Far Cry Instincts Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 11 October, 2005

Will feral.

Version tested: Xbox

Far Cry Instincts' primal nature demands a dirty little soundbite. I'm going to try and resist that for as long as possible.

Here's some things I don't like to find in console FPS games: Controls that force me to play like Rambo in a neckbrace, strafing my crosshair over targets and reliant on auto-aim because actually pointing the gun is comparatively difficult; enemies who soak up bullets without flinching, while exhibiting all the tactical nous of a blind mouse in a snake pit; really obvious walls that funnel you toward the next explosion or healthpack; contrived special abilities held up like a big sign that says, "people think I'm all about the guns, but they don't know the real me"; gun emplacements; "clever" names for old things - if it's Capture The Flag, it's Capture The Flag. Oh, and seemingly inert objects which make me explode after I've just trawled through a scene stamping out all the obviously threatening bits.

Far Cry Instincts has all of these, and yet I actually really enjoy it. Hell, I enjoy it because of some of that stuff. How does that work then?

One of Instincts' most striking qualities is the sense of being The Thing In The Bushes. One side of that is the game's range of attacking options - you can crawl around undetected, stalking up to people and knifing them in the back; you can set traps like swinging branches and mines; you can click the right-thumb-stick to zoom and pop people in the head at distance; you can toss grenades; you can watch people moving about uncertainly and then pounce on them like a cat. Later on, you can move like an alien and see like a predator - and stalking people actually fuels these abilities. The other side of it is the bush itself. Instincts isn't like its PC cousin, which was very open about how you could approach your very-clever enemies; here your vectors are fewer, and your enemies dimmer. But the density of jungle built up at its edges is convincing. You can't see the lack of a forest... for the trees! And not only are you the thing that's going to go bump, but you're not just hiding in a convenient shadow, you're lurking on ground where it's unsafe for the mercs to venture. They're the ones peering into the unknown and you're the threat.

'Far Cry Instincts' Screenshot ewoks

Pretend they're Ewoks to double the fun.

Sometimes, anyway. Instincts can be a very conventional and straightforward FPS game. Say you approach an area with some buildings. There are enemies milling about, as you can see on your ever-present radar. If you're in view, they react to you and a gunfight ensues. You toss grenades and unload your machineguns into them, or sit back and try and pick them off with a silenced pistols or a sniper rifle. Having cleared up, you harvest the health and ammo packs dropped and strewn, then move on.

But fighting like this is actually much harder and less rewarding than fighting a guerrilla war, as a chap called Doyle suggests over the radio. You don't have all the ammo in the world, and you can't carry 50 weapons at once; just four. The best bits of Instincts are the bits when you crawl painstakingly into a crowded area, sneak under a rickety wooden house, roll onto your back and squeeze a silenced bullet into an enemy from below, and then crawl out from underneath the house into a thicket, set up a couple of mines, move back, toss a rock to tempt a patrol into your explosive little mousetrap, and quickly follow it up by detonating the barrel next to a tent on the far side of the clearing to take out the others. You can forgive the funnels and fickle sentries for this. And then you can hop on a nearby quad bike and motor toward the next area, possibly while being pursued by an angry helicopter, or dodging flaming barrels that are being rolled down a hill toward you.

'Far Cry Instincts' Screenshot squirrels

'Mark it down for not featuring squirrels,' says John.

Other times you can hop in a boat and motor along a river, the undergrowth on either side shimmering along the water's reflective surface. These are some of the most picturesque bits - the use of sunlight and reflections is as captivating as anything in Half-Life 2, and Ubisoft hasn't spared any processing expense on sanding down the edges. Take a dip and your vision blurs, and upon surfacing it'll take a second for the water to drain from your eyes. Where logs are formed into a bridge from bank to bank, they're bound tightly and their ends are overgrown rather than sitting on top of a solid grass-texture. When you decide to turn round in the water and see what lies the other way, the sight of a waterfall frothing and clouded with spray as it strikes the pool at its base is unblemished by the usual technical remainders. It's also a game that believes in the Gordon Freeman rule of unbroken first-person viewing. Sure, there's some troubling pop-up here and there, but it hides the most threatening folds very effectively. People are right to talk about how good Far Cry Instincts looks.

