Far Cry 2 (With Play.com Exclusive Steelbook)

Far Cry 2 is not a name for this game obviously, as it has nothing to do with previous Far Cry titles, or any other associated content, The Far Cry Universe nevertheless should have been like this long time ago.

I'm going to be very brief, but forget about the Story in this game, the fact is that you're going to have all in one package a game that its:

-Huge as Oblivion was, not so populated with foes, but definitely BIG, and you will Cry for how Far you have to drift across the jungle to get from point A to B (nevertheless the Driving is fun, and you can take out Outposts, find Diamonds and other things that are really into the Zelda RPG stuff, Love it!)

-Good looking as COD4, yes my friends, this is an open world game, and FPS a the same time, and it looks far better than any other game you have played of Open World, and it looks comparable (arguably true) to Call Of Duty or any other good looking game outhere, Awesome!

-A lot of Variety to choose, jump, killed, burn, slaughter, stealth (really, i did), whatever you like, really, Freedom is one but the word that reigns in Africa's Far Cry, unleashed your inner beast and get ready to transform the Jungle.

-Story Line is Super Lenghty, I'm very surprised this game looks so awesomely good, and can packed a Gargantuan Map, and about 40 hrs of Gameplay, plus the extra 4 missions for pre-ordering (I got them right!)

-Sprinting and healing yourself out of trouble was never so real, imagine a character that will try to heal himself all the time according to the wounds he had:
if you're burning you will spat your body around to turn it off, If you got shot in the leg or the hand you will take out the bullet with a gory effect, and you will see the Whole you had because of been shot, you will put bandages to your arms, etc, what can be more real than that? Uh?

-A very useful GPS system which EA should learn about when making a game like Burnout Paradise that you can't just find your way around.

-Incredibly good Physics and environments, everything blows better than Call of Duty or Gears, honestly amazing job, you can just compared this to Frosbite Engine of Dice.

-You get to choose your character, and this is part were this gets interesting, as this game has in it all the right ingredients that the original Mercenaries from Pandemic had, huge environments, Vehicles, blowing and shooting guys, making people do what they don't want to do and then kill them, excellent job in one word. This game is more Mercenaries 2 than the real Pandemic recent launched title, really.

- A complete Day and Night time frame which makes it more interesting

- You got Malaria, many people might hate it; but makes it a little bit more interesting and real, that's i Believe the main reason, this game is Real, like the Water you drink everyday. And that's exactly what developers wanted to show, a Real world of events.

-Value money multiplayer, which is great, feels like any other good FPS multiplayer in stores, and you have the great Add, if you like to work hard, to do your own maps, forget the Halo 3 complicated Forge, this is really easy, and they look great, Plus Ubi will make public the best ones available, your work as a gamer gets a taste of Glory to put it somehow.

-This game packs enough content and stuff to keep you busy for a long time, and for the price is much better than many other games you buy for same or little less money, this game is more a good buy than COD4. Seriously!

- This is the part where you're going to disagree, I think this game is not inferior or worse than any other game of this year, or even near future Holiday Titles, it might be better even for certain individuals.

I love this game. I've put together a few plus and minus points about it, which I hope makes your desision easier. Enjoy!

PLUS
+ The graphics are stunning.
+ The explosions and fire are the best I've seen on any console. Ever!
+ Gameplay is generally sound and game-life/last-ability is long. (I've played about 12hours and I'm only 12% through!)
+ Soundtrack is perfect in everyway. The music complements it brilliantly and gun shots sound correct. (as you would expect them to sound.)
+ Choice of characters is large.
+ Vehicles are essential to the game and each one of them is enjoyable.
+ LOADS of different guns, which are real life fire arms.
+ Grass, Water & Trees move like in real life.
+ Bullets must be body specific to kill. (eg. One shot to the head, 4/5 Legs and Arms.)
+ Lots of seperate missions.
+ Bodies dont just vanish after killed.
+ Animals wander around the map, freely.
+ Licenced Vehicles. (Jeep.)
+ Really cool how you patch yourself up after/during a fire fight. (Pull out bullets with pliers, Break bones back into position, Feed out wire through flesh etc.)

