Far Cry

[Hieremias]

In the same vein as <i>Chrome</i> and <i>S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost</i>, and re-affirming that all the best games are coming out of Europe these days, there's another FPS coming out early next year by a low-key developer (Crytek) that looks like it can rival the big guns <i>Doom 3</i> and <i>Half-Life 2</i>.

Check out some of the previews and screenshots of <i>Far Cry</i> <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/farcry/preview_6083700.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.1up.com/article2/0,4364,1386645,00.asp">here</a>.

Here's some excerpts:

Far Cry isn't like most other first-person shooters. It's bright, sunny and vibrant. This is a tropical paradise. The water here is clean, the beach is blazing, and everything looks appropriately soaked in vivid sunshine and all the many colors of the Skittles rainbow. It's also possible to see for miles. Far Cry is detailed to an almost cluttered extent. Different types of trees, shrubs, vines, huts, crates, water, dirt and grass litter the landscape, which would imply the draw distance be sorely limited or painfully bare at a certain point, but this is not so. Remarkably, the developers at CryTek have managed to create a piece of technology capable of rendering the many details of a typically dense jungle at incredible distances.

Far Cry will ship with both a single-player game and multiplayer options, but its most important feature may be something else entirely: its level editor. The powerful tool has an interface that resembles Microsoft Windows or Adobe Photoshop, yet it apparently lets you put together a huge indoor and outdoor level by doing little more than clicking and dragging, and dragging and dropping. We watched a huge island map get constructed over the course of about 45 minutes.

Some of Far Cry's enemies, like the soldiers you encounter in the early levels, have a morale system as well as a command structure. This means that they call for help if they have backup nearby, as we saw, and they're led by lieutenant soldiers who give them orders to fan out and lay down covering fire while other soldiers move in for the kill.

Perhaps the part that got us drooling the most about this game is that it appears to have all the makings of a long-range type of experience; a feeling of distance is something that many have tried for in PC games, but few have been able to truly achieve, especially in FPS titles. Chrome is a good example of the principle we're talking about, but Far Cry has definitely raised the bar in this aspect above anything we've seen to date; boasting levels approximately one square kilometer in size, players can wander at will, and are not forced into a small virtual trail that they can only stray a little ways off of before either hitting an invisible barrier or being scolded back onto the path. Don't worry though, powerful toys such as binoculars and sniper scopes are there to help you close the distance, and brother, they will. The zoom on the binoculars is awesome, and an audio enhancement is included on these binocs so you can actually hear the conversation of whoever you're looking at through them.

And some pretty screenshots!

<img src="http://www.gamersdepot.com/games/previews/farcry/1.jpg" width="800">

<img src="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/pc/farcry/1117/far_screen018.jpg" width="800">

I want!! This baby is coming out in Q1 2004. Has anyone else looked into this game? Any thoughts?

[T3KT0N]

Looks amazing.
I'm ready for it.
I hope the gameplay will be as good as those graphics.
One point though(very personal),I'm a bit tired of the "militaristic"/soldiery look,I was brought up around too much khaki maybe...............................


Now here is one game that I've played the demo,and demo-wise it's excellent,it's called Breed,and it is designed for coop play,you get four different fighter classes in a squad kinda formation(marine,sniper,heavy gunner,etc)you can assume any role at any time,if you get killed.The levels I've tried, were reminiscent of the opening Unreal 2 levels,large open, yet not camping inducing, and the vehicles(very needed) were good too.
Check it out here:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/breed/screenindex.html

Seems to me that 2004 is gonna be a GOOD year folks!
:)
Some glee for PC gamerz,at last,
:)

[Renzatic Gear]

Yeah, you PC fanboys are all pretty lame. Those graphics could be done easly on the Xbox...hell, they have been done on the Xbox already, Halo 1 looks LOADS better than that, and if you think any PC game will EVER reach the technical achievements that Halo 2 offers then you're all dumb.

