43.3 hours played
Written 1 month and 2 days ago
A review to Far Cry Primal after finishing the story, all outposts as well as crafting all gear and maxed out level.
I recently started playing through the entire Far Cry Series and after finishing Far Fry 4, it was time for a dive back to the time, where it was okay to beat up people in the woods, take their sh*t and eat their children. Good old times.
If I'm being honest, I was thinking about skipping Far Cry Primal, because I was really not interested in the setting at all. I've been pretty sceptical about this game since it's announcement. And now I just must admit, I kinda feel really stupid for judging this game so quickly. Far Cry Primal is the most unique game in the series and also one of the best, if not the best title the franchise has to offer.
First on the atmosphere is absolutely on point, even though the prehistoric setting seems a bit off for a Far Cry game, I've never felt so emersed into a world like this. It really soaks you in right from the start. The characters feel often really relatable and partly more relatable than characters introduced and other games. Hell there's even a prehistoric Hurk in this game and he's still annoying as f*ck.
The game's story isn't the best in the series though and it's seriously missing a good antagonist. Something the series usually never struggled with. But everything else feels perfect. I think this might be my favourite game in the series.
So if you like Far Cry, but you haven't played Primal because of it's setting, seriously, give it a try. As someone who has played most games in the series, I can totally recommend this and I dare to say it's one of the best games in the series, maybe not the best, but definitely one of the best!
I started writing a commentary for a video about Far Cry Primal and it ended up being a full blown review and I thought, I just might as well add it here, as kind of a second review of the game. It's quiet long but also pretty detailed, so if you're up to it here you go:
I was really sceptical about Far Cry Primal when it was announced and I haven't played it at launch. But I started playing through the whole series and I decided to also give Primal a chance. Even though the setting seemed so off and uninteresting to me, I must admit that now after finishing the game, I actually believe it's one of the best, if not the best Far Cry game in the series. The world feels actually alive and immersive. And yes it's grindy, but Far Cry 4 was grindy too. It's the most unique game in the series and that's, what makes the game so good:))
The only grind that really started bothering me, is the constant need of gathering resources for crafting arrows, spears etc. But it's quick though and especially after Skilling the gathering tree, it's really no big bother anymore, to gather lots of resources in a short time. Every Far Cry had annoying features. Far cry 1 had messed up checkpoints and save funktions, as well as bugs that made you repeat many sections of the game over and over and don't even let me get started on the enemy AI, Far Cry 2, even though if weapon degradation and malaria were cool and unique ideas, they sure as shit could get really annoying and frustrating sometimes. Far cry 3 was pretty perfect tbh though, but also grindy to get all the skills, animal skins and path of the hunter missions. Far Cry 4 has the same problem as FC3, super grindy to gather all skill points and you also had to upgrade you gear which took some time.
And yes Far Cry Primal exceeded all that with the constant need of gathering. But at the same time, it's a game set in the stone ages. Where you didn't do anything else but hunting and gathering. The game is not perfect, but I just have to respect the will of Ubisoft, to try something else and take a risk for once. And it honestly paid off. As I said I'm playing through the whole series right now and especially after Far Cry 3, Blood Dragon and Far Cry 4, which are all amazing games but also play the exact same, Far Cry Primal was a fresh breath of air, with a setting that, as obscure as it is, is also as fascinating and unique at the same time.
That's why I honestly think it's the best title in the series. Not because it had the absolute best gameplay or story, but because it dared to be different. It dared to be controversial, it dared to fail. And that's a risk, that Ubisoft hasn't taken in years anymore. Far Cry Primal was not just a bold move for the series. It was a bold move from Ubisoft, that showed that they are still here and able to release absolute unique masterpieces. Today we complain about the Ubisoft formular, everythings a copy & paste. But right here, we had it. That was the one time Ubisoft was creative. Just alone for that we should at least respect Far Cry Primal, for what it is.
