Far Cry 5 is my absolute surprise hit of the year so far, despite all its weaknesses. I reflected on this and found five reasons why the shooter keeps me hooked.
I didn’t expect much from Far Cry 5, especially since Ubisoft promised to do things differently with this latest title in the series. Even though the latest installment of the Far Cry series doesn’t differ much from its predecessors, I’ve had a lot of fun so far.
Despite some bugs and minor weaknesses in the story, the game has captured my attention and won’t let go. Even though Far Cry 5 is criticized here and there, I personally can’t seem to put it down. Here are five reasons why I enjoy spending my free time in Hope County.
A Terribly Nice Family
In Far Cry 5, you take on the role of a Deputy Sheriff, facing off against the Seed family, who have quietly taken control of Hope County. Joseph Seed, the main antagonist of the game, acts as the wise leader while his siblings oversee various regions of the county.
As is typical for the series, the villains are incredibly charismatic. Joseph Seed could easily pass as a real hipster preacher, trying to convert people through fear of the digital age, globalization, and the growing divide between the rich and the poor.
His siblings, the Lieutenants, are no less interesting, each employing their own methods to draw the people of fictional Hope County to their side, whether willingly or not. For Jacob Seed, the law of the stronger applies, while the mysterious Faith keeps her followers in check with the drug Bliss.
My favorite of the family is the crazy and sadistic John Seed, who resembles a Daniel Bryan lookalike. Not only did I enjoy his region, Holland Valley, but throughout the uprising in the area, the fight against the family’s inquisitor seemed to become more and more personal and literally got under my skin.
Far Cry 5 is Incredibly Atmospheric
The game world in Far Cry 5 is stunning and still a visual feast on my old Xbox One. I don’t even want to count how many hours I’ve wasted wandering through the forests of virtual Montana or quietly fishing by the nearest lake, enjoying the scenery.
For me, the soundtrack contributes a lot to the atmosphere. For example, exploring the game world is accompanied by gentle tones, only to swell to a hectic electronic or rock sound as soon as you find yourself in combat.
Did you know that the Eden’s Gate cult has its own choir and plays its music over the game’s radio stations? Nothing is more satisfying than erasing entire cult outposts to the sounds of “Let the Water Wash Away Your Sins” or driving into the sunset at the end of a long day while singing “We Will Rise Again”.
Far Cry 5 is Sheer Chaos
You haven’t played Far Cry 5 if you haven’t rescued a hostage with absolute physical involvement only for them to get torn apart by a mountain lion the moment you turn around.
Have you ever had your companion Hurk with you, who thought he needed to shoot down an enemy plane at just the right angle so that it falls on your character, sending him over the virtual Jordan?
You take a heavily armed Peggie outpost with just your trusty shovel while being chased by Chosen planes or Judge wolves, only for a horde of wild turkeys to ruin the whole tour for you? Welcome to Far Cry 5, where the most absurd situations are absolutely everyday.
A Paradise for Co-op Players
As we’ve established, absolute chaos reigns in Far Cry 5. This makes the game perfect for all kinds of antics with a co-op buddy. Whether you tackle the campaign together or just troll around, there is plenty to do for two players in Hope County.
The downside, however, is that only the progress of the first player, who takes on the role of the host, is saved. Unfortunately, the partner who joins the game only plays second fiddle and has to replay missions played in co-op in their game.
However, you can also hang out in the arcade together if you’re not in the mood for the “normal” game.
Far Cry 5 has Many Secrets and Hides
What keeps me driven aside from the missions is exploring the map, which gets revealed little by little depending on which places are visited. What else lies in the dark corners of the map, like collectibles, a prepper hideout, or other treasures?
The community also seems to enjoy searching for secrets. For example, they compile found story tidbits or embark on a quest for the legendary Bigfoot.
I’m particularly fond of the prepper hideouts that you stumble across or are informed about by the residents of Hope County. The hideouts are usually associated with small puzzles and contain rewards in the form of in-game currency and perk points.
You can also often find letters in the game world that reveal more of the story or lead to new mysteries, such as the find in the O’Hara haunted house.
Can you share my enthusiasm or do you have no interest in Far Cry 5? Let us know in the comments!