PC's have all this hardware, but they can't use it cuz no one owns it. That's why most PC games don't even look as good as half the PS2 games out there, most people only own like a Geforce 1 so all their games are like 4 generations behind the times. Doom 3 will have better lighting on the Xbox than the PC so shut up.

XBOX RULZ!

[E.T.]

Re:Far Cry, the AI behavior is said to be something new in FPS's.
Enemy units "dont hang out" waiting to get blasted, & movement goes beyond scripted paths. This, if true, is much needed change in FPS games. Too often have I been able to avoid detection of AI, simply by finding the edge of map or laying low off the beaten path.
If the enemy AI in Far Cry has the ability to "sense environment" as touted by author, this will make gameplay more challenging!

Graphics are spectacular in screens, didnt notice what practical expectations are for GPU's & CPU's?

The spherical trueness of Jeeps wheels are the best I've seen rendered,
small thing, but much different than the cube shaped wheels of games past. PC gaming keeps getting better.

[Aku]

Screenshots...whoa. That's some of the best eye candy I've ever seen.

[Aku]

How many Renzatic Gears are there? It's like a Jekyl and Hyde thing. Hey XBOX fanboy, this ain't the System Wars board.

[Hieremias]

Damn, look at these videos!! They're incredible!

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/AI_Trailer.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/CRYTEK.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/far_cry_320x240.wmv

BTW, I think Renzatic was being facetious. LOL Making fun of that "The Game Evolution" nutcase.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">

BTW, I think Renzatic was being facetious. LOL Making fun of that "The Game Evolution" nutcase.</div>

"The Game Evolution nutcase"????

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

"The Game Evolution nutcase"????</div>

Yes, the <a href="http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?threadid=538">Xbox troll</a> who has <a href="http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?threadid=1242">tried to bring</a> his flamewars from the Systems Wars board over here.

Doom 3 will have better lighting on the Xbox than the PC so shut up.

LOL

[And_so_it_goes]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Damn, look at these videos!! They're incredible!

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/AI_Trailer.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/CRYTEK.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/far_cry_320x240.wmv

BTW, I think Renzatic was being facetious. LOL Making fun of that "The Game Evolution" nutcase.</div>

wow, this game looks sweet. unfortunately, it will never do well in japan unless xbox can claim the sole rights to it. lol...

[Renzatic Gear]

lol, it's been awhile since I broke out with something random and stupid here on the PC boards...figured it was overdue. ;)

I've been keeping an eye on Far Cry for awhile now, considering that the game originally started out as a Geforce 3 tech demo it's come quite a long way. It looks pretty cool but I dunno if it's gonna replace STALKER as my most anticipated game just yet, so far it strikes me as being a bit similar to Ghost Recon with better AI and graphics.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Yes, the <a href="http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?threadid=538">Xbox troll</a> who has <a href="http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?threadid=1242">tried to bring</a> his flamewars from the Systems Wars board over here.



LOL</div>

Are you quoting post #3 in this thread?

I've read through "The Games" post re: Halo on PC>Gen Discussion, thread start is non-inflammatory, repiles start to heat things up a bit though...look @ the language used in response, provoking to say the least.

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I've been keeping an eye on Far Cry for awhile now, considering that the game originally started out as a Geforce 3 tech demo it's come quite a long way. It looks pretty cool but I dunno if it's gonna replace STALKER as my most anticipated game just yet, so far it strikes me as being a bit similar to Ghost Recon with better AI and graphics.</div>

Well it comes out about 6 months before STALKER. I agree that STALKER still looks better, but Far Cry looks pretty sweet nonetheless. I'd compare it to Chrome rather than Ghost Recon--at least I sincerely hope it isn't like Ghost Recon.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Well it comes out about 6 months before STALKER. I agree that STALKER still looks better, but Far Cry looks pretty sweet nonetheless. I'd compare it to Chrome rather than Ghost Recon--at least I sincerely hope it isn't like Ghost Recon.</div>

You have a problem with Ghost Recon?

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

You have a problem with Ghost Recon?</div>

Yes!

