit it in the future. I think that if I don't try to rush through the story I'll enjoy it a lot more. And $68 for the collectors edition on PS3 is a great price.

[R83]

Hey Guys, about 20% through the game and my buddy has died.

If you lose a buddy, does all the side missions disappear completly or does these missions simply go to another buddy.

[Guffers]

Yeah I think it all just switches to a different buddy. Unless your really nasty and just kill all of the buddies, which you can do.