Far Cryis one of Ubisoft’s longest-running IPs and an excellent portrayal ofUbisoft’s open-world formula. While many believe it is becoming old hat, the combination of towers, a densely packed open world, intriguing villains, and a fun narrative really made the franchise shine in its heyday. Many would still be forgiven, though, if they started the franchise withFar Cry 3.
Far Cry 3isn’t just the best entry in the franchise, it’s many players’ firstFar Crygame. There were a few before it, including spin-offs, and obviouslyFar Cry 1andFar Cry 2,but it’s Far Cry 3 that really established the franchise. For those who did enjoy these first few titles, they should know that a Modder known as Leonj_ is working on a total overhaul mod of the first game to give it an unofficial sequel,Far Cry Returns. However, to understand this mod, players will need to understand the first game.
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What Happens in Far Cry 1
Far Cry 1is a 2004 game and looks very much like one. It follows American Special Forces operator Jack Carver as he searches for a missing journalist named Valerie Constantine. They arrived on the staple setting of aFar Crytropical islandbut were separated when their boat was destroyed. In all of this, Carver finds out there is a ton of genetic experiments being done on the island by a company known as Krieger Copy and its CEO, and he sets out to stop them. In all of this, the player will learn that the mutation has begun jumping to humans and potentially some of Far Cry’s mercenaries. This all eventually leads to the discovery that Valerie is an undercover CIA agent, a revolt by the human mutants against the mercenaries, and the fact that there’s a nuke on the island.
The nuke goes off, Carver and Valerie survive, but they are captured by Krieger. They then have to track him down, as despite taking a mutagen-resistant serum, both he and Valerie have contracted it. There’s a double-crossing (not between Carver and Valerie), Krieger dies, a volcano erupts, and Carver and Valerie are cured. In short, it’s a wild ride befitting and establishing the Far Cry name.
Its gameplay is reminiscent ofmostFar Crygames, if with downgraded graphics. Everything players expect from items to gunplay to weapons are all there. Perhaps the biggest difference is how many indoor level designs present more traditional and linear gameplay that one would expect from Far Cry.
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How the Far Cry Returns Mod is Building on the Original Game
The total conversion mod takes everything established in the first game, adds newerFar Cryfeaturesto it, and expands upon it in a big way. Right now, the story of Far Cry Returns is unknown, but it will feature new missions expanding on the first game.
The big question is how. Many theorized thatJack Carver would become the main antagonist ofFar Cry 2, and this was confirmed not too long ago. Whether Carver returns, where it is exactly set (a return to the island somehow, hence the name?), when it is set (beforeFar Cry 2?), and other big questions remain. But as seen in the videos, it looks pretty impressive—it looks like a mod of a 2004 game, but impressive nonetheless. Right now, the mod seems to be focused onFar Cry Returns' gameplay more so than other elements.
Leonj_ is no doubt ambitious with thisFar Crymod. It’s adding features like takedowns that would appear in later games but were absent in the first. It’s even said there will be better options for stealth approaches, which does sound like some missions won’t be as linear as others. It’ll also feature a day/night cycle, as well as a weather system, which should add some more chaos to theFar Cryisland. Players of this mod, whenever it releases, are also said to go against smarter NPCs and have options for dialogue similar to theSTALKERfranchise.
Outside of theFar Cry ReturnsMod videos, not much else is known. Leonj_ hasn’t put a release date on it, anda total conversion modisn’t something simple. It shows a passion and love for the first game, if nothing else, and it’ll be interesting to see if Ubisoft ever comments on it. It’s not likely to for a project of this size, but stranger things have happened.
Far Cry 6is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