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Yes!</div>

Speaking of Ghost Recon, is this game really hard, or do I just suck at it? I mean, I can finish the missions doing the old save/load, and I've finished missions ironman style while losing some (or most) of my team. But I have yet to complete a mission iwthout saving and without losing a man. I've just finished mission 7 of the main campaign (blow up the bridge), and was playing it again last night trying to do it perfect. I had wiped out the four tanks, killed a couple dozen enemies, and it looked like everything was quiet. I took control of someone and walked him through a passage in the cliff and pop, down he goes from the lone gunman standing on the other side. Another perfect mission blown. Argggghhh.

I'll have to compare this to R6/Rogue Spear sometime. They both have their strengths, and some things I like more than others about each of them. Similar games, but also very different.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Speaking of Ghost Recon, is this game really hard, or do I just suck at it? I mean, I can finish the missions doing the old save/load, and I've finished missions ironman style while losing some (or most) of my team. But I have yet to complete a mission iwthout saving and without losing a man. I've just finished mission 7 of the main campaign (blow up the bridge), and was playing it again last night trying to do it perfect. I had wiped out the four tanks, killed a couple dozen enemies, and it looked like everything was quiet. I took control of someone and walked him through a passage in the cliff and pop, down he goes from the lone gunman standing on the other side. Another perfect mission blown. Argggghhh.

I'll have to compare this to R6/Rogue Spear sometime. They both have their strengths, and some things I like more than others about each of them. Similar games, but also very different.</div>

Playing GR was similar to playing R6 [to me] in that strategy/planning are key components to succeeding.
When GR came out, my mindset was incorrectly set to "frontal asault" mode, in GR this = failure guaranteed. It took me several attempts @ keeping team alive, which only added to the satisfaction of gameplay.

GR was hard/challenging @ first, but had more appeal/gratification for me than R6.

I heard the expansion Desert Siege was more of a challenge.

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Speaking of Ghost Recon, is this game really hard, or do I just suck at it? I mean, I can finish the missions doing the old save/load, and I've finished missions ironman style while losing some (or most) of my team. But I have yet to complete a mission iwthout saving and without losing a man. I've just finished mission 7 of the main campaign (blow up the bridge), and was playing it again last night trying to do it perfect. I had wiped out the four tanks, killed a couple dozen enemies, and it looked like everything was quiet. I took control of someone and walked him through a passage in the cliff and pop, down he goes from the lone gunman standing on the other side. Another perfect mission blown. Argggghhh.

I'll have to compare this to R6/Rogue Spear sometime. They both have their strengths, and some things I like more than others about each of them. Similar games, but also very different.</div>

It's not just you. The game is built on trial-and-error gameplay. Some people like it, but I've become quite disenchanted with it.

I think that's the reason why I haven't enjoyed Hidden & Dangerous 2 as much as the original. It's everything that the original was and more, but it's been, what, 5 years? I think my gameplay tastes have changed. I don't tolerate trial-and-error as much. Stupid developers should have anticipated my evolving preferences. :)

Plus I hated the level design in Ghost Recon. For a game that's supposed to be about realism there are an awful lot of artificial barriers. After playing something like Chrome, with huge open outdoor levels that you're free to explore, it's hard going back to the rats-in-a-maze formula. Oh and I didn't like the sluggish controls, something about Ghost Recon just didn't "feel right". Static_Fred complained that Hot Pursuit 2 had a floaty feeling, well I have a similar complaint with Ghost Recon. It just felt off.

It's hard to describe and impossible to quantify, but some action games just don't feel right. The movement is too floaty, or sluggish, or the weapons don't have the necessary kick. Deus Ex was guilty of this: its combat model sucked (it was the rest of the game that made it outstanding, and I'm desperately hoping the sequel fixes some of its deficiencies). Same goes for Thief. Ghost Recon also just had something muddy about it, but unlike Deus Ex or Thief it didn't have too many great positives to offset the negative. By contrast, Half-Life was so playable because it felt great; the movement and weapons were very fluid.