MINUS
- Enemies are very hard to spot, even if at close range.
- Gameplay can almost become too laid back, for example, you could spend all your time wandering the massive map without completing any missions.
- Checkpoints are everywhere and get really annoying.
- Diamonds (currency) are hard to come accross.
- Some guns picked up jam way too much for my liking.
- Strafe system and shooting on the move system is flawed (too hard even with aim assit on).
- Can become repetative with some enemy.
- Can't go prone!
- Buddies generally need to be found in order to help you.

Hope this helps :)

Tough one this, its a toss up between 3 and 4 stars. Based on the intro alone you're into 5 star territory with the world convincingly and beautfully presented as a lush, bustling yet violent paradise as you ride to your hotel and the first hour or so as you get your bearings and start to explore the action rarely drops below the exceptional. The longer you play though and the more the cracks start to show with some design elements resulting in boredom and repetition.

Travelling across the world is simple enough in one of the many vehicles, but you'll find guard posts at most of the intersections you need to negotiate. As the work you do for the two factions is apparently 'undercover', the rest of the world is out to shoot you on sight, meaning every time you approach a cross roads you're forced into another gun battle. Often they're only 2 or 3 opponents, but they gradually become tedious enough to grate on your nerves a little - the main issue with this is that the vehicles are so pathetically weak - 3 or 4 shots from an enemy and smoke starts to pour from the bonnet and your speed slows to a crawl. Try and drive through guard posts and more often than not one or two enemies will follow you in their own vehicles ans shoot you to bits from behind. Be prepared to spend a lot of time fixing your vehicle, or having to roam the land on foot (very slowly) to find another one.

Its on these foot jaunts that you begin to realise how empty the world actually is. It certainly looks the part, with some astounding graphics and some beautifully lush and vibrant jungles, rivers and savannahs - its just that there isn't much there to be found or to see. Theres diamond cases to find which can fill some time, but generally exploring is not as rewarding or as interesting as it really should be for a free roaming game.

Combat is mostly very good - the weapons are noisy and agressive and setting a fire loose in the grass, especially when used as a tactical attack is very satisfying. The enemy AI is fairly good, they react well to being shot at, but often they seem far too sentient, able to spot your from a mile off and shoot you from the same distance. They're also remarkably tough, so what seems to be a headshot has no effect leading to what I term 'Call of Duty' syndrome where you have to put bullet after bullet into your foes to stop them getting up. Stealth therefore is less of an option, which is disappointing.

One prime example of the sublime mixed with the disappointing is an early mission to assasinate a policeman travelling in a convoy. Picking my ambush point by studying the map I parked my car at one edge of a road bridge, blocking it, then taking to the high ground of a nearby railway bridge to watch the action through my sniper scope. Along comes the convoy which is forced to stop as planned, my target is in my sights when everybody suddenly knows precisely where I am (although I'm a way away and well hidden) and starts shooting me which seemed completely unfair - after such a good build up, to be cheated by the AI irritates.

But then from that situation a superb pitched battle ensued on the road bridge, which only ended when a grenade blew two vehicles and a load of men off the bridge taking most of the wooden planking with it to the river below.

When it works, Far Cry 2 is wonderful evlolving stuff, but too often you're cheated by sentient AI and left alone to wander a gorgeous but ultimately empty landscape.

This game is without a doubt the best of its category available on the shelves. The graphics are nothing short of stunning as you see multiple weather conditions affecting your surroundings. The African setting does not mean all sand; there is a detailed mixture of landscaping. I'm laughing at the people saying they get lost, or can only find two vehicles! I guess these are the people that do their shopping from Tesco online to avoid getting lost on the way to the shops!

Chosing your own way to complete missions, the time of day you want to attack, getting help or going solo and devising a strategy for attack are just a slice of what's available to you.

The first in the series of FarCry was outstanding for its time, and this long-awaited addition does not disappoint either. One word of warning. Do not expect to have a relationship and own this! The two are not compatible! Enjoy!!

wow wow wow the graphics are possibly the best on the 360 ever no joke its amazing and as for the map editor ...omg wow cannot get any better you have to buy this you wil love it and it has 50km of land to explore its stunning