Far Cry 6: PS5 Review

Developed by Ubisoft Toronto

Published by Ubisoft

Platform: PS5

The Far Cry formula isn't one that's deviated for a long while.

And in its sixth iteration, there's no sign of Ubisoft radically shaking up the franchise, and making sure there are surprises around every corner.

There is however, the usual mayhem, degree of stereotyping and utter lunacy that you've come to expect with the series as the carnage is ramped up to 11, the hyper-stylised edges are shifted up to 11, and the series continues to deliver a what it says on the tin approach to the game.

This time around though, there's more of a feeling of a lived in world, and a protagonist that belongs in the Far Cry world and is settled with themselves, rather than an outside force brought in to shake things up.

It's the story of Dani Rojas, a would be guerrilla caught up in the events on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara. Ruled by Giancarlo Esposito's El Presidente, Dani is pulled into the fight when one of her friends is killed and she decides enough is enough for the people of Yara who are sentenced to death by working in the fields and plastered with pesticide for the betterment of a dictatorship.

From there, it's the usual Far Cry story you'd expect - free bases, upgrade weapons, deal to the bad guys and ultimately take out the one leader of it all. There's nothing experimental here, just the exploiting of some usual tropes and the bigger, better, more approach of the next gen technology to make Yara look incredible and the game play as well as it deserves to.

In truth, Far Cry 6 doesn't really care what you think of it. This is a game whose first mission involves you rescuing an arms dealer and his crocodile - a customisable beast that you can inflict on others.

But damn it all, if it's not fun in a disposable and enjoyable fashion. As more weapons open up, the game's propensity for mayhem becomes more obvious and the game's core raison d'etre falls apart under the desire to simply just get to the killing.

Missions to scope out bases may reveal how best to play themselves, but just blundering in all guns blazing and swinging a machete also get the job done. It's a sign Far Cry 6 doesn't take itself seriously as it throws more of everything at the wall - though worryingly, at times, it feels like it's actively encouraging you not to take it seriously too.

There may be more of it in Far Cry, from bigger maps, to the bigger weapons, and there's certainly a heap of disposable fun to be had - but don't be surprised if you leave this game wishing that Ubisoft would do something a little more daring with the series.