The Far Cry 4 vs Far Cry 5 Debate

[Reebo]

Let me say first that I enjoyed my playthrough of Far Cry 5. Then my wife picked it up and I played through again on her story as a co-op partner. I liked the game and am happy that we purchased it.

I was never really captured by Far Cry 4. After being a huge fan of Far Cry 3 I was anxious for 4 but somehow it never really clicked for me. Whether it was game mechanics, setting or someting else, I just could not get past the 4 or 5 hour mark. After finishing Far Cry 5 I reached a point of wanting more so I finally loaded up Far Cry 4 again and gave it a fresh start.

The complaints that Far Cry 5 are too easy make sense to me now. It's definitely a different path. In Far Cry 4 there is much more gating. To get better weapons, you must complete towers. To carrry more stuff you must hunt many animals. Overall it's a much more steady progression in FC4 whereas in FC5 I did feel that by halfway through the first chapter I had the same weapons and weapon modifications that I finished the game with. No sense of growth. In hindsight, FC5 is definitely feeling a bit dumbed down. I'm not saying that I did not enjoy it, I did. But I have fresh prespective on why some folks say that FC4 was a better game. It was more about completing the side quests and accomplishments to further your character,

The combat siatuations are different as well. During FC5 I generally felt as if I could work my way out of anything. Outpost takeover suddenly gone sideways? No problem, I can handle that. But in FC4 I found it to be more difficult. The AI takes cover better. They move around obstacles better. They force you into fighting on two flanks better. There's no question in my mind now that FC4 has better combat scenarios that made me hesitate to take chances and decide instead to really take my time and work down the opponents on the fringe before tackling the main body of a force.

FC4s health mechanic made your health bar of much more concern than it is in FC5. Again contributing to things being just "easier".

FC4 also has the various scenarios such as hostage rescues and asassinations. These seem generally absent from FC5. And I definitely feel as if staying stealthy is far easier in FC5, making many encounters more challenging in FC4.

And not once in FC5 were my carefully laid outpost plans ruined by a snake/tiger/yak/badge/etc deciding to take a bite out of me. FC4 felt more like surviving an environment I was passing through whereas FC5 is more like "I own this place".

Again, I'm not saying "FC5 BAD, FC4 GOOD". I fully enjoyed playing both. But I have fresh respect for those who feel that FC5 is a watered down version of the FC series.

I'm not trying to start a troll war or anything. Just applying some fresh perspective to the debate. Any post that has a general tenor of saying one game sucks and one is great will always lead to arguments. I'm saying both were fun for different reasons. FC5 is more gunslinging and runabout fun, seemingly aimed at greater mass appeal. FC4 is more steady and dangerous and requires a bit more skill to play.\

And yes, fire is much more dangerous around you in FC4 than 5 :)

[worker of Korea]

NO NTR FAHB

[LowEloLegend]

I do agree with what you say but my biggest problem with Far Cry 5 is the story. The "story" missions are boring and don't actually have any story to them. The approach the game by playing whichever area first style ruins any story flow the game could have had and overall the story is just a boring mess. Far Cry 3 is still by far my favourite of the games.

[Reebo]

Originally posted by Gladiator49:

Far Cry 3 is still by far my favourite of the games.

I do agree that FC3 was the one that gave me the most satisfaction. But I try to temper that with remembering that the first of any type of game that really catches me generally has a greater impact.

I more fondly remember the first FPS I ever played (original Doom), the first MMO that really captured us (EQ), the first RTS that pulled me in (C&C1), the first really open world game I loved (FC3), etc.

It's hard to topple any of the firsts because they introduced us to something new. Like a first kiss can never be beaten in some ways. So while I have a more viscereal memory of FC3 I try to enjoy each for what they offer.

[AREA-57]

If you enjoy Far Cry 5 as much as I do, trying starting over using only bows, shovels, knives, and a slingshot. I unticked 'enable cloud save synchronization' in Uplay so that I could save my efforts by copying the save folders.

[Simple Man]

FC5 was watered down in visuals as well, almost painfully hard at times, the beautiful lighting tends to hide some of it tho. AA was torn to shreds, AO followed suit, and theres popins sometimes far too close to bare. In FC4 you needed to be zooming in with a sniper / binoculars to see things pop in.

Also understand whats being said of difficulty, after choosing "hard" to look for a challenge, i found my health still regenerating after not getting hit for 5 seconds, and supplies almost literally just falling from trees, FC4 had non of this and 1 health bar meant 1 health bar until you healed it. Combat overall is rather easy, not just for that, but becuase AI is some of the worst in the franchise, and think "take cover" means cover the ankle, as their whole body is still exposed to gunfire. Thats when they're not fighting with their backs turned to you. Theres also no weapon variety to speak of in FC5, its the same thing with a different skin.

Story is shocking. I expected mediocre, its a far cry game after all, but FC5s story looks to be utter nonsense the whole way thru, including the end(s). Sadly its very unlikely that i will ever touch FC5 again for that reason alone. FC4 is admitedly the better game, even when it comes to story, as as mediocre that one might also be, it didn't just strip player of any agency to do as it pleased.

FC5 had fun gameplay, prepper stashes were cool, and i liked the music. Im still trying to learn who sang the "oh the bliss" choir version from when you ride around Jacobs area. Also found myself caring for Faith Seed more than anyone i can remember from FC4, but again, a shame the story was a shambles.

[worker of Korea]

ЧЁ НАДО

[Cheese n' Beans]

I wouldn't call the progression in FC5 dumbed down. The "collect 5 animal pelts" part of older games was never difficult, just grindy.

Forcing players to do side activities to progress, to me at least, detracts from the 'freedom' aspect of open world games that makes up half their appeal. In FC5, you can make progress whenever you feel like it, as opposed to when the game allows it.

I prefer the combat in FC5 provided that enemy outlines are turned off and I don't have an AI teammate. Both of those are wayy too powerful.

[Reebo]

I gues to me it seemed as if FC5 only had progression for the first act. Halfway through act 1 i had acquired the weapions u used till end of the game. No real upgrades to be had. And I had the core skills by end of act 1. Act 2 and 3 were pretty much shoot, run, shoot run, cutscene with no real changes to the character.

It was fun, sure. Lots of sneaking and shooting. But it felt more bubblegum shooter in act 2 and 3 than the intense "can i survive this" from FC4 at every major combat.

[Hoonose]

I'm finding FC5 less replayable than 3 and 4. Not enough and varied outposts for one. Not enough and varied side missions. Although beautiful, not enough and varied terrain. Less climbing into the mountains. And no weather change. I loved the FC3 rain and thunder. The FC4 player created maps kept me interested for a long time. I must have collected and redone 100. So far the maps in 5 not as good. But that's early yet.