GAME DESCRIPTION: The game begins under mysterious circumstances where main character John Carver finds himself tied to a chair in the empty, rusted belly of a decrepit cargo ship. Thanks to the help of an unseen stranger, John’s restraints are loosened and he sets out to escape his captors. From this point on you are in control of John’s destiny. Far Cry offers a variety of ways to approach each challenging situation, where players can choose to rely on firepower, strategy and stealth. An amazing new game engine (the CryENGINE) features breathtaking graphics, highly intelligent computer AI, and a host of other visual effects and technological advancements.
PLAY: It’s you and your knife to start which adds a heck of a lot of anxiety as you cut through the heavy foliage. At the same time it is this foliage that keeps you alive as you sneak up on the enemy. Once you secure a gun the game changes but don’t think for a moment that it gets any easier. One major issue is the fact that you are limited on the types of guns you can carry and when you hold two guns they must be identical. The makes no sense.
What makes Instincts so much fun is the hide and seek nature. As kids playing guns with friends we hid and tried to sneak up on each other. Now you can do it in a wonderfully dynamic game. It is easy to get caught up and jump out of your hiding spot and just drop a few guys but then you give up your cover and you’d never know who might be right around the corner. That leaves one great option; traps.
You can set traps and wait for the enemy to stumble on them. You can even lure them to the area. It’s pretty basic to set up and often more exciting than the simple nature of shooting an enemy.
As Jack becomes more feral he starts to get different abilities. He can track enemies by scent, becomes stronger, and can see in the dark. This completely changes the balance and enjoyment of the game.
GRAPHICS: The Xbox version of Instincts is gorgeous. Because you spend so much time in the jungle the foliage sticks out in great detail. Wow! There isn’t indiscriminate leaves filling the screen instead they surround you with shadows of light. The Xbox version isn’t as great as the PC release but this is one of the best looking Xbox games we’ve seen all year.
SOUND: The sounds of the jungle real stick out.
FRANKLY: With the ability to hang glide and manage other vehicles on top of running around a beautifully designed jungle would be quality enough. Through in stealth and a man who mutates and this game starts to go beyond good into the realm of great!
+ Richie Wright
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