Happily, a new hook cuts into your thumbs every few firefights - whether it's visual (the shift from day to night and beyond is kaleidoscopic in its impact on the aesthetic, and continually refreshing) or mechanical (the growth of your arsenal both in terms of weapons and those alien/predator-esque "feral abilities"; or perhaps a new vehicle to play with). And while this doesn't completely make up for the occasional stupid death, the shoehorning, the rather unadventurous fiction (inevitably, there are scientists and monsters), or the sub-Halo analogue controls, it's adequate compensation for these issues. It's a beautifully completed game world with all manner of brawn to experiment with - and there's a fair old amount to be done before you see the end credits.

'Far Cry Instincts' Screenshot water

Water in games: better than I thought.

Nor is that the end of it. Played with other people (online, split-screen or in the I - don't - believe - anybody - can - really - be - arsed - to - use - it System Link mode), Instincts may be slightly hamstrung next to Halo 2 by the comparative clunkiness of its analog controls and the relative simplicity of its statistical feedback, but the Predator mode, which involves one fully-evolved feral player hunting down a team of humans, can be a source of real amusement. Particularly when it's two in the morning, you're the last fellow alive, nervously peering this way and that, and all of a sudden someone growls over your headset and then streaks into your field of vision faster than you can pull either trigger in defence. The map editor tool, meanwhile, should help the otherwise prosaic deathmatch modes endure. Sculpting playgrounds with your Xbox controller can feel a bit clumsy to begin with, but the menuing is actually quite intuitive once it clicks - and the map editor certainly shouldn't be dismissed as a novelty.

Indeed, Instincts is a game of seeming novelties surprisingly well bound together. Cars, boats, guns, stealth, traps, super-strength, scent-vision - it's crowded, but its density is actually our delight, because while it may not play as strategically or controllably as something like Halo, or as evocatively and inventively as something like Half-Life 2, it's still atmospheric, involving, and empowering. There's plenty you could criticise, but that's not your first instinct.

A soundbite. "The best Xbox FPS since Halo"? Go on then.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (68) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kangarootoo #1 6 years ago

    Agree with the score, not read the actual review yet :)

    The only thing that annoyed me in this was the checkpoint placement was a little harsh at times (and a very minor weapon switching thing, which no one but me would care about). Very atmospheric, one of the best looking XB games out there ATM In would say. PLus a lot more developed than the PC version, with bad bits cut out and groovy things added.

    /reads review

  • tengu #2 6 years ago

    "The best Xbox FPS since Halo"

    Better than... Halo 2 then? :)

  • Milbe #3 6 years ago

    Definiately worth the score. I have played a lot of things on lot of systems but rarely a solid game like this. Everyone get this ASAP.

  • ralphwolfenstein #4 6 years ago

    but worse than Goldeneye...

  • Fatfish #5 6 years ago

    Didn't warm to this one too much. I gues if you view it from a purely xbox gamer point of view, the score is a fair one. Personally, having slogged through the PC version, the overall gameplay and fluidity just wasn't as good. Ok, it does have some nice bells and whistles on that the PC version didn't, but I found the PC version much more enjoyable overall. That said, by the time I got to the end of the PC version, I had had enough of the game so maybe this is influencing my opinion of the xbox version. My personal view is if you've played the PC version, don't bother with this; If you've not, get it - it's well worth a look.

    Still, better than Conker......! :)
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/05 @ 14:09

  • groovychainsaw #6 6 years ago

    Enjoyed the demo of this, I like how they have turned the disadvantage of running this on an xbox (the reduced play area etc.) into one the games strengths. Ubisoft seem to have some very good teams for things like this at the moment...

  • lordofdeadside #7 6 years ago

    woo hoo. spot on review. should be +1 for visuals and -1 for A.I. though.

    sometimes you get lfanked and outnumbered, and sometimes the enemy will just wander round or sit still, without even noticing you.