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, or am I just rambling here?

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, or am I just rambling here?</div>

I know what you mean by your comparing Deus Ex with Hald-Life. Thief is meant to be slow-paced because it's all swords and arrows. I don't notice anything sluggish about Ghost Recon, but I'm used to Rainbow 6, and it feels the same.

The one thing I enjoy about Rainbow 6 is the ability to plan the whole assault at the beginning. I do like the on-the-fly approach of Ghost Recon, but sometimes a plan with set go-codes would help. Like, you can't really coordinate an assault on a house in Ghost Recon like you can in Rainbow 6.

[Renzatic Gear]

I took to Ghost Recon alot faster than I did to any of the R6 games for some reason. When I first fired it up I expected to play the game like you did, Aku..having to reload every few minutes. But after the first mission something clicked and I found that I was much better at it than I ever was at R6, I flew through the game kicking Georgian ass left and right on moderate difficulty.

The only problem I have with GR is that I'm getting burnt out on the whole military strategy genre, there's been way too many games similar to GR and R6 that have been released recently and I need to take a break from em.

[T3KT0N]

I do believe the trial and error game design is frustrating too.
Personally I think the Clancy games,became too micro-planning intensive,and after having played the first two,I lost interest.
Now referring to the floating mouse control,
I did have that trouble with Hitman 2,and RTCW and that was the reason I returned those games.Something about mouse movmt. compensation or other.Every now and then this happens to fps (in the middle of the game,never at the beginning :( )and that ruins it.
My suspicion lays with the Logitech drivers that have troubled me before,and THIS is the reason why I ended up using MS drivers on the Logi mouse.

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I took to Ghost Recon alot faster than I did to any of the R6 games for some reason. When I first fired it up I expected to play the game like you did, Aku..having to reload every few minutes. But after the first mission something clicked and I found that I was much better at it than I ever was at R6, I flew through the game kicking Georgian ass left and right on moderate difficulty.</div>

So far, I'm better at R6. The planning and the largely confined spaces give you more control of the situation. There's some trial-and-error, but with a good plan you can zip through a mission. In GR, you're so exposed at times, and the enemy will flank and sneak up behind your guys and rip them up while you're a hundred yards away sniping at somebody. But it makes for a good challenge.

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\">The only problem I have with GR is that I'm getting burnt out on the whole military strategy genre, there's been way too many games similar to GR and R6 that have been released recently and I need to take a break from em.</div>

I know what you mean. I'm playing GR (with all the expansions) as well as Rogue Spear: Black Thorn right now. I don't even have Raven Shield yet, but I've got way too much military/covert action my plate as it is.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, or am I just rambling here?

No, I never find myself reloading in the game... nor do I stop and save every few feet. I thought the movement physics were SPOT on as well.

[Static_Fred]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I took to Ghost Recon alot faster than I did to any of the R6 games for some reason. When I first fired it up I expected to play the game like you did, Aku..having to reload every few minutes. But after the first mission something clicked and I found that I was much better at it than I ever was at R6, I flew through the game kicking Georgian ass left and right on moderate difficulty.

The only problem I have with GR is that I'm getting burnt out on the whole military strategy genre, there's been way too many games similar to GR and R6 that have been released recently and I need to take a break from em.</div>

I also took to GR faster than i did to any R6 games. I think this is because with R6, 80% of the game depends on the "micro-planning" before the start of the missions compared to GR where you can "kinda" plan and make it work out in the field. I dunno, i've just never really been interested in the elaborate planning before the missions i guess.

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\">No, I never find myself reloading in the game... nor do I stop and save every few feet. I thought the movement physics were SPOT on as well.</div>

Okay Mr. Ghost Recon, I don't save every few feet either. Last night I got right to the end, a hundred yards from the extraction zone, when one of my guys got popped in what should have been a fairly easy firefight. So, I finished the mission with one reload (I saved right before the end, just in case). Not bad, but I was still banging my head against the keyboard.

