Okay so we've discussed the bad. I think we can safely say that both Watch_Dogs and Assassin's Creed: Unity were massive disappointments for gamers worldwide. However, that's not to say that Ubisoft didn't release some good games in 2014. Having not played any of the previous Far Crys I went into the fourth installment with minimal expectation. I knew that it was set in the Himalayas and that it featured a huge open-world setting, as well as being a first-person (or 'FPS') adventure game.
To my understanding, and by keeping with the ideas and concepts of its direct predecessor, Far Cry 4 succeeds where both Watch_Dogs and Assassin's Creed: Unity fail because it takes the best of what came before it and breathes new life into it by adding a whole new setting, a new armory, new characters and abilities, and a bold new storyline. The game itself is visually stunning and the world is very engrossing. By building on the wildlife system which was pioneered in 2012's Assassin's Creed III and perfecting it, Ubisoft has created an unpredictable, and utterly immersive, world of Kyrat. The AI for the animals in the game, which are indiscriminate and will attack everyone they encounter (including enemy combatants *and* other animals!), has reached a point where - even if you are exploring a region free of the Royal Army (the generic enemy soldiers of the story) - you still have to watch your guard in case a wild hog, tiger, leopard or snake (etc...) is hunting you. The game forces you to use some sort of strategy as, although guns are easy to come by, keeping your own personal ammo topped up is a struggle (as the different guns have different bullet types). Becoming attached to a specific weapon can be fatal in Kyrat, even the trusty bow, and so the game makes you train up in how to use a whole arsenal instead of playing it through just one way.
In terms of the graphics, Far Cry 4 takes full advantage of the latest generation in console technology, making frame-rate issues (which have long been an unwanted staple for mostly all Ubisoft developed games) now virtually non-existent. Occasional glitches still occur, such as a wild bear becoming trapped in a boulder, but nothing on the scale of Assassin's Creed: Unity. Whilst apparently sticking to its roots in terms of the already tested gameplay experience, Far Cry 4 delivers where both Watch_Dogs and Assassin's Creed: Unity don't because it already has its roots firmly buried in the ground from even before its development. The developers recognised that the system they had designed Far Cry 3 around was workable and popular and so they stuck with it which, whilst probably a safer option, meant that they could only build on what they had already learnt from Far Cry 3, and introduce new mechanics in order to compliment that.
Whilst honoring the accuracy of historical or modern day locations might be ambitious in both of those projects, it didn't pay off in either of those cases as both cities turned out to be both bland and boring playgrounds for gamers to run around in. The development teams should have made a decision early on that making the games fun, even at the expense of historical/geographical accuracy, should have been a top priority. It's one of the reasons Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was so well put together. Like the West Indies, Kyrat has so much diversity, with segments even taking place high up in the snow caps of the Himalayas themselves. Also, one other thing this game offers, in keeping with the trend of recently released (and upcoming) titles, is that it puts such a heavy emphasis on co-operative play. With an assortment of posts to raid, fortresses to overcome, assassinations to carry out and wildlife to hunt down and skin - the world of Kyrat feels unlimited in what it offers the players.
It's worth noting that right off the bat Far Cry 4 gives the player the option to play on or offline on the main title screen, allowing you to play how you wish with or without friends. Keeping the co-op play limited to just two players allows for more stability across the huge map, and you have the freedom to do as you please (such as in Grand Theft Auto Online) or venture out on missions. The world, coupled with the distinct variety in enemies and wildlife, is one that Ubisoft (again, like with the West Indies of Black Flag) should use as a stepping off point in the development of future games. I'm not saying copy the location or the gameplay straight up, but the developers should have made note of the more popular aspects of the gameplay and incorporated that into Watch_Dogs and Unity, instead of starting from scratch and treating each of the projects as if they were the studio's very first games. Ubisoft has many years experience within this industry, and so gamers expect a high standard of it. There is only so much we will forgive.
If you enjoyed this article, you can check out our full review of Far Cry 4 right here!
Next time, Assassin's Creed: Rogue!
Thanks for reading!