Ubisoft couldn’t have better timing with the announcement of Far Cry 5. Politics, religion, faith, freedom, firearms, militias, anarchy: these themes hit close to home. It’s all there waiting for you in a fictional Montana.
iDigitalTimes attended a Far Cry 5 press briefing where Creative Director Dan Hay unveiled the details about the upcoming game. Far Cry 5 has been in development for more than two years, but the idea has been in motion for about four. Ubisoft shelved the project two and a half years ago, as they believed the franchise wasn’t ready for a United States setting.
Well, they’re definitely going for it now.
Let’s get some of your burning questions out of the way first. Far Cry 5 is set in a fictional area in the United States: Hope County, Montana. Like Far Cry titles before it, Far Cry 5 will feature first-person gameplay in an open-world format. Far Cry 5 will be available on Xbox One, Project Scorpion, PlayStation 4 and PC on Feb. 27, 2018. And yes, Donald Trump is the President in Far Cry 5 universe, Hay told iDigitalTimes. Now let’s dive into the details.
Plot
There are people in Hope County that do not trust the government. They feel abandoned and helpless with no one to give them a voice. Enter Joseph, the leader of a doomsday cult who takes advantage of Hope County’s growing “us versus them” mentality. Joseph takes the time to build his compound called Eden’s Gate, which used to be the local church. He tells his followers someday someone will try to take him and that’s the day the reckoning will come. “We must prepare to be tested,” Joseph keeps telling his followers.
This is where the protagonist, whose name Ubisoft has yet to reveal, comes in. We won’t spoil the beginning for you, but the protagonist goes into Hope County with good intentions. Instead, he finds himself kicking a hornet’s nest with nowhere to run. The protagonist quickly becomes the town’s junior deputy to form the Resistance, but whether he wants to save Hope County might change by the end of the game.
Characters
The cult consists of four characters: The Father, The Oldest, The Youngest, The Half-Sister. Joseph is “The Father” who leads his people in the cult’s Hope County compound. He believes God will provide for them so long as they’re loyal. Joseph is the game’s villain, but the politics of Hope County aren’t black and white. He might not be as crazy as you think he is. The Oldest is Joseph’s son Jacob. He’s ready to fight alongside his father at whatever cost. The Youngest is Joseph’s his son Jon, who is wild and unpredictable. And then there’s Faith, The Half-Sister. She’s the flower child, at least on the surface.
Now for the non-cult members of Far Cry 5. First, there’s Pastor Jerome, who’s a “God and guns” preacher, according to Hay. Jerome, of course, doesn’t agree with The Father. He believes in God’s word, but isn’t afraid to pick up a weapon. He will defend himself. He will fight for what’s right.
Then there’s Mary May, the owner of a bar in Hope County. The cult has threatened her on multiple occasions, but she refuses to leave Hope County. Mary isn’t scared off so easily. And she also makes a mean molotov cocktail.
And lastly, there’s Nick Rye. He’s the guns for hire in Hope County. He has a sweet airplane that you’ll be able to use once you get on his good side. He hates Joseph and the cult just as much as Mary and Jerome.
Gameplay/Graphics
Ubisoft didn’t show much gameplay during its presentation of Far Cry 5, but confirmed demos will be available at E3 2017. There were ranged weapons, melee weapons, grenades and attack dogs shown, but what stood out is the creative use of the environment. We saw the protagonist stab an enemy with a pitchfork right through his chest. You can also train animals like bears and cougars to attack your enemies.
The graphics shown during the presentation were still in development, but we’re glad they went with Montana. There’s a lot of scenic elements to work with, like mountains, forests, farms, rivers and lush green fields. The game is open-world and will drop the protagonist right in the center of the map. It won’t matter which direction the player decides to go in because there are outposts in every direction. Ubisoft also confirmed Far Cry 5 will have the map editor, which gives players the opportunity to create new playgrounds and share them with other gamers.
You also won’t fight alone in Far Cry 5. You’ll be able to recruit people to your cause, build outposts and take over areas. But does that make you any better that The Father? Again, Far Cry 5 isn’t a world of black and white. The protagonist goes into Hope County with the intentions to peacefully take down Joseph, but everything isn’t always what it seems.
Overall Impressions
As far as the plot is concerned, Hay explained to iDigitalTimes you’re meant to feel uneasy playing Far Cry 5. The topics are relevant, especially with the state of politics now. Hay’s team spent a lot of time researching religious cults and militias before diving into Far Cry 5. There are cults in the United States. There are militias in the United States. The scenario the protagonist finds himself in the beginning of the game isn’t a stretch.
With controversial themes and setting aside, the game looks like Far Cry games before it. You’re put into an intense situation and have to fight your way out of it. We’re definitely interested in getting some hands-on time with Far Cry 5 at E3.
