The Far Cry series has not disappointed fans of FPS, and now that version 6 is almost here, it is the best time to look back at all the classics and rank them. Most gamers have a preference, but today, I will focus on Far Cry Primal and Far Cry and see how well they compete with other games in the franchise.
So, between the original Far Cry and Far Cry Primal, which should you choose? The original Far Cry and the Primal variation have distinct settings, plots, and gameplay. While Far Cry is more modern, involving advanced weapons and machines, Primal’s setting is in a prehistoric era where you access crafted melee weapons. Far Cry Primal is more exciting since it is a different story from other Far Cry games. However, if you love using high-tech equipment like guns and vehicles, you will incline more to Far Cry.
Far Cry is the first chapter of the FPS series that made millions of players fall in love with the game. On the other hand, Far Cry Primal came after Far Cry 4 to give the franchise a new light. Therefore, you may wonder whether there are any differences between these two titles and what sets them apart.
Far Cry and Far Cry Primal are distinct in terms of their setting, plot, and gameplay. Far Cry is a modern title that deploys the latest technologies like guns, vehicles, and other machines. Players are also free to pick their preferred playstyles.
On the contrary, Far Cry Primal is arguably more exciting, as it takes you to a prehistoric era where you battle predators and other tribespeople. It is more about survival, and you can only access crafted weapons. Generally, Far Cry Primal is for the creative and adventurous, while Far Cry is for players who love a more modern setup.
Here are more detailed features showing the differences and similarities between the two variations.
- Release
Far Cry was the original and the first game to reach players in 2004. It had distinctive elements, and many loved how unpredictable it was. At that time, Ubisoft made the game stand out from other First Person Shooters (FPS), and it turned out excellent and exciting. The best part was allowing players the freedom to undertake missions however they preferred, whether full-blown assault or surprise attacks.
On the other hand, Far Cry Primal came to the scene in 2016. The developers by then had made other Far Cry spinoffs and remakes, and some thought that the series was losing its touch. The Primal variation came at the right time to rejuvenate the title and came with its unique setting and gameplay.
However, it seemed to focus more on the player’s survival in a stone-age era, and you can tell from the weapon choice. Instead of Far Cry’s modern artillery, Primal allowed historical and outdated crafted weapons.
- Setting
One significant difference between Far Cry and Far Cry Primal is the setting, thus you can tell from the in-game items like clothing and weapons that the two are worlds apart. If you prefer games with a contemporary edge, you will incline to Far Cry.
This game’s storyline involves Jack Carver’s journey through a magical island searching for a lost female journalist. He is now stranded in Micronesia after mercenaries damaged their boat.
Therefore, you have to journey through the island and deal with evil and lethal mutants. However, Far Cry Primal has a different setting that takes you thousands of years back in time to the Stone Age.
The story entails the adventures of Takkar of the Wenja people who is lost in Oros and has to use makeshift weapons to survive. He tames animals and is in constant conflict with deadly creatures and other tribes. If you want to experience life in the Mesolithic era, Far Cry Primal will be an exciting game to play.
- Gameplay
Many gamers believe that the Far Cry Primal gameplay is one of the most exciting in the entire series. Instead of guns and vehicles in combat, the player is limited to melee weapons like bows and spears that you have to craft since you cannot buy them.
Gaming brings you one-on-one with terrifying stone-age creatures and aggressive tribes in Oros. You can also tame the animals you find and use them as sidekicks in your missions.
It is all about how well you can survive with little resources from the developers. The original Far Cry takes a different turn since it has a modern setting, providing players with advanced machines.
You can use these weapons when defending yourself, and you can take advantage of your unique skill sets. Therefore, if you are adventurous, you will love Primal, but the original game is still a great way to experiment with technology.
Far Cry 4 and 5 Vs. Far Cry Primal
Far Cry 4 is the first creation among the three, following its release in November 2014. The Primal series came two years later as a spinoff of the original Far Cry paving the way for Far Cry 5 in 2018. These games are favorites among action-adventure fans; therefore, I will discuss their similarities and differences to help you determine the best version.
