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Far Cry Instincts - IGN Xbox Review

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/653/653891p1.html

8.5 Presentation
Only the long loading times mar the pristine presentation on this beauty.
9.0 Graphics
This isn’t the PC game, but it is easily one of the best looking titles on Xbox.
9.0 Sound
The music, creatures, and sounds of combat will have you cranking the volume.
9.0 Gameplay
A competent shooter that kicks into gear when Carver goes bonkers and unleashed his feral powers. You won’t be disappointed.
8.5 Lasting Appeal
The single player story isn’t exactly epic, but multiplayer rocks and the map editor ensures a large amount of replay value.
9.0 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

Far Cry Instincts is a must-play for anyone with a remote interest in shooters. The new feral abilities and completely redesigned single player experience mean that even gamers who played the heck out of the PC version will find value in this title. Graphically, the developers have clearly pushed the Xbox to its limit. Whatever quirks this game exhibits (fairly long load times and sporadic pop-in) are a product of trying to do too much on aging hardware. The map editor, multiplayer, and feral melee attack are reason enough to give this game a try, so stop reading and join the hunt.

Sounds pretty hot. I own Farcry but it runs like shit on my machine, so I'm looking forward to playing this.
 
Hmmm I played the demo and it was very entertaining but I'm not sure if I could bring myself to buy it. But yes I agree it does have the makings to be an excellent shooter.
 
The Faceless Master said:
isn't this basically nothing like the pc version except sharing the general design idea and main character?

Yeah, I think there are major changes. Like you say, the general island concept and main character are similar. I think it's more linear with new "feral powers"
 
do you still get killed like that the second your in a firefight? Any "i'm going to shoot you in the face" lines?
 
The Faceless Master said:
isn't this basically nothing like the pc version except sharing the general design idea and main character?

Pretty much, it's a different variation of the Far Cry story. In this game, Jack Carver is just a guy who owns a boat and gets pulled into this mess. And I love they've given him the super powered feral ablities. I've been following this game for some time. I played the PC version and parts of it were ridiculously hard. I kinda like the angle they took with this one (based on what I've read and heard). And I hear the multiplayer is awesome. Also the map editor in this game is good to from what I've eard so far (i.e. it'll do what Pariah promised instead of coming up short). I've been waiting to get my hands on this for some time and can't wait to get my hands on it Wednesday. The demo was pretty cool, but I think that only scratches the surface of the fun this game will be in sinlge and multiplayer. If you have this last months OXM, then check out the Far Cry movies on the disc.
 
What does it matter whether the console is "aging" or not? Microsoft has already published its last game for it.
 
IMHO if the xbox had another year before being replaced, we would see it pushed furthur beyond its specs as we have seen the ps2 continually doing.
 
Why are people acting like all of a sudden all xboxes will blow up once the x360 is released. You all do know that there are quite a bit of xbox games scheduled for release afterwards right? Hell there are games I want that won't be released 'till next summer... :lol

Anyway, time to get the thread back on topic. I'm might give this game a go, eventually, even though I wasn't following it at all.
 
I started playing it yesterday, and I've to say this game rocks! The start is a little bit slow, but once you start infiltrating the enemy camps it really turns very cool. Vehicles are not very driveable tough. And I tried the map editor too, really awesome. It seems really a great game.
 
Spider_Jerusalem said:
I started playing it yesterday, and I've to say this game rocks! The start is a little bit slow, but once you start infiltrating the enemy camps it really turns very cool. Vehicles are not very driveable tough. And I tried the map editor too, really awesome. It seems really a great game.
you started playing it on a sunday?
 
raYne said:
Why are people acting like all of a sudden all xboxes will blow up once the x360 is released. You all do know that there are quite a bit of xbox games scheduled for release afterwards right? Hell there are games I want that won't be released 'till next summer... :lol

Anyway, time to get the thread back on topic. I'm might give this game a go, eventually, even though I wasn't following it at all.

no idea bout you but i had two xbox's till about 2 weeks ago.
one i could get on live with that recently sold on ebay for 2 bills and the other i kept and can not get on live.

i had hoped to get this before the 360 comes out if the single player was worth it and i had hoped that it was supported by the 360 so that i could play it on live.

at this point i would much rather put that 2 bills towards a 360 then buy another xbox.
 
