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Far Cry 2

• By Flynn De Marco
• May 31, 2008 16:12 PM PST
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Jungle shooting action rears its head again with Far Cry 2, the sequel to the popular 2004 PC first-person shooter, Far Cry.

While this new addition to the Far Cry series is considered a sequel, it actually has no story ties to the original game. This time we move from the lush Archipelago isles of Micronesia to the harsher terrain of the African jungles and savannahs. The African plains gives ample opportunity for a large world map (50 square km) and open world gameplay that departs from the more linear console versions that came before it.

The story follows the player as you make your way through the jungles in search of "The Jackal," an arms dealer who has a tyrannical grip on the area. Your mission: hunt The Jackal down and take him out. But, your target isn't your only problem. You are dropped down in this unforgiving landscape with a nice case of malaria which you must constantly keep in check throughout the game or risk death.

The graphics in Far Cry 2 are right up there with the likes of Call of Duty 4.

No first-person shooter is complete without a rocket launcher.

Operation Self-Surgery

And death seems to lurk around every corner, whether it's from enemy fire or exploding bombs that can leave large hunks of shrapnel stuck in your extremities. Healing these wounds provide some of the most graphically gruesome parts of the game, showing you gouging bullets out of your ankle with a pair of pliers and other frightening acts of self-surgery. Of course, keeping an eye on your health is key and a series of a five health bars help you with the task. The bars will refill as long as you are out of harm's way, but let a bar empty and it's gone for good until you can heal up with hypodermics you can purchase from the underground market.

Fortunately for you, you have mercenary allies that become indispensable as the game continues. Forming friendships will provide more contacts and in turn, more missions. Not only can your allies give you assignments, they can also help bail you out of tight situations. For instance, getting killed calls your buddy into action who will then come and revive you. But, be sure to protect your buddies because no life is valuable in Far Cry 2 and anyone can die with the right amount of bullets to the body, even your allies.

The hang glider is one of the many vehicles that can be piloted in Far Cry 2. It's also one of the fatest and most impressive ways to travel.

The Flame Thrower catches not only enemies on fire, but the surrounding foliage as well.

Binoculars Return

Getting around the large areas is made possible through a carry-along map that can be accessed at any time. Your map gets new areas added to it as you discover them, and using your binoculars lets you see farther away areas that are then added to your map as well. Your trusty binoculars can also help you spot far away enemies as well, which allows you to take them out with the help of a sniper rifle or rocket launcher before they even know you're there. If you're really clever, you can even use the surrounding wildlife A.I. to help you spot enemies. If you see a group of wild animals taking off in a certain direction, you can bet there's something behind them making them run, probably an enemy. Of course, the caveat here is that your enemies can use the same method to find you.

The graphics are top notch and the controls are fairly easy to handle whether running through the jungle or driving one of the many available vehicles. The storyline seems fairly simple and straightforward although I didn't experience much of it in the short time I had with the hands-on demo. The gameplay is definitely strong and holds its own, but the length and breadth of that story is something that remains to be seen. Far Cry 2 will launch simultaneously on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC this fall.

Machettes are way cooler than combat knives.

Whether it's a joy ride or a dangerous escape, the boats in Far Cry 2 are always a fun way to travel.

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