FC4, 5, and Primal have unique settings and storylines; while Primal is prehistoric, 4 and 5 are more modern. Primal only uses melee weapons that you must craft instead of purchasing as with other titles.
FC4 and 5 also involve battling with enemy soldiers, while Primal entails wars with predators and foe tribes. Every Far Cry game has unique capabilities, and all offer the best action adventures in the first person. Therefore, it is daunting to declare the best version since they target various gamer groups.
For starters, Far Cry 4, 5, and Primal have individual settings and different stories. The developers tend to create spinoffs and later releases with unique plots for the fans. However, they are all action adventures that you play in the first person, and the goal is to survive while playing in an open environment. For the three and any other Far Cry game, you have an open world that is free to explore, and no two players get the same experience.
However, out of the three, Far Cry Primal’s setting stands out more since it is the first of its kind to feature a story in the prehistoric Mesolithic era. While the fourth and fifth variations deal with modern machines like guns and vehicles, Primal only allows you to craft melee weapons instead of purchasing them. Therefore, you get to play using spears, bows, and other equipment that you can craft using your limited resources. The game is perfect if you want a different storyline and playstyle.
Far Cry 4 and 5 have almost the same objective since the main characters fight antagonists for their liberation. FC4 features Ajay Ghale journeying through the mountainous Kyrat in the Himalayas while opposing the evil Pagan Ming.
On the other hand, FC5 is a story of Hope County in Montana, where the junior Deputy Sheriff leads a resistance against Joseph Seed. While these two have a particular antagonist, Primal is all about survival mode in the wild.
FC4 and FC5 also have an elaborate multiplayer system where you can join forces with other players through “Guns for Hire” or “Friends for Hire”. Each of the games in the Far Cry franchise has an outstanding feature.
Far Cry 4 is the first title that allowed special skills like hiding corpses and kicking. You can also access items like parachutes, grappling hooks, and wingsuits. Additionally, although the game starts in South Kyrat, you can unlock the Northern part as you keep playing.
There are also extra side quests that you can complete to earn you more items. You can fight with shotguns, revolvers, and even mount elephants. Far Cry 5 also has its fair share of exclusives.
For instance, players can customize how they want their characters to look, and the game offers a more comprehensive range of melee weapons. Compared to other titles, the FC5 world is also relatively larger. You will also notice that you can earn resistance points as you keep playing, and the gameplay gets more complex as the resistance meter increases.
As for Far Cry Primal, everything about it is different compared to its predecessors. The outstanding feature is the ability to craft weapons and use other animals as hunting companions.
You can mount the massive ones like the Sabertooths and use the other tamed ones as mission partners. Also, you will be battling with natural predators and other people from different tribes. You also have an owl as a spirit guide to help you spot enemy locations. Oros also has weather and a dynamic day and night cycle.
Another common aspect in all the games is the inclusion of wildlife. FC4 allows players to hunt for skin, mount elephants, and use bait when taming. FC5 also gives players fishing mechanisms and the chance to obtain animal companions from the wild to help during missions.
For Far Cry Primal, you will always encounter predators, and the best part is that they are not restricted to specific quests as with other titles. You can use baits to tame them, mount on enormous creatures, and use animal skins for crafting.
Just Cause Vs. Far Cry
Video games have grown incredibly in the past few years, and players find it overwhelming to choose the best options. Far Cry and Just Cause are some fantastic video games amassing huge followings globally. If you have heard about them but you are unsure which is best suited for you, worry no more. I will highlight their outstanding features to help you decide.
While Far Cry is a first-person shooter game, Just Cause is a third-person shooter game. Unlike Far Cry, Just Cause deploys many stunts and unique capabilities such as swimming and various transport modes.
However, both games offer you lucrative side missions that you can undertake to enhance your skills and earn extra points. Lastly, Far Cry supports single and multiplayer modes, but Just Cause only allows single-player.
Generally, Just Cause and Far Cry have similar and contradicting aspects of their playability, settings, genres, and technology. The character view involved in these games also differs. Just Cause uