14 DAY TRIAL // Next up in our Softpedia Game of the Year 2014 awards is the best shooter – Far Cry 4 – made by Ubisoft Montreal and published by the larger parent company for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One platforms.
The Far Cry series has been around for quite some time, first appearing from German studio Crytek way back in 2004. Unfortunately, the studio branched out from its partnership with Ubisoft to make the iconic Crysis, so the publisher took the rights to the series and handed them to its Montreal team.
The second entry, Far Cry 2, took some big risks, taking the action to Africa and focusing more on the mercenary lifestyle. It earned a cult status but the series really took off with Far Cry 3 back in 2012, when it impressed tens of millions of first-person shooter fans.
After a brief tongue-in-cheek standalone expansion, in the form of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, the studio went back to work and has now brought forth Far Cry 4, a new experience with a fresh protagonist, an impressive setting, and quite a few new mechanics.
Many people criticized Far Cry 4 when it first got its reveal for being too similar to Far Cry 3, once again using a charismatic villain to detract from a not-so-impressive protagonist, and the same general recipe.
Far Cry 4 is very impressive
However, the end result is still very impressive, as antagonist Pagan Min is used sparingly, while protagonist Ajay Ghale does have some tough decisions to make during the story campaign, which takes players through the rich county of Kyrat. While I loved the time I spent on Far Cry 3's tropical islands, Kyrat is miles above, both literally and figuratively, as it offers not just plains but also snow-covered mountains that make everything much more impressive.
I also loved the gameplay, especially since Ubisoft didn't try to fix what wasn't broken. What's more, the added cooperative mode that allows you and a friend to take over outposts and fortresses is a lot of fun. Sure, you might not always conquer enemies with stealth, but unleashing havoc in the ensuing firefights is very impressive with a buddy alongside you.
Throw in the great visuals, the phenomenal soundtrack, not to mention the solid voice acting and Far Cry 4 more than lives up to the legacy of its predecessor and can be rightfully crowned as the best shooter of the year.
Check out our review of Far Cry 4 on PS4.