[Aku]

Hey, I finally created a link! :)

[ShotgunShy]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

It's hard to describe and impossible to quantify, but some action games just don't feel right. The movement is too floaty, or sluggish, or the weapons don't have the necessary kick.
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, or am I just rambling here?</div>

I fully understand what you're talking about. In fact, these days the amount of time I spend on a game (usually FPSs) is very much determined by the movement physics, among other things as well of course. I played the demo of Chaser, found it was too 'floaty' and left it, the same with Breed. On the other hand, I played the demo of XIII, liked the feel of it, played it through and now am interested in the full game (I still have to read some more reviews first tho). I have yet to play an FPS that rivals the just-right feel of Half Life.

There are a number of 3rd person games that succeed in making that feel too such as Mafia, both Max Paynes and now hopefully the completed <a href="http://www.1up.com/article2/0,4364,1381168,00.asp">Prince of Persia: sands of time</a>. And currently I've been hooked on Jedi Academy. The saber combat in this game rules!

For me the feel of the controls and movement has always been an integral part of the gaming experience.

[Computer Reprobate]

I played the beta version they had at ECTS and it does look incredibly lush. I was on a tropical Island, in the jungle areas. The foliage and surroundings were all superbly detailed. It was just lovely :)

The gameplay seemed like your average FPS, and obviously there were glitches. But it has lots of promise. It won't be innovative, but it'll be class - no doubt.

[Renzatic Gear]

I played the beta version they had at ECTS and it does look incredibly lush. I was on a tropical Island, in the jungle areas. The foliage and surroundings were all superbly detailed. It was just lovely :)

The gameplay seemed like your average FPS, and obviously there were glitches. But it has lots of promise. It won't be innovative, but it'll be class - no doubt.

If the gameplay is as good as the graphics then it'll be well beyond just class. Still though, this is the type of game I'll just stay cautiously optimistic about at most...hope for the best but expect just meh.

[Computer Reprobate]

If the gameplay is as good as the graphics then it'll be well beyond just class. Still though, this is the type of game I'll just stay cautiously optimistic about at most...hope for the best but expect just meh.

It's probably your best bet, actually. But it is rather hard not to be swept up by the hype. It always is :p

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">It's probably your best bet, actually. But it is rather hard not to be swept up by the hype. It always is :p</div>

Hype? What hype? I haven't the foggiest clue about what you guys are talking about... Far Cry? Never heard of it till now.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Okay Mr. Ghost Recon, I don't save every few feet either. Last night I got right to the end, a hundred yards from the extraction zone, when one of my guys got popped in what should have been a fairly easy firefight. So, I finished the mission with one reload (I saved right before the end, just in case). Not bad, but I was still banging my head against the keyboard.</div>

Well, you know what would have saved your ass? A Threat-Locater-gamey-thing-a-ma-bob. If the enemy is right on top of you, and you don't know where, these things are invaluable. They're a DEFINITE must on solo mission for certain (however this requires/assumes one of two things- you're playing as a Grunt, or you're playing as a Specialist).

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Damn, look at these videos!! They're incredible!

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/AI_Trailer.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/teaser/CRYTEK.wmv

http://www.farcry-thegame.com/far_cry_320x240.wmv

BTW, I think Renzatic was being facetious. LOL Making fun of that "The Game Evolution" nutcase.</div>

Looks like a cross between the AI of Deus Ex and Chrome actually. The AI in the video looks about as stilted too...

[Aku]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Well, you know what would have saved your ass? A Threat-Locater-gamey-thing-a-ma-bob. If the enemy is right on top of you, and you don't know where, these things are invaluable. They're a DEFINITE must on solo mission for certain (however this requires/assumes one of two things- you're playing as a Grunt, or you're playing as a Specialist).</div>

In this case I knew the enemy was there, but one of my team still got shot before he shot the bad guy. Even when you have a man advantage, there's no guarantee your team AI will prevail over the enemy. I try to clear out as many as possible with my sniper before bringin my team in, to increase my chances for success.