Spider_Jerusalem said:
Well, yesterday for me was Monday, I live in the future (Italy) ^__^ I received the game yesterday from Ubisoft and started playing it yesterday night :-)
I wish Ubisoft would send me games for review...
For some reason Ubisoft France is the worst there is (along with Atari and obviously EA) to get anything from. Nice to see the french companies supporting the french market...
 
Fucking MINE.

I've been waiting for this game since last September when the thing was delayed. This and Serious Sam2,can't wait.:)
 
I picked mine up last night, but I want to play the multiplayer before I post detailed impressions. I was up pretty late last night with this title. But I will say it is one hell of a first person action/shooter. I totally forgot that Stephen Dorf (you know..Deacon Frost from Blade) is doing the voice over for the main character Jack Carver. I love the dialogue and voice acting in this game (up there with Ridiick in terms of line delivery). At first, the game seems run of the mill, then it gets VERY interesting (once you get past the demo stuff). I'm the 4th stage and I now have gotten the first of my 'feral' abilities. Awesome! The use of vehicles works pretty well in this game, and I can't wait to sample the multiplayer. I wanted to spend a good chunk of time with single player before jumping online. I cancelled a dinner enganement for tonight just to be sure I spend some quality time with this game.

This game does things that Breakdown should have done (you can tell that Crytek played that game in some parts). The graphics and digital sound make this one immersive experience. Like I said, I'll be online tonight and try to post some impressions later this evening. Even if you played through the PC version, you might want to give this one a look. I'm liking it a lot so far but afriad to say more until I get deeper in.
 
I'm looking forward to trying the multiplayer and map editor tonight. The single player is pretty good so far. It feels different from the PC game, it seems a bit less stealth driven, but the combat is still fun with some great set pieces. You can find a wide variety of ways into trouble because the maps are big. Impressive looking game but nothing like PC. I like the vehicles as well.
 
Dr_Cogent said:
What are your specs dude?

Athlon 2100+
512 MB RAM
ATI Radeon 9500Pro

I can't run it at 1024x768 with decent details without it being a chop fest (800x600 just doesn't look very good). The computer is old, so I'm not surprised, I'll be looking to get a new one soon.
 
GitarooMan said:
Yeah, I think there are major changes. Like you say, the general island concept and main character are similar. I think it's more linear with new "feral powers"

Starting to wonder how they scripted it in Instincts, but in the ending of Far Cry
the main character is infected with the mutagen substance, which presumably would have given him the powers you see in the new game.
 
I've only played the single player so far. The game is fun, but no way is it worth a 9/10 rating, in my opinion.
 
bitwise said:
IMO its better than the PC game. Finished it up last night.


I'm leaning that way as well, but I want to get deeper in before I commit to such a statement. ;) This definately has the makings of a top tier XBox title. Control, gameplay, environment, sounds, vehicles...all good. It has just about everything you could want. Can't wait to play around with the map editor as well, and it'll be fantastic to see what other XBL players create and make available. nlike Pariah where you can make variations of existing maps, you can create your own islands/maps form scratch and it looks to be pretty detailed and expansive. I only peeped it for a few minutes last night but the editor looks to be fantastic!. I should leave work early...I'm feeling a little ill. ;)
 
Hmm.. impressions..

As said previously, Instincts is basicly a remake of Farcry, its not a continuation.

I'm 8 of 13 levels in and it's been really enjoyable, no plastic abomination monsters
except once, something similar
, so far.

The supposed increased linearity in Instincts compared to Farcry on PC isnt really that noticeable, unless you really go out of your way seeking the boundaries, so don't worry.

Graphics-wise, apart from some overused bumpmapping (as always), some low-res wall textures and some in-the-distance pop-in, the levels are still huge and really pretty. The bloom can be a bit "too much" in some instances but it otherwise lends itself to enforce the mood, especially in the sunset, sunrise levels. :)

The AI is allright, they use cover, throw grenades, yell for backup etc. etc. and they dont yell in your face anymore either :)
There's one glaring failiure with the AI however, which involves crawling under huts, blasting every enemy thats "investigating the hut" through the floorboards, one after the other as they arrive to check things (walking slowly about exclaiming "did you hear that?!").

