The future of Far Cry currently remains in the shadows, but that hasn't kept the next mainline chapter in Ubisoft's action adventure franchise safe from rumors and speculation. Potential gameplay changes and possible location leaks have made the promise of a new Far Cry game a hot topic.
Of course, there's no way to actually know what lies in store for players when Far Cry 7 finally arrives. Rumors of in-game time limits and changes to the core exploration have made some Far Cry fans nervous, but if the franchise is seeking to shake up the series, it may want to look to its past. If Far Cry opts for an open-world setting again, then it might need something special to set it apart, and going back to more hardcore survival mechanics may be the key to standing out.
In Defense of Far Cry 5's Silent Protagonist
Far Cry 5's Deputy has long been a point of contention among fans, but there's plenty to love about the series only mute player character to date.
Far Cry 7 Should Jump Back Into the Survival Genre
Open-World Settings Have Become the Norm
More expansive maps can be fun, of course, but Far Cry 7 may benefit more from focusing on its deeper mechanics than simply giving players a lot of ground to cover. Nowadays, open-world settings aren't anything new, so in order to attract the attention of players, a game needs to really offer something special to prove that its open-world is worth the time. There's no telling how Far Cry 7 will choose to evolve the series, but taking inspiration from the likes of more hardcore entries like Far Cry 2 might be an exciting change of pace.
Some rumors have claimed that Far Cry 7 could take place on a fictional island off the coast of Korea, but this has yet to be confirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Far Cry 2 Brought Survival Front and Center
One of the main hurdles players have to face throughout Far Cry 2 is that the game's protagonist is infected with malaria. This forces players to stay stocked with pills throughout the game, as the infection never goes away. Recovering one's health in general is a more challenging task than usual. Whether it's a gun jamming in the middle of a fight or the permanent death of an ally, Far Cry 2 doesn't hold players' hands in its brutal world.
This type of intense survival may not be for everyone, though, and that's completely understandable. However, a little bit more edge to Far Cry 7's survival mechanics could definitely add a deeper level of immersion, at least. Difficulty settings could also help balance out a player's experience if they aren't into deep survival games, but the option for a more hardcore way to live in Far Cry 7's world is bound to be a plus for a lot of players. Far Cry Primal's Survival Mode is a strong example of how the franchise can still embrace the more intense parts of Far Cry 2 without making it the game's base setting.
If Far Cry opts for an open-world setting again, then it might need something special to set it apart.
Far Cry 2 even features healing animations that show the protagonist remove bullets and shrapnel from wounds, adding to the realism.
As the Wait for Far Cry 7 Continues, its Setting Remains One of the Biggest Unanswered Questions
With each Far Cry entry, the location has been the heart of each story. Whether it's Far Cry 2's African setting, Far Cry 5's cult-infested Montana wilderness, or Far Cry 6's fictional Caribbean island of Yara, the world and its unique culture are some of the most important factors in every new installment.
As of now, there's no way to know what awaits Far Cry fans. A focus on exploration seems likely to return, but balancing this out with a more rewarding survival system could prove to be the best way to make Far Cry 7 a strong entry in the franchise.
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