Before Far Cry 7, the Franchise May Want to Take a Trip to…

Summary

Far Cry 7 is presumably in the works, but it's time for the series to take a step back and revisit its iconic early days.
The first three Far Cry games were groundbreaking and innovative, but the series has since become stuck in a repetitive formula.
Instead of continuing down the same path, Ubisoft should consider remastering the franchise's most iconic titles to bridge the gap and reinvent Far Cry with the seventh entry.

There seems to be no slowing down the Far Cry series as Ubisoft works toward Far Cry 7 as well as a rumored new spin-off. Just like with the Assassin's Creed series, the Far Cry franchise has cemented itself as a Ubisoft mainstay. And while it is great to see the studio further develop this franchise with new adventures, it may actually be time for it to take a step back in time.

After 20 years, the Far Cry series has seen a plethora of games hit store shelves, yet none of them have come in the form of remasters or remakes. Instead of re-releasing some of its most iconic games, the franchise has just forged ahead with whatever comes next. This has meant that players are constantly experiencing new things, but after seven mainline entries, the series is in desperate need of a shake-up. So, instead of just bringing players to another new locale, it may be time for Ubisoft to pause for a second and revisit an old classic instead.

The Far Cry Series Is Ready for Remakes and Remasters

The Early Days of Far Cry Are Iconic

After the most recent Far Cry games, perspective on the earlier games has become far more important. The likes of Far Cry 5, New Dawn, and Far Cry 6 have been heavily criticized for their similarities. All of these releases have shown audiences a franchise that seems to be a bit stuck in its ways and way past its prime. Even though nothing about Far Cry 7 has been revealed yet, there is a strong chance it also follows that same trend, so it may be time for Ubisoft to remind audiences why the series is as popular as it is.

The earliest days of the Far Cry franchise included some of the best open-world adventures to date. The first entry launched in 2004 and instantly cemented itself as a fan favorite. The level of freedom that it gave players led to a wild experience, plus the visuals and story were not half-bad either. Because of that combination, it would go on to become a success, and the entire franchise would only grow from there.

Far Cry 2 took the strong foundations of its predecessor and expanded upon it with even more exciting gameplay. While the story was criticized a bit, it made up for that in practically every area. And in 2012, Ubisoft further blew audiences away by delivering the fantastic Far Cry 3. Not only did it take the concept to even greater heights, its story is still considered to be one of the best that gaming has ever seen. However, ever since then, the franchise has gotten stuck.

Remasters May Be Exactly What Far Cry Needs After Far Cry 6

Those first three Far Cry titles were great experiences, not just because they were fresh and new, but also because it was exciting to see the series grow and change over the years. But, since the release of Far Cry 3, the series has not had that same level of innovation. Instead, it feels like Ubisoft has been trying to replicate the same exact framework in new locales, which has led to increasingly mixed reviews with each entry. Instead of continuing down that path, it may make more sense to give the studio a bit of breathing room as it develops the next entry.

Instead of just jumping onto Far Cry 7, the series should explore those first three games. Remasters and remakes generally take a bit less time than building an entire game from scratch, so they feel like the perfect way to bridge the gap. Releasing remasters of the franchise's most iconic titles would let new and old players experience them again while the studio works to reinvent Far Cry once more with the seventh entry. Since there have been no announcements or rumors of a remaster yet, it does not seem very likely, but it still feels like the perfect time for one.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 74%

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Released: October 6, 2021
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Developer(s): Ubisoft
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Engine: Dunia 2
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op
Franchise: Far Cry