Normally, I'm not one to review a game before I finish it (the singleplayer, that is) but given the amount of hype surrounding this game I felt a reader review would be helpful. Consider it a pre-review, if you will. Anyway, let's cut to the chase.
Far Cry Instincts is a retranslation of Far Cry for the PC. I'm not a PC gamer (can't understand how gamers can use a keyboard and mouse to play but that's a different story) but read enough about it to know what a great game the original Far Cry on the PC was. Ubisoft knew that a straight port to the Xbox would be impossible so instead they took the premise and designed a whole new game...and what a game it is.
In the game, you play as Jack Carver (voiced by Stephen Dorff) an ex-navy commando turned tour guide in the middle of a tropical paradise. The story starts as a guest on one of your charters decides to do a little exploring on her own and before long helicopter gunships are shooting the snot out of your boat and you are running for your life (and to hopefully rescue your paying client) and that's all in the first minute!
To this point, though, the game probably sounds like a typical FPS setup but the gameplay is what sets this game apart, specifically, the choice you have. What style of game do you like to play? Well, the choice is up to you...do you want to run in with dual machine guns blazing, do you want to snipe the bad guys from afar, or do you want to rig the jungle with traps and watch as guards go flying through the air? Each of these tactics (and more) are viable and this is what makes Instincts different from other shooters. Personally, one of my favorite moments (so far) was setting a forest full of branch whips then firing a shot to alert the guards...as they attempted to move in on my position I was able to back off and then watch as my booby traps took out all three guards...not bad for only firing one bullet, eh? Overall, the AI is fairly decent...enemies will duck for cover, retreat, flank, and take notice if they find one of their recently capped comrades. It's not perfect, of course, and you will occasionally run across confused enemies but it's not too bad for the most part. And make no mistake about it...make mistakes and they will kill you.
Instincts, of course, has a wide variety of weapons (many which are dual wieldable) that you see in most shooters including pistols, silenced pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles and so forth. You are able to carry up to three at a time mapped to the d-pad which makes for easy switching on the fly. Grenades are thrown with the left trigger
What's a shooter these days without vehicles? Humvees, boats, gliders, and quads can all be driven. Many of them have mounted weapons (which you can switch between by tapping B) or you can fire your hand held weapons while driving. The driving is a bit twitchy and done in the first person which can take a little bit to get used to but isn't too bad once you get the hang of it.
As I mentioned above, one of the more unique gameplay aspects is the inclusion of traps. Simply hit the black button and you enter trap mode. Approach a tree and pull a trigger to set a branch whip (on either side of the tree too.) You can then lure guards by throwing rocks (make sure you are in trap mode otherwise you will throw any grenades that are in your inventory) and let the trap take them out for you. It's definitely one of the cooler aspects of the game.
The final, but probably the most important characteristic of Instincts is the inclusion of the feral powers. At a certain point, Carver is given special abilities which enhance his already formidable killing abilities. Feral strength allows you to perform a Haloesque lunge move while another ability allows you to track enemy soldiers by their scent. Use of these abilities is not optional and you will find it impossible to make it through certain areas without them. Just another reason why this game is different from your standard first person dreck.
I haven't played the multiplayer yet nor have I used the map editor and as such I cannot render an opinion (but they look really cool!)
Pros:
Freedom - Wide open levels and variety of tactics. More than one way to reach each objective. Blast or sneak, it's up to you. There is no incorrect way to handle a situation. It's all about the options.
Control - Very precise controls. The default setup is similar to Halo's setup. How fast you move depends on the how far forward you move the control stick (ala Splinter Cell.) You can easily jump, crouch, go prone, and even roll over on your back to line up headshots from below. Impact collision is very good. Realistic physics...if a guard is running for cover you will have to lead your shots.
Sound - Solid sound effects. The guns and vehicles sound great, you can hear water running and birds chirping in the jungle, and the voice acting is very solid. Stephen Dorff is perfect as Carver.
Graphics - Lots of color and the draw distance is good enough. Plenty of foilage and when you are ducked down and under the brush you really feel hidden.
Cons:
Vehicles - The vehicles are a little twitchy and you are unable to move them manually (i.e. push them.) This may not seem like a big deal but when you beach a boat you can forget about using it again.
Stealth meter - For being able to use stealth it would've been nice to have some sort of stealth meter included. There are too many occasions where I felt I was hidden only to have enemies open fire on me.
Auto Aim - The auto aim is a little too strong sometimes. There were times where I couldn't see an enemy but all of sudden the reticle would turn red. A minor gripe but one none-the-less.
Final thoughts:
Although I haven't completed the story mode I am completely impressed with what Far Cry Instincts has brought to the table. The first person shooter is probably the most saturated genre in today's video game market but Instincts stands out among the crowd. From the lengthy story mode to the online multiplayer to the map editor to the wide open areas Instincts delivers on just about all counts. If you like shooters and are looking for something outside the generic FPS mold I recommend giving this one a try...you'll probably be glad you did!
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