Summary
- Far Cry 7 could follow Assassin's Creed Mirage by revisiting nostalgia to potentially reignite fan interest.
- Assassin's Creed Mirage's return to stealth and parkour led to a better reception, hinting at potential for Far Cry's series rejuvenation.
- Ubisoft's new Far Cry 7 formula may prompt a return to classic gaming elements in the future to restore fan faith.
The Far Cry series has long stood as a great example of what Ubisoft can do with an open world, known for its exotic settings, charismatic villains, and chaotic gameplay. Over the years, the Far Cry franchise has taken significant evolutionary leaps by introducing new mechanics and expanding its world design. Unfortunately, this evolution hasn’t always been welcomed with open arms by its fans. With each new installment, Far Cry has faced nearly insurmountable criticism as it attempts to offer something both veteran fans and newcomers alike can appreciate, but that's difficult to do when nostalgia is often at stake.
As Ubisoft begins implementing new formulas with its upcoming Far Cry 7, it's worth questioning whether the series might one day revisit its roots, as Assassin's Creed Mirage did for its brand. If Assassin's Creed Mirage did anything for Ubisoft, it's that it showed that the developer is willing to reflect on its past and go back to what once made its franchises so appealing to players. For a series as iconic as Far Cry, the potential to reignite its popularity by embracing a more nostalgic approach seems awfully tempting for Ubisoft.
Why One Far Cry 7 Rumor Proving False May Ultimately Be For the Best
One popular rumor surrounding Far Cry 7 has been dispelled, and it could end up being a blessing in disguise for the next entry to the franchise.
Ubisoft Could Eventually Bring Far Cry Back to Basics
Assassin's Creed Mirage Recently Took the Series Back in Time
Assassin's Creed Mirage didn't end up being one of the best-reviewed Assassin's Creed games ever released, but its launch marked a very significant moment for the franchise and Ubisoft alike. Rather than continuing to innovate the series with Assassin's Creed Mirage, Ubisoft chose a more nostalgic approach with its gameplay mechanics, effectively taking Assassin's Creed back to its roots with a renewed emphasis on stealth and parkour that more recent entries, like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, had largely neglected.
Assassin's Creed Mirage also moved away from the sprawling RPG elements of titles like Odyssey and Valhalla, which had alienated some longtime fans of the series. Since the Assassin's Creed series initially grew in popularity on account of its more deliberate gameplay, where stealth and strategy were keys to success, many fans who had remained with the franchise into its modern era began to drift away as combat and grinding for levels seemingly replaced the series' original identity. However, Assassin's Creed Mirage opted for more story-driven gameplay that reflected the classic AC experience fans once knew.
Assassin's Creed Mirage didn't end up being one of the best-reviewed Assassin's Creed games ever released, but its launch marked a very significant moment for the franchise and Ubisoft alike.
Again, these elements didn't automatically qualify Assassin's Creed Mirage for a glowing reception, but it did show a better side of Ubisoft than what fans had been seeing for quite some time. Newer fans of the series might have felt that Assassin's Creed Mirage was more of a departure than anything else, whereas veteran fans more than likely appreciated the game and the nostalgic experience it offered. Nevertheless, as Ubisoft had been regularly criticized for bloating and oversaturating the Assassin's Creed formula, the developer chose to take a drastically different approach with Assassin's Creed Mirage, and it seemed to reignite hope in Ubisoft, at least for a time.
Ubisoft Might Try a "Back-to-Roots" Approach With Far Cry at Some Point
Now, while Ubisoft is reportedly continuing to innovate its Far Cry formula with the release of Far Cry 7, it wouldn't at all be surprising if the developer eventually chose to take the series back to its roots in a future entry, just as it did with Assassin's Creed Mirage. It would make complete sense if, at some point, Ubisoft launched a Far Cry game more reminiscent of Far Cry 3, which is widely considered to be the best game in the series. This would not only offer a more nostalgic experience for longtime fans, but potentially restore some goodwill in the process.
Since the release of Far Cry 3 in 2012, the series has undergone some significant changes that haven't been all that well-received by fans. Most notably is the expansion of Far Cry's open-world formula, which offers players greater freedom in exploration and mission completion but simultaneously leads to bloated world design where the story is largely overshadowed. This modern approach to Far Cry gameplay has resulted in its more recent installments feeling formulaic, with a repetitive "clear the map" approach with outposts, resources to collect, and more than enough fetch quests.
The new formula Ubisoft is apparently constructing for Far Cry 7 may or may not sit well with fans, but the developer will more than likely release a Far Cry game at some point that offers a more classic experience than the modern installments as of late. The probability of this happening will increase all the more if Ubisoft's innovative approach to Far Cry doesn't succeed, but it seems like it'll happen regardless. Ubisoft currently seems to be doing whatever it can to restore the faith its fans once had in it, and a "back-to-roots" Far Cry game would be a noble attempt at doing so.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran and become a guerrilla fighter to liberate the nation. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. Far Cry 6 immerses players into the adrenaline-filled world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution.
Join the revolution and push back against the oppressive regime of dictator Antón Castillo and his teenage son Diego, brought to life by Hollywood stars Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad) and Anthony Gonzalez (Coco). Playing as Dani Rojas, immerse yourself in the journey of a military dropout turned guerrilla revolutionary. To even the odds against Antón’s military, you’ll have to adopt the Resolver philosophy, employing an arsenal of unique and surprising new weapons, vehicles and animal companions to ignite a revolutionary movement that will burn the tyrannical regime to the ground.- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- How Long To Beat
- 23 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
