Far Cry 2 has a lot to live up to. The first Far Cry, developed by Crytek, was critically lauded among reviewers and loved by gamers the world over. Ubisoft Montreal has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, it's been working its French Canadian fingers to the bone to do just that.

Breaking away from previous games in the series, players are whisked off to the wilds of Africa. The premise is simple - there's an arms dealer out and about going by the name of The Jackal. He's been playing local ... more >>

Far Cry 2 has a lot to live up to. The first Far Cry, developed by Crytek, was critically lauded among reviewers and loved by gamers the world over. Ubisoft Montreal has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, it's been working its French Canadian fingers to the bone to do just that.

Breaking away from previous games in the series, players are whisked off to the wilds of Africa. The premise is simple - there's an arms dealer out and about going by the name of The Jackal. He's been playing local warring factions off against each other because... well, it's good for business. Your job is to take him out.

Two things stand out about Far Cry 2. The first is the sheer size of the game. Players are presented with an open world that's a massive 50 square kilometres in total, all resplendent with detail. Second is just how much effort has gone into the design. Things work as they're meant to work. Take fire, for instance. If you're approaching a settlement you need to attack and the wind's at your back, setting the dry grass alight will serve you well, because the flames will blow towards your opponent and get your attack nicely underway. Try it with the wind blowing the other way, however, and you'll find yourself getting singed at least.

All this comes complete with a full online multiplayer mode that packs all of the above into the opportunity to blow your mates' - and strangers - brains out. << less