  • Milbe #8 6 years ago

    Oh, and for the people coming comparing this to the PC version, yes we know the PC is the best gaming platform and the box got an inferior version, thank you. It is a different game. FC on the PC was originally a tech demo.
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/05 @ 14:16

  • LaundroMat #9 6 years ago

    If halo got 8 a couple of years ago should'nt this be better, considering it got an 8 now.

    NO.
    Edited by 2 at 11/10/05 @ 14:14

  • kangarootoo #10 6 years ago

    I forgot to mention the controls. They're OK, but they aren't great. Can anyone out there starting work on a console FPS puleeeeeeeese make a detailed stufy of the Halo control system.

    Its acceleration and speed differential aim assist are second to none, and nicking it for your own game should really the only choice (unless you take the time to imporve it, which is also an option of course).

    I loved the PC version of Farcry, until later in the game when the monsters turned up and it went indoors. Then it totally sucked. On the whole I think I am liking this version more. The trap setting is great, and can really be used under pressure and spontaneously.

  • Fatfish #11 6 years ago

    Get off your high horse Milbe - that's not what I was saying. I love my xbox (not carnaly might I add!) and it's my primary games machine. It just so happens that I've played the PC version and prefer it. I only ever use my PC for PC only titles. If it's released on the xbox (which this was but much later on), I'd prefer to sit in my comfy armchair and play on a system designed specifically for games. Stop getting so defensive.

    ...Or is it just that you know we're right?! Just winding you up. ;)

  • kangarootoo #12 6 years ago

    "and the box got an inferior version, thank you."

    Really not true, its just different.

  • Dizzy #13 6 years ago

    8/10 is about right.

    Fully enjoyable and lot's of fun. Control is sometimes a bit iffy but I am just having a blast with this. Online is pretty fun but not up to Halo 2 quality (but what is?) and the map-maker is amazing. Some of the custom made maps are awesome.

    Don't expect Halo.. expect another type of FPS, maybe a bit more old-school but really a lot of fun!

  • Firewine #14 6 years ago

    I think everyone's pretty much covered the bases, not much to add but:

    /likes

    EDIT:
    Oh, and I also prefer it to the PC one.
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/05 @ 14:19

  • Fatfish #15 6 years ago

    @ Kangarootoo: +1 Totally agree with the 'different version' comment. Also agree with the controls issue as mentioned above.

    I was told recently that this version will also be released on PC as either a new game or an expansion to the exisitng one. Anyone heard anything about this?

  • smelly #16 6 years ago

    "better than halo" doesnt say much if you're comparing halo to pc fps games does it?

    So does that mean comparing this to far cry pc, it's inferior or superior?

  • space_ace #17 6 years ago

    which reminds me, what happened to the xbox half-life 2?!

  • Sly9 #18 6 years ago

    Will feral

    heh

  • PearOfAnguish #19 6 years ago

    Controls that force me to play like Rambo in a neckbrace, strafing my crosshair over targets and reliant on auto-aim because actually pointing the gun is comparatively difficult

    That's every console FPS, surely.

  • kangarootoo #20 6 years ago

    @space ace

    " which reminds me, what happened to the xbox half-life 2?!"

    I heard November sometime. But that was some time back, and given the lack of news since I would doubt that is still a reliable date. EG staff got any inside skinny on that?

    @Dizzy

    I haven't tinkered with the map maker yet, but just seeing the movie of it got me very interested. Its look to be the most involved level editor I've seen on a console title. A real first.

    @PearofAnguish

    "That's every console FPS, surely."

    I really think Halo got this right. But its very subtly done, and Far Cry is one of many games that doesn't seem to have implemented aim acceleration very well. I think Tom's comment about strafing his corsshair is spot on. I always find that to be the litmus test. If I am strafing to correct my aiming instead of aiming in the right place first time with the look function, something is wrong.

  • Feanor #21 6 years ago

    It's coming out in November. November, this year.

