We're just now getting the first details on UBISOFT's follow up to it's smash hit FAR CRY 2I should start by saying that FC2 is one of my favorite games of all time. A sober, mature and harrowing experience, the game was like few I've ever played. Dealing with complex issues like famine, war and genocide, all against the backdrop of a central African nation on the precipice of civil war, the game created a sense of foreboding, danger and despair despite a gorgeously rendered gam world that never ceased to astound me with it's natural beauty and interactivity. Inspired by HEART OF DARKNESS, Ubi's epic tale did more than virtually any FPS I've ever played to put me in the head space of the main character. By the time I finally reached the Jackal at the end of the game, I was playing differently than I was at the beginning, and my feelings on the conflict in which I'd found myself mired had also undergone a profound evolution
The dedication to immersion and mature exploration of complex and difficult issues makes it one of the best games of the decade, IMHO.
Now we have FC3, recently displayed at the "E3" game show. I remember reading that UBI had initially promised more games in the African setting, that would continue the story where FC2 had left off. Now that all seems to have changed. Clint Hocking (the Guru of FC2) was let go from the company under suspicious circumstances. It was his guiding vision that brought so much of what I loved about FC2 to life. Now it seems that Ubi may have chucked that all over board in favor of regressing back to a fictional island setting, this time complete with "crazed islanders"
So, literary influence and complex neo-colonial politics out... RESIDENT EVIL 4 style "crazed" enemies in. Normally a beautiful open world setting is enough to get me excited for a game, but coming on the heels of FC2, I must react to this news with a twinge of disappointment. Perhaps it will be a great game, but I can't help but feel like the immediacy and relevance UBISOFT had built into FC2 will be lost if I'm just fighting crazy cult members or whatever
PS Since writing this, I've gone on to watch the GAME PLAY trailer, and it's pretty exciting. I'm still torn up over them leaving Africa behind, but I'm not willing to declare it a disaster just yet
Edited by Princess Kate - 11/4/11 at 9:58am
