Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Six Fictional Locations I'd Like To Explore With Far Cry Mechanics
Far Cry’s open worlds have, to date, all been incredibly interesting to explore. Full of wildlife and increasing amounts of verticality as the series moves forward, Far Cry’s open worlds feel dense and alive.
Far Cry 2, 3, and 4 were all inspired by real world locations, but as Blood Dragon showed us, Far Cry’s creators are not afraid to take the series in a fantastic direction. I don’t know if Far Cry would ever consider licensing an existing franchise on which to base its open world, but if it did, these are some of the ones I would like to explore.
Tatooine from Star Wars
There have been plenty of Star Wars games taking place across multiple planets, but I would be interested in focusing on one location without the option of spaceflight. Jabba the Hutt could be the malevolent dictator antagonist ruling over the world with a bloated iron fist, and you could just be some kid caught in the crossfire of the Rebellion and the Empire. Imagine hang-gliding (or doing the Star War equivalent of it) from mountain to rooftop of the desert planet firing off your blaster at the ground below, being careful to avoid Sarlacc pits as you explore.
New York City from I Am Legend
Fallout gave us a great open-world post-apocalypse to explore, but I would love to play a more action-focused shooter in a world that hasn’t been participating in an apocalypse for very long. You could hunt wildlife that has wandered in the streets as you explore a city where nature has only just begun to creep in and take over.
Nomanisan Island from The Incredibles
The island where Mr. Incredible fights against Syndrome already looks like a Far Cry location. Mostly, Nomanisan Island just serves as a prime example of the kind of location I would like to explore – it doesn’t necessarily have to be based on The Incredibles. I just want the old-school, James Bond idea of a gigantic villain’s lair, where the environment serves to hide the massive underground base and underlying technology. You could hunt the robotic wild life security to collect technology and ride the monorail installation to get from point to point, just like Mr. Incredible and countless James Bonds before him did.
Zion from The Matrix
Saint’s Row IV played with the idea of an open-world Matrix game to some success, but in a Far Cry setting, I wouldn’t be interested in entering a computer world to become a super hero. Instead, I would want to be one of the unexceptional humans stuck underground trying to protect Zion from the robots. Being underground would offer a wildly different type of setting visually, and images like the one above inspire some exciting ideas of verticality. Climbing in one the film’s giant mechs to explore huge underground caverns also has the potential to offer a unique experience.
The Toxic Jungle from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
I’ve already mentioned a post-apocalyptic world on this list and referenced Fallout, but Nausicaä’s world offers a different type of apocalypse taking place during a point where nearly all remnants of the previous civilization have disappeared into toxic, inhospitable sections of the world. A Far Cry-style game taking place here would allow players to hunt the intimidating bugs of the world for parts (something that actually happens in the film) and the use of Nausicaä’s awesome compact jet-powered glider, which would offer short-range flight opportunities, much like Far Cry 4’s gyrocopter – but way cooler.
Jurassic Park from Jurassic Park
Pretty much the moment Far Cry 3 released, we were all asking where to find the dinosaur DLC. It may be the weakest among the released Jurassic Park films, but Jurassic Park III offers possibly the best setting for a Far Cry-style game. The park has been out of commission for some time, and it's up to you to fight (or defend) those who have decided to make the island their home, all while hunting the once-extinct creatures for valuable leathers and teeth.
What established fictional worlds would you like to explore with Far Cry 4’s mechanics?
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
