Far Cry 6 has a lot to live up to. Fans of the franchise have not only come to expect a tight open-world shooter experience, but the series is also known for delivering some of the best performances in video game acting, a challenge the teaser trailer suggests Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito may rise to meet as the villain.
Far Cry 6, however, marks a significant departure from previous titles in the series for a reason that could be a challenge for Ubisoft. Far Cry 6’s biggest change could make or break the game, and regardless will likely confront the studio with some of its biggest challenges developing the series so far.
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Esperanza is the capital city of Far Cry 6‘s setting, Yara, the fictional island which Anton Castillo rules over with an iron fist. Although the game will give players access to more rural areas of the island as well, the teaser trailer focuses on revolutionary unrest in the city, and it remains unclear how much of the island is taken up by urban landscapes. In order for Far Cry 6 to work, Ubisoft will need to make the experience of Far Cry in an urban setting just as compelling as it has been in the jungle, in the mountains, and on the prairies so far.
There are a few key reasons that this could be difficult. For one, the indoor combat in every Far Cry game has never been as strong or as fun for many players as its outdoor combat. The games have often focused on approaching enemy bases from afar, and using environmental factors from tigers to black bears as part of the attack strategy.
In a more constricted urban setting, Far Cry 6 risks becoming a more linear game with far fewer approach angles to each problem. Since the problems in Far Cry usually revolve around taking down bases full of hostile NPCs, restricting literal physical paths of approach could make the game feel less flexible and less enjoyable than its predecessors.
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There are some ways Far Cry 6’s Esperanza could go above and beyond to deliver an experience that retains interest in the franchise even in its sixth main installment. Ubisoft could attempt to make all of the city’s rooftops accessible in a similar fashion to Call of Duty: Warzone, which could turn the vertical aspect of the game into a new strategic factor in cities, while allowing for easy incorporation of staples of the series’ outdoor exploration like zip-lines.
The interiors of tall buildings could also factor in to combat scenarios, though Ubisoft would likely need to ensure that the player could enter at different floors rather than always have to land on the top or enter through the bottom of the building and fighting their way through in one direction. If the teaser trailer is any indication, interior locations like Anton Castillo’s palace could provide for some incredible set-pieces. What remains to be seen is how well they mesh with the combat mechanics that make Far Cry work.
What’s also important however, is that Ubisoft does not shy away from the opportunity to explore new types of environment. While it is extremely likely that players will be able to explore other parts of the island of Yara in areas more reminiscent of past Far Cry games, Far Cry 6 should use Esperanza as an opportunity to shake up the series’ formula and to experiment with the same mechanics in a new kind of setting.
Far Cry 6 is set to release February 18, 2021, for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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