Far Cry: Primal

It is fair to say that Far Cry: Primal is one of the more underrated games in Ubisoft’s action-packed franchise. No other game in the entire Far Cry series has had a setting as over the top like this one and as a result, it makes this a game that really stands out in a very positive way.

One Tribe To Rule Them!

The big draw of this game is, of course, the setting. Ubisoft went back to the stone age for this game and as a result, it is a very different kind of Far Cry game as far as the tone and story go. You play as a tribe leader called, Takkar who wants his tribe to prosper and be the best in the land of Oros. His tribe, The Wenja are not the only tribe that wants to rule!

The game sees you in conflict with two other main tribes. The story is kind of cool, but the caveman setting of things does mean that the main villains are not as good as what we got in Far Cry 4 and especially Far Cry 3.

Different Clothing, Same Underneath

One of the things that is interesting about Far Cry: Primal is that while this looks radically different from other Far Cry games. It plays very, very similar. I would say that if you played any of 3, 4 or even 5. Primal is going to feel very familiar to you. You still need to take over areas, get new people to join you and so on so there is a lot of familiarities here.

Mighty Beasts!

This stone age setting though does allow Ubisoft to have some fun! What I had a great time with was taming mighty beasts like sabretooth tigers, wooly mammoths and this awesome rhino looking, creature. You know you are a badass when you have a sabretooth tiger watching your back! Taming creatures is one of the best aspects of this game and it is above all else a lot of fun to do.

Craft Your Weapons

Far Cry is known for having good gunplay, but unless you are Turok, cavemen do not have weapons like that. Instead, you use things like clubs, bows and so on. You need to do a lot of crafting in Far Cry: Primal and your weapons will break down on you. Thankfully, the more people you “liberate” and get to join your tribe, the more folks you can have gathering resources for you. I thought that the crafting aspect of the game would be a pain in the loincloth covered reared, but it is actually very simple and handled very well.

Welcome To The Lost World

The graphics of this game are fantastic. I would say it is probably my favorite looking of any Far Cry game! Ubisoft really went all out with this game and as a result, the land of Oros is incredibly diverse. You can go from a jungle that is green and lush looking to snow-covered ice caps that have all kinds of big and burly beasts to watch out for.

Far Cry: Primal is a game that I have played through a couple of times now and I can see myself playing through it again. Sure, the villains are not as strong as the series is known for, but everything else in the story is great. Plus, the game is a ton of fun to play and any game that lets me have a sabretooth tiger as a buddy is cool in my book.

8.5/10

Pros:

• One of the best settings of any Far Cry game
• A lot of diversity to this lost world
• Combat feels very brutal and realistic
• The story is actually quite good
• Taming mighty beasts is awesome!

Cons:

• The villains are not that great
• At its heart, it is still a Far Cry game

Far Cry: Primal is an intense first-person action game set in prehistoric times, pitting your survival skills against the untamed wilds. With a big emphasis on crafting, stealth, and resource collection, Far Cry: Primal offers a different experience than most franchise fans would expect. As you explore the vast landscape of the fictional Oros valley in Europe, you'll have to contend with giant predators, hostile tribes, and the rugged terrain all at once. As you gain allies and strengthen your tribe, you'll slowly become the dominant force in the valley, offering a fun gameplay loop. For those who enjoy taking things slow and testing their endurance, Far Cry: Primal is an exciting and immersive title.

Main Game Features

• Survive in a challenging prehistoric land
• Explore an open-world and complete missions
• Weapon crafting, hunting, and animal taming

Story

In Far Cry: Primal you play as Takkar, a skilled member of the Wenja tribe. Roughly set in 10,000 BC, the game follows Takkar's journey as he attempts to reunite his clan and survive in a fierce new environment. After a sabertooth tiger attacks his party, Takkar is left to fend for himself, and winds up in the beautiful but dangerous Oros valley. After doing a bit of investigation, he befriends another missing Wenja member, Sayla. Sayla informs Takkar that his tribe has been scattered all across the valley as the result of an attack on their village from the rival Udam tribe. Together with Sayla, Takkar must brave this daring new world, rescuing his tribe and retaliating against the Udam. While the story wavers in quality from time to time, it's a great backdrop for the exciting survival action.

Gameplay

Unlike other games in the Far Cry series, Far Cry: Primal contains very little shooting, instead focusing on melee weapons and stealth. As you explore the Oros valley, you'll collect resources such as stone and leather, which can be used to craft weapons and other important items. You'll occasionally meet NPCs who provide quests, often directing you towards a nearby Udam settlement to rescue Wenja tribesmen. While the Udam tribe can be deadly enough, Takkar must also deal with the natural predators of the Oros valley, including lions, bears, rhinos, and even woolly mammoths. Takkar can hunt these animals for resources, or can choose to tame them. If you successfully tame an animal, they can be called on for help during battles, or to quickly move around the map as a mount.

When compared to the other Far Cry games, including the spin-offs, Far Cry: Primal offers a similar but unique experience. You'll still spend a lot of time exploring a beautiful map, sneaking around outposts, hunting human and animal prey, and more. However, the game is much slower-paced, with a bigger emphasis on strategy and stealth than brazen attacks. The process of hunting and gathering resources to craft new weapons can become repetitive too, so if you're not a fan of these kinds of mechanics in other survival games, Far Cry: Primal won't win you over.

Conclusion

Overall, Far Cry: Primal is a serviceable but flawed follow-up in the popular FPS franchise. By removing the core gunplay that many fans associate with the series, Far Cry: Primal took a big risk. While this risk doesn't fully pay off, the result is still an entertaining survival experience.

Pros:

• Giant predators are fun to hunt
• Dynamic day and night cycle
• The prehistoric setting is fun

Cons:

• Hunting and gather can get repetitive
• The story isn't all that interesting
• Takes a while to get around the map