TheFar Cryfranchise has caught a lot of flak in recent years for feeling too formulaic. There’s certainly some truth to that criticism, withtheFar Cryformulahaving stayed largely the same since 2012’sFar Cry 3. Ubisoft hasn’t helped matters either, with it usingFar Cry’s formula for most of its other open-world franchises as well.
But everyFar Crygame has its own unique set of mechanics and features its own distinct setting. That’s especially true ofFar Cry’s several spinoffs, most of which offer quite a major departure from the core mainline series in terms of mechanics, setting, and story.Far Cry 3: Blood Dragonis a great example of this dramatic shift, offering fans a tongue-in-cheek 80s action movie-inspired Sci-Fi romp.Far Cry Primalis another unique entry in the franchise, taking players all the way back to the dawn of humankind. It might be time for Ubisoft to deliver another significant shake-up to the usualFar Cryformula, though it shouldn’t come in the form of a direct sequel toFar Cry Primal.
A Medieval Setting Would Be The Perfect Backdrop for a Far Cry Primal Successor
A Medieval Setting Offers Something The Far Cry Franchise Has Never Seen
The biggest appeal ofFar Cry Primal, at least on paper, was the game’s setting. Taking place in10,000 BC,Far Cry Primal’s backdropoffered something completely different to the rest of the franchise’s present-day settings, and experimented with an era that’s rarely explored in the wider gaming world.
Far Cry Primalembraced the franchise’s crafting and survival mechanics, and adapted them to fit this distinct setting. Hunting and foraging were promoted from optional activities to core components of the gameplay loop, and wildlife wrestled the spotlight away from faceless goons and henchmen. Though many critics took issue withFar Cry Primal’s story, the prehistoric world Ubisoft created felt rich and well-realized.
But rather than return to that prehistoric setting, aFar Cry Primalsuccessorshould look to a new era, albeit one that’s still drastically different from the series' mainline offerings. A medieval setting could serve as a good evolution ofFar Cry Primal’s core premise, delivering a completely different set of environments and character archetypes than fans of the mainline series are used to. That said, a medievalFar Cryspinoff could still easily retain core aspects of the series' identity, such as tasking players with gradually removing a tyrannical antagonist’s control over the map.
Ubisoft already has some experience with a range of different historical settings thanks toAssassin’s CreedandFor Honor, with both taking direct inspiration from the medieval era.
A Medieval Setting Would Retain Far Cry Primal’s Melee Focus
Another big draw ofFar Cry Primalwas its shift in focus from ranged combat to melee combat. Though players still had access to bows,Far Cry Primal’s historical settingobviously restricted them from using firearms, which normally play a key role inFar Cry’s gameplay formula. Instead, players needed to rely on spears, clubs, and other primitive makeshift tools and weapons to bring down large beasts and take out rival tribesmen. The arsenal wasn’t expansive, but it still provided a nice shake-up to the usual formula.
AmedievalFar Crygamecould offer a similar gameplay shake-up, one that puts even more emphasis on brutal and grounded melee combat. Though players would still have the use of crossbows and other era-specific ranged weapons, they’d be encouraged to use swords, maces, flails, and other melee-focused weapons, which would go a long way in making the hypothetical spinoff stand out.
