After the success of Far Cry 5, Ubisoft has redefined the term quick turnaround.
Less than a year after its predecessor released, Ubisoft is delivering Far Cry: New Dawn. It picks up 17 years after the events of FC5 and the game releases on a busy February 15 release date where it will compete with Metro: Exodus, Jump Force and Crackdown 3 for your gaming dollars.
FCND isn’t the game that figures to be on the bottom of this rather impressive list of releases, but there are still at least five things you should know before you buy the game.
No Arcade Mode
If you really enjoyed creating and sharing maps in FC5, you probably won’t be happy about the feature (arcade mode) being removed from FCND. Per Gaming Bolt, Ubisoft says the mode was released so that developers can better focus on single-player and to strengthen the campaign.
As you’ll notice as you read through this article, it appears Ubisoft is doubling down on the single-player experience throughout the game. That said, removing features–especially when the previous version is less than a year old–is somewhat surprising.
No Multiplayer Vs. Or Competitive Play
While the campaign is still playable via co-op, FCND will not have multiplayer vs. or competitive modes. This has been a constant for the FC series so hardcore fans of the franchise won’t be shocked or bothered. However, if you’re new to the series and are expecting some sort of free-for-all or deathmatch concept, this isn’t and never has been that kind of a first-person shooter.
A Little More Guidance, But Still Open World
FC games have troubled me a little in the past because I admit, I sometimes suffer from open-world fatigue, and would appreciate some sound direction on my video game journey. It appears some of that direction is being offered in FCND, even though you’re still allowed to experience the game at a pace that suits your appetite for side missions, etc.
While that might make the game a little more endearing for me, it’s different enough from previous versions of FC to perhaps cause some concerns from longtime fans.
RPG Elements May Not Be Welcomed By Hardcore Fans
As I watched numerous previews and listened to a variety of hands-on impressions, one of the first things I noticed was the numbered-damage indicators when enemies were shot. I’ve never liked that in any shooter–Fortnite included–and it has never been a part of an FC game.
There will be fans who find fault with this as other publications have already called out what Ubisoft has referred to as “light RPG-Mechanics.” It probably isn’t a deal-breaker, but it could be a sign of the future direction of the franchise.
Will It Be Too Ambitious?
Sometimes a gaming franchise can attempt to be too innovative in a short period of time. Perhaps FCND should have been an expansion pack to FC 5 rather than a full separate release. It’s too early to tell how well the game will do commercially with a good amount of changes coming to the base gameplay.
Titles like Fallout 76 serve as cautionary tales for developers and publishers who try to alter their formula too much. Other times, the decision makers have a Midas touch and press all the right buttons. I’m not confident that will be the case here, but also not worried enough to think ill of the game just yet.
Am I Getting It On Day One?
Yes. I believe in the FC franchise and Ubisoft enough to take a small risk on a different FC interpretation. I’m almost positive I’ll enjoy the game, but I do wonder if I’ll feel as if it was big enough to warrant an entirely different game. That’s especially the case when you look at what games like Red Dead Redemption 2 are offering in a single package.
Follow me on Twitter as I may be sharing more of my thoughts on this and other games released on February 15.
