Ubisoft’s open-world game Far Cry 5 will be released on March 27 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. We have listed some things you should know before buying the game.
The release of Ubisoft’s next open-world title is just around the corner. But what can you expect from this blockbuster? How long will Far Cry 5 keep you entertained, and how does the co-op mode work?
What you should know before buying Far Cry 5 has been compiled in an overview for you.
1. The campaign comes with co-op, but your partner plays second fiddle
You can explore the fictional Hope County both alone and online in co-op mode. If you explore rural Montana alone, you can even do so completely offline.
Co-op players should note: The co-op mode in Far Cry 5 is not “real” co-op. The game relies on “drop in, drop out,” and only the progress of the first player, who takes on the role of host, is saved. The second player who joins the game takes on a secondary role.
While the partner can collect resources and experience points, their mission progress is not carried over.
2. You fight against a gun-loving cult with an apocalyptic mindset
The fifth installment in the series does not build on its predecessors. As is typical for the series, Far Cry 5 comes with its own story.
You play as a deputy sheriff who is a member of the Hope County resistance group. The character is not pre-made in this installment and can be customized in the new editor regarding gender, skin color, and appearance.
The player must face off against Priest Joseph Seed and his cult, Eden’s Gate. Seed believes that the world is on the brink of collapse and that only he can save humanity from an impending societal disaster.
In reality, Seed is a radical preacher, and Eden’s Gate is a militaristic apocalyptic cult. Instead of inviting the locals kindly, the cult forces residents to join Eden’s Gate.
Now Seed has adopted the title “the Father” and maintains control over Hope County with the help of his siblings, known as “the Heralds.” The player’s task is now to break the cult and arrest Seed.
To help you with this task, in addition to the loyal Dog Boomer, a whole host of colorful characters will accompany you, each with their own background story and additional missions:
- Nick Rye, the bush pilot
- Jess Black, a ruthless huntress
- Hurk Drubman Jr., a hillbilly with a rocket launcher
- Adelaide Drubman, the helpful helicopter pilot
- Sharky Boshaw, a crazy pyromaniac
- Grace Armstrong, the cold-blooded sniper
3. Far Cry 5 will include microtransactions, no loot boxes
Far Cry 5 will feature microtransactions that can speed up gameplay progression. According to Executive Producer Dan Hay, they aim to offer players a wide range of options. However, everything should be fair: There will be no paywalls, and everything can also be unlocked through gameplay.
The purchasable items are meant to be either time-savers or purely cosmetic. How this will be represented in the game is not yet known.
One thing remains clear for Ubisoft: Even if there are microtransactions, loot boxes or similar systems with a “chance” for special items will not be introduced.
4. This is how much gameplay time you get for your money
According to Ubisoft, “good” players will need about 25 hours for the campaign. But only if you don’t get too distracted: In Hope County, there are countless side activities, such as fishing or hunting.
Additionally, as in previous Far Cry titles, missions can be approached at your leisure. Prefer stealth or going in armed to the teeth?
According to Dan Hay, the duration of the campaign depends on your playstyle, of course, assuming you haven’t spent those 25 hours fishing…
Included in the game is the Far Cry Arcade, which features a map editor that is to be regularly expanded. In this, you can not only access items from Far Cry 5 but also from other Ubisoft titles like Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed Unity, and Watch Dogs.
Additionally, there will be regular live events where players can earn exclusive outfits, weapons, or vehicles.
The game will also be expanded with three DLCs, each telling its own, standalone stories. The DLCs are part of the season pass, which also includes the 2012 release Far Cry 3.
- In the DLC “Hours of Darkness the player is transported to the past to fight the Vietcong in Vietnam and rescue his friends.
- In “Lost on Mars” the red planet has an alien insect problem that must be solved by the protagonist before he can begin the long journey home.
- The third DLC “Dead Living Zombies” is a co-op adventure featuring seven B-movie scenarios full of zombies.
5. Far Cry 5 wants to be “different” and relies on provocation
Ubisoft wants to shake up its open-world series with the upcoming Far Cry 5 and is foregoing the towers familiar from other installments that had to be captured first to unlock maps and missions in the game world. According to Executive Producer Dan Hay, the team wanted to deviate from the “norm” and show that games do not always have to share the same basic functions of the “Ubisoft formula.”
To find missions or activities in the open world, players will no longer have to scour any points on a minimap. The map has been replaced with a simple compass bar and information about the environment is provided either by NPCs or signs in the wild. Also new is the character editor. Players can now customize the gender, skin color, and general appearance of their character.
Early preview tests have shown that Far Cry 5 will remain true to its roots and will not differ too much from its predecessors. To take down Joseph Seed and his family, the same tasks will be required that also dealt with Vaas and Pagan Min from Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4.
You will capture outposts or rescue prisoners to reduce the cult’s influence and sway the population to your side.
Some popular features from previous installments are returning. For example, the wingsuit will be part of the game. Additionally, wild animals can again be harnessed for your own purposes, distracting enemies or attacking them.
Furthermore, Far Cry 5 has for the first time the potential for political dynamite: While previous installments made headlines with depictions of drug-induced hallucinations, Far Cry 5 toys with the societal, religious, and economic differences between urban and rural areas in the United States.
In the USA, Ubisoft has already been accused of demonizing hard-working, Christian-conservative rural residents with Far Cry 5. In advance, the controversial setting of Far Cry 5 became the target of ironic criticism: trolls called for not just white enemies, but also black foes.
Conclusion: You should check out Far Cry 5 if you are already a die-hard fan of the Far Cry series or if you enjoy fun co-op gameplay, the freedoms of an open world, and excellent first-person shooter mechanics.
Far Cry veterans will still feel at home, and new players will be offered a solid open-world gaming experience to get started with the series.
