Summary
Far Cryhas been unusually quiet in the past few years. Ubisoft’s long-running action-packed FPS open-world series had a steady release schedule from 2012-2021. Since then, though, there has not been a new title, and the franchise has been cloaked in leaks and rumors, with scant official information from the studio regarding what might come next forFar Cry. As fans await firm news and speculation grows, many are wondering how the series can reinvent and update itself for the modern generation, and move away from some of the more lackluster sentiments it has garnered as it went on.
Rise of the Ronin, Team Ninja’s latest outing, was released in March this year, and channeled design and other elements from games likeFar CryandGhost of Tsushima.Roninwas very much its own distinct IP, though, with sharp and exacting combat alongside a deep historical-based story. Itincludes a lot of great detail in its characters, intriguing time period, and suite of mechanics. Among them, one ofRise of the Ronin’s stealth-related skillswas a more unique spin/subversion on traditional takedowns against certain enemies, specifically wild animals.Roningave players the option to put an unexpectedly soft touch on this standard against its furry foes, and this is an ideaFar Crycould consider playing off of in the next entry.
Along with the assumed but unconfirmed seventh main installment,otherFar Cryprojects are reportedly in the works.
Far Cry 7 Should ‘Borrow’ Rise of the Ronin’s ‘Beast Whisperer’ Skill
Rise of the Ronin’s Beast Whisperer Ability
Rise of the RoninresemblesFar Cry’s designin some noticeable ways. Like it,Rise of the Roninsees players exploring and fighting their way through various regions, having to contend with numerous enemy forces as they navigate the fractured situation of Japan’s Twilight of Edo period. As they hone their samurai skills, players can also acquire abilities that aid in stealth gameplay, with familiar ones like takedowns/assassinations etc.Rise of the Ronin,however, has a specific skill called “Beast Whisperer,” which transforms the previous lethal approach to dealing with hostile wild animals like wolves into an alternative “elimination” method. This turns out to be a wholesome and non-threatening petting, turning them neutral/friendly and circumventing the need to harm them. It’s a subtle touch, but one that is likely to be welcomed by all animal-lovers, and certainly an approach rarely seen in similar games.
How Far Cry 7 Could Utilize a Stealth Ability like Rise of the Ronin’s Beast Whisperer
Far Cryhas featured dangerous and unpredictable wildlife, with a realistic, responsive ecosystem that often means gamers will need to deal with them violently. On the opposite end,FChas also incorporated animal companions previously, with ones likeFC 5’s Cheeseburger the Grizzly Bear, and scrappy pup, Chorizo, fromFC 6. Fans may also recallFar Cry Primal, where they could learn to tame and mount various prehistorical beasts such as saber-toothed tigers and even wooly mammoths. Ubisoft has thus already technically built the bones of a system/mechanic similar toRise of the Ronin’s, and it would theoretically not be too difficult to update and polish it to allow players an option along the same lines in the future.
Asthe nextFar Cryis allegedly poised to introduce some big shakeups to the formula and loop, including a possible in-game timer limit, it might also be a good time for it to look to the above element fromRise of the Roninfor inspiration, perhaps by including non-lethal animal takedowns via an unlockable skill and/or accessibility setting. This would create opportunities for endearing animations etc. while being inclusive to more audiences. It could potentially extend to gameplay benefits too. For example, making these more difficult to perform, but rewarding more crafting resources (which has been a stapleFar Crycomponent), though it may be best to limit it to a toggle option to not unbalance the in-game economy. At the very least, though,Far Crytaking a cue fromRise of the Roninin this regard could help it regain some traction and stand out again in its next title.
Far Cry 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran and become a guerrilla fighter to liberate the nation. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. Far Cry 6 immerses players into the adrenaline-filled world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution.