  • Xerx3s #22 6 years ago

    I dont think that you can compare the pc and xbx version. Its a bit like Baldurs gate vs BG Dark Alliance. The PC version cannot be beaten, but the console version is a nice bonus. The 8 is spoton. A nice adition to the already great fps lineup on the xbx. Although the entire game is ace, i prefer the earlier part. It forces you to sneak around more and use stealth.

    The control system? Well, obviously it cant beat the halo fanchise (there isnt a console shooter that could), but its a good second (or third if you prefer).

  • Darren #23 6 years ago

    It's amazing how much the Xbox version captures the feel and look of the PC original. Even the loading times are shorter than the PCs! As an Xbox game it's really good and I'm enjoying it more than the PC version for some reason despite the popup and nasty jaggies.

    As good a conversion (well it's a remix with new features really) as you could possibly expect and does the Xbox proud! :D

  • Genji #24 6 years ago

    Not as "inventive" as HL2? Hah! I'll play Farcry over that any day! What it lacked in inventiveness it made up for in fun, non-linear (to an extent) gameplay. And the enemy AI was leaps and bounds ahead.

  • Lost_in_Darkness #25 6 years ago

    Gamespot surprisingly said that Instincts was better than the original. I didn't read the EG review, but the score would disagree with what Gamespot says.

  • stuarty_2003 #26 6 years ago

    They give this 8/10 and say "Best FPS since Halo"

    They gave Riddick 9/10...

    Ratings aren't worth the keyboard you're typing them on...much like my degree isn't worth the paper it's scribed on

  • kangarootoo #27 6 years ago

    "The frame rate is shoddy too, always chugging and skipping"

    I honestly didn't find this to be the case. Not sure what is happening there. There's no overclocking going on in my XB.

    I wouldn't worry about whether this magazine or that thinks FC:I is better than FC. They just aren't the same and so hairs can be split till the cows come home.

  • SlackMaster #28 6 years ago

    I was really expecting a lot from Far Cry and due to this I don't think it delivered... They've done a good job on the XBox considering you needed a monster PC to run the original game, but I feel there are few flaws in the game that make it less enjoyable to play than it could have been.

    First off the enemy AI is not good... I know that it was supposed to have been improved over the original but really I don't see how. You shoot someone and run under a hut and they don't attack or loose you... you shoot guards through a small crack in the floor and they do nothing. I though the enemy AI was supposed to show some real intellegence but its just like any other shooter.

    It puts a big emphasis on stealth but most of the time you can just coast through large sections with all guns blazing without much difficulty. The control method in vehicles is aweful and real awkward and the load times are anything up to 5 minutes (seriously).

    This is no Halo, and isn't as technically impressive as DOOM III interms of it's graphical capabilities.

    I'd have given it a 7, cos IMO there wasn't much to separate this game from games like Pariah tbh.

    I still think that for real fun and gameplay, the original Halo on the XBox beats any other FPS on the console.
    Edited by 3 at 11/10/05 @ 15:22

  • kangarootoo #29 6 years ago

    "I'd have given it a 7, cos IMO there wasn't much to separate this game from games like Pariah tbh."

    Holy crap! Pariah was waaaaaaay worse than this. Going by your suggested 7/10 I can only assume that someone somewhere gave Pariah that score. That person needs clipping round the ear and sending straight home.

  • RedWarrior #30 6 years ago

    SlackMaster: " and the load times are anything up to 5 minutes (seriously). "

    When?

  • kangarootoo #31 6 years ago

    I've not seen anything like that either (though I am loading from HDD instead of disc). Even taking that into account though, I am literally seeing 20 second level loads so if you are seeing 5 mins I would be suspect as to the condition of your disc and/or DVD drive.

  • Dizzy #32 6 years ago

    > SlackMaster: " and the load times are anything up to 5 minutes (seriously). "

    Simply not true...

  • SlackMaster #33 6 years ago

    Been playing from disc and between each level it's taking between 3-5 minutes to load a level the first time around.

  • Firewine #34 6 years ago

    The frame rate is shoddy too, always chugging and skipping.

