Far Cry Instincts: as good as it gets--for now?
Last night I got to spend some time with the new Xbox version of Far Cry, known as Far Cry Instincts. First off, let me point out that I've never played the original PC game nor seen it in action. So, for me, Far Cry Instincts is a brand new experience-but I'm sure veterans of last year's PC version will have a much different opinion (please share your thoughts in the comments section).
As beautiful as Instincts is, it really calls to attention the Xbox's aging hardware. Maybe we've been spoiled with next-gen screens and pre-renders, but my first reaction was, man, what would this game have looked like on the Xbox 360... But then reality set in, and I began playing Instincts for what it is, an Xbox game.
Ubisoft Montreal has done an incredible job porting re-imagining this game for the Xbox. In a console designed in the FPS-age, there isn't another FPS title that plays like Instincts. It's really the landscape that sets this game apart. Even though the game forces you down a linear path, it provides you with an incredible amount of space to work with. What's more, Instincts encourages you to use your surroundings. I'm not talking about ducking behind a stack of barrels; no, I'm talking about lurking in the bushes, setting traps, sliding your body under the enemies' huts, and taking them out through the cracks in the floorboards. Instincts is just plain cool, and I haven't even developed those feral abilities yet'
After a promising single-player session, I gave Xbox Live a shot. There aren't many surprises here, but that's not to say there isn't any promise. Only four modes await online players: Chaos (Deathmatch), Team Chaos (Team Deathmatch), Steal the Sample (Capture the Flag), and Predator (sorta like Halo 2's Juggernaut). Online there's a lot less lurking and a lot more shoot-first, questions-later gameplay'but I assume this is how some players will treat the single-player mode anyway. The experience itself is not nearly as polished as Halo 2's, but it's a godsend compared to the disastrous Rainbow Six Lockdown. Trust me, people are going to be playing the heck outta Instincts, and with the user-friendly map maker mode, there's an untapped potential packed into this game.
I'm not saying drop what your doing and go buy Far Cry Instincts. It's not perfect, but, with the next-gen looming over the horizon, it's hard to call any game perfect these days. If you haven't found anything worth your time since Halo 2, give Instincts a hard look. From what I've read, one of the biggest complaints is long load times. Maybe I've been playing a lot of PSP, but I found the load times to be minimal'especially online. My biggest concern is with the AI, which is far from stellar'perhaps it will beef up as I progress through the campaign. But don't let that hold you back. If you're interested in FPS titles, you'd be a fool not to check out Far Cry Instincts. Don't sleep on this one.
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