The vehicles and physics are a bit floaty, driving is done from first person only and you both accelerate and steer with the left thumbstick, that plus the physics lends itself to some iffy driving at high speeds through the jungle, but you get somewhat used to it.

The weapons and feral powers are great, especially the powers, which you aquire one by one as the story progresses, nothing quite like it charging with feral speed through the high grass, charging your jump and subsequently "matrix jumping" over a chasm --or down a slope, killing yourself with falling damage :lol

Control-wise I miss a true southpaw option, I tend to prefer that in console FPS' but it's no biggie, and all in all I'm enjoying this game better than I did with Farcry on PC.

Haven't touched the multiplayer yet.
 
GitarooMan said:
Athlon 2100+
512 MB RAM
ATI Radeon 9500Pro

I can't run it at 1024x768 with decent details without it being a chop fest (800x600 just doesn't look very good). The computer is old, so I'm not surprised, I'll be looking to get a new one soon.

One thing I noticed with Far Cry is that its a freakin memory hog. That's why I asked. 512 MB is kinda low, but it appears most of your other parts are in line with that memory. Looks like you need an upgrade (but I'm probably preaching to the choir at this point ;)

It might be less choppy if you had 1 GB of RAM though.
 
Nice to hear that the game has improved. The original was amazing looking (especially with SM30 and HDR), but the gameplay was just crap.
 
Dr_Cogent said:
One thing I noticed with Far Cry is that its a freakin memory hog. That's why I asked. 512 MB is kinda low, but it appears most of your other parts are in line with that memory. Looks like you need an upgrade (but I'm probably preaching to the choir at this point ;)

Yeah, I've been looking at some new stuff. I've been thinking about throwing another 512 into it because it's pretty cheap, but I don't think it will make a huge difference. My thought for the immediate future is that it's cheaper to drop 400 on an X360 to play on an HDTV than 2000-2500 on a new rig.
 
I know that they changed a lot of the details (abilities, voice overs), but is the level design the same? I have it on the PC and would like to pick this up, but if the overall game is pretty similiar to the PC version, I think I'll pass.
 
GitarooMan said:
Yeah, I've been looking at some new stuff. I've been thinking about throwing another 512 into it because it's pretty cheap, but I don't think it will make a huge difference. My thought for the immediate future is that it's cheaper to drop 400 on an X360 to play on an HDTV than 2000-2500 on a new rig.

Your probably right about that. These damn computers are so pricey compared to the consoles. Oh well, such is the life of a die hard gamer.
 
FirstInHell said:
I know that they changed a lot of the details (abilities, voice overs), but is the level design the same? I have it on the PC and would like to pick this up, but if the overall game is pretty similiar to the PC version, I think I'll pass.

Both games share the tropical setting, building architecture and such but the levels themselves are new, its a different game.
 
chigiri said:
Both games share the tropical setting, building architecture and such but the levels themselves are new, its a different game.

Not only that, aren't you supposedly infected with the virus too and you become more like an animal too?
 
Dr_Cogent said:
Not only that, aren't you supposedly infected with the virus too and you become more like an animal too?

the virus you got in Farcry on PC has nothing to do with this game.
 
Dr_Cogent said:
I didn't get that far in the PC game :D
It happens in the second last level and has no impact on the gameplay.

You're lucky that you were not forced to endure the last level of the game, though. >_<
 
dark10x said:
It happens in the second last level and has no impact on the gameplay.

You're lucky that you were not forced to endure the last level of the game, though. >_<

indeed :lol

mr_sockochris said:
Nooooooooooooooo :(

i do belive the line is still in there though, a little altered, and not voiced every god damn time, seventeen times, by the same enemy.
 
Awww, they got rid of the yelling?

They should have slipped an "I'm gonna shoot you in the face" joke in there somewhere...
 
dark10x said:
Awww, they got rid of the yelling?

They should have slipped an "I'm gonna shoot you in the face" joke in there somewhere...

That got old real quick. Why would you holler out to your enemy something like that? It sounded so stupid.
 
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