    I haven't been getting that either tbh, but I have had such problems on other Xbox titles, like in KUF Heroes (which I mentioned elsewhere).

    and the load times are anything up to 5 minutes (seriously)

    Are you referring to the precaching?

  • kangarootoo #35 6 years ago

    Sounds like a lot of re-reading is taking place there.

    Which XB version do you have? Mine has one of the early Thomson DVD drives, which sucked to start with and is definitely on the way out now.

    See the following link.

    http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_ve rsion_comparison.htm
    and
    http://www.xbreporter.com/xboxdvddrivecomparison.php

    The Thomson drive sucks, the Samsung is the best of the types. Not sure what I am suggesting here, but the load times you are seeing just don't sound right.

  • kangarootoo #36 6 years ago

    "like in KUF Heroes"

    Ooh, didn't realise this was out :)

  • malteaserhead #37 6 years ago

    different drives can produce really varied load times... my old thompson (ooer!) took 5 minutes (near its end) to load morrowind. I think the old drive also went screwy during cutscences (exp. lip synching)...
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/05 @ 15:45

  • Dizzy #38 6 years ago

    > Been playing from disc and between each level it's taking between 3-5 minutes to load a level the first time around.

    Well if it does... your XBox is going the way of the dodo. On my very old XBox loading is never more than 1 minute and usually around 30secs

  • prettyboytim #39 6 years ago

    Does it have co-op?

  • Fatfish #40 6 years ago

    Quote by Fluffy - "The frame rate is shoddy too, always chugging and skipping. Deleted it from my xbox."

    From the second sentence, I would assume that you have a chipped box and have copied the entire game to HDD? Could this not be the reason you are having the problem with frame rate/chugging etc? Might be having problems streaming from your HDD? A sign it's about to die perhaps?

  • kangarootoo #41 6 years ago

    " Does it have co-op?"

    Unfortunately not. The MP is fun, but no co-op :(

  • yegon #42 6 years ago

    "enemies who soak up bullets without flinching, while exhibiting all the tactical nous of a blind mouse in a snake pit; really obvious walls that funnel you toward the next explosion or healthpack"
    ----

    Now, to me, this isn't just a flaw of console fps', it's a flaw of 99% of fps' across all platforms. Hell, such flaws feature heavily in Half Life 2, especially "walls that funnel you". HL2 perfect? Roffles, but that's another debate entirely...

    Back to FC:I - it's a decent game, amazing use of the Xbox hardware (imagine FC:I on a 733mhz PC with a tweaked GeForce3!) but the shite AI really killed it for me. PC FC on the higher difficulty settings was a real treat by comparison.

    I found the vehicles utterly lacklustre too, but the same could be said for the PC version (although I did like the handglider).

  • Dizzy #43 6 years ago

    >but I have a keen eye for vsync-less frame rates and it was hitting the low 20s a lot. :-)

    Actually true... but it doesn't diminish the gameplay much. Like the review said.. not super smooth controls (don't expect halo quality). Most of the time it is not an issue.

  • tengu #44 6 years ago

    Vsync is vat ve do ze dishes in, no?

  • pikemon #45 6 years ago

    tom thanks for the review that i will read in a bit (only checked out the score and closing comments now)...

    but why diss system link? LAN parties rule!!! get together 4 xboxes, 2 big tellies, 2 video projectors, 10+ controllers... it's FUN

    don't forget to mod some of your boxes to be able to play these games that not everybody buys :D

  • Fatfish #46 6 years ago

    Vsync ve may have hit ze raw nerve wiz ze FluffyTucker, no? ;)

    Sorry mate, couldn't resist it! All's good thanks. Busy day so no posty for me today.

  • Firewine #47 6 years ago

    the shite AI really killed it for me.

    I guess that's fair enough. In fact, contrary to what some reviews have said, I've found it fairly easy to run & gun (it seems they're not so bad at spotting you though, I prefer guerrilla tactics but things tend to go awry quickly for me :/ ).

    "Pretend they're Ewoks to double the fun"

    Heh heh >:D

  • lefizz #48 6 years ago

    Great review,

    far better than the games tm and edge scores and reviews which dont seems to manage to capture what great fun this game is. I was a fan of the pc version but it in many ways always felt like a great tech demo with some great A.I. which rapidlly lost steam and just got silly. This is totally diffferent, Ubi have manage to really keep you interested and the whole balance of the game is way better.

    And the whole better than Halo 2 thing sure, i just is more fun.

    An interesting thing is that if you say its the best xbox fps since halo what you really mean is best console fps since Halo. There are no decent FPS on PS2 or gamecube. so the only competition is Halo 2 good game but didnt better the original in anything except multiplayer.

    fil
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/05 @ 16:43

  • Fatfish #49 6 years ago

    Fluffy - You were nice to Talha? It appears my hypnosis post yesterday worked! How are the kittens and puppies - still in one piece? And when can I expect delivery of my flatscreen?!?

  • The-Bodybuilder #50 6 years ago

    The most annoying aspect is the controls. And I really hate the first foggy, jungle level.

    However, can anyone give me tips on how to beat crow and his zombie minions? I'm stuck thier (the level in the penthouse).

  • Glitch #51 6 years ago

    Best game I have played to date, its a shame you didn't review the map maker more! me and my mates have spent the past week continuosly making maps, its sick!, the game doesn't appeal to us anymore (im sure it will do soon tho) as the map editor its so much fun!

    I wish I could post screenshots of the maps I have made! show you guys what your missing out on!

    /me thanks ubisoft for ruining my career!

  • kangarootoo #52 6 years ago

    "And I really hate the first foggy, jungle level."

    I loved that area. I wasn't mad keen on the level design (which may well be what you meant) but the fogging effect has to be one of the best out there, let alone on the XB.

    Not just distance fogging but proper, up close, soggy feeling, in your face fogging (and the muddy water you can't really see through when you swim in it, ahhh lovely).

    Don't even get me started on the moon light. I very nearly laid an egg when I climbed up over the edge of a cliff to be greeted with the hugely blooming moonlight cutting through the canopy.

    Really people, this game looks fantastic. And as someone said, given the HW spec of an XB, they have really worked some magic of Paul Daniels proportions.

  • FooAtari #53 6 years ago

    Best console FPS I have played since Halo (1, Halo 2 was utter wank).

    If you have not bought it, what are waiting for. Its atmospheric, the feral abilities are pretty good, espcially feral strenght which is funny as hell and most of all its simply a complete blast to play. I would give it a 9 myself. Well aybe the A.I. neing a bit off makes at an 8

  • Lothar Hex #54 6 years ago

    The only real problem I have with this is the last of the games 3 "chapters" when the OTHER expriments start coming loose. I'll give you a clue, though technically they are not "dead" these things begin with "Z" and end with"ombies"

  • nightsparkle #55 6 years ago

    the loading takes very long on my xbox too. (chipped, game on dvd) sometimes it's like 30 seconds, but it can also get to like 3 minutes. extremely long. what's worse, i have to wait for the trailer to be shown, before i can get in the main menu. it was an awful surprise. and why is it no one ever posts burnout 4?

  • Whizzo #56 6 years ago

    "i have to wait for the trailer to be shown, before i can get in the main menu."

    That's because it's caching data, if you're playing it from disc and you've not played 3 other games in the mean time there's no caching needed and you can get in without watching anything. From switching on my Xbox to getting to the main menu takes 30 seconds on my Xbox. If you do a Live update it needs to recache.

    If you're playing from hard drive it's probably copying from one part of the disc to the cache on another and that's why it's taking so damn long, that's your fault not the game's.
    Edited by 2 at 11/10/05 @ 20:13

  • kangarootoo #57 6 years ago

    No widescreen support I'm afraid. Gaaaahhh!!

    One the subject of the intro movie playing a lot. I don't get that problem, but a friend (also playing from an HDD image dropped from my disc) does have to watch it every time. Hmmmmm.

  • Talha #58 6 years ago

    A gem of a game, and literally some of the scenery takes your breath away like no other game does. Hell, you could just wander around the levels in the PC version and come away refreshed, with the gunning and fighting feeling completely frivolous.

    The XBox version is *probably* the best looking XBox FPS, but it suffers from weak AI, something that was excellent in the PC version ad got better with the patches. As for invisible walls, well you can't help it on a console can you. And you haven't even seen the loading times for PC levels (click the level, get some sleep, make yourself a cup of tea, and if you are lucky, the loading meter is three quarters of the way when you return...)

    I have said this before and I will say it again: Ubisoft seem to have an unimpeachable collection of IPs at the moment: Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Prince of Persia, Myst, Far Cry, Brothers in Arms,... Bravo!

  • SlackMaster #59 6 years ago

    My system is fine and I have a Samsung drive not a Thompson drive... It'll be the pre-caching that's causing the long load times initially but it does in on every level and gets a bit tedious... Personally I've played through Pariah and it's not far off Far Cry tbh.

  • kewny #60 6 years ago

    I was enjoying this game until my xbox died. I didnt have enough money to get another one so I used far cry as trade in leverage to get a new machine. May get again when it comes down in price. I echo the others here when I say the crosshair movement is pretty shocking. You can compensate (by strafing) but not good enough ubisoft. I love ubisofts games at the mo. They piss all over other games companies portfolios (EA esp), but is it just me or is the aiming on all their FPSs' off. I had it with this game, GR2, XIII, rainbow six and brothers in arms. Still good games tho. I know people bash halo (I personally love it) but no one can dispute they nailed the control system, which is half the battle. Also agree with the AI which can be shocking. The thing is though far cry is still a good game despite these shortcomings. I agree with the 8/10 (but think halo is better :)).
    Edited by 1 at 12/10/05 @ 09:06

  • drks #61 6 years ago

    no love for riddick? :(


    played this briefly. found it a bit dull. need to give it more time

  • The-Bodybuilder #62 6 years ago

    >" I wasn't mad keen on the level design (which may well be what you meant)"

    Yeah, that's what I meant.
    And I know what you mean about the moon. I had to freaking look away because I thought it would spoil my eyes.

  • kangarootoo #63 6 years ago

    @ManicMinerUK

    "they HAVE done the aim assist and rate tweaks that Halo uses, its just hard to tell when the default sensitivity setting is so snappy... "

    The aim assist certainly isn't the same as Halo. FC:I just redirects your bullets if the target is within the reticule. Halo adjusts the movement of your reticule based on the relative speed between it and the target.

    I'll try tweaking down the sensitivity though, see if that helps some. I'm just worried about not being able to turn around quick enough.

    @drks

    Riddick is awsome. At the time it was streets ahead of the visuals of anyother XB game, and still is in many ways. Its a different game to FC:I and still well worth looking at for those who haven't played it.

  • Martin #64 6 years ago

    "I - don't - believe - anybody - can - really - be - arsed - to - use - it System Link mode"

    XLink anyone? ;)

  • wizbob #65 6 years ago

    Slightly off-topic, but has anyone installed the PC 1.3 patch to play with HDR? It's a bit over the top, but the Temple level is the most beautiful thing I've seen yet in 20-odd years of gaming.

  • jonnyreb #66 6 years ago

    Is anyone else having major sound problems with Far Cry Instincts?
    Everything was fine until I was about 4 hours into the game, now whenever I shoot the pistol, or throw a rock in trap making mode (or fight the 1st boss, the big mutated soldier thing) I get a screeching sound over the TV....

    Other things like machine guns and AI voices sound fine, just certain things are making a really horrible screeching noise :(

    I've tried checking all the forums etc but can't find anyone else with same prob........................................................

  • doragor #67 6 years ago

    First time post here. Yhello.

    johnnyreb - I had the same audio problems. Unplugging the second controller fixed it. Hope that helps.

  • dryden555 #68 6 years ago

    a nice last generation XBOX game but it really doesn't beat the great AI in the PC version. The AI here is quite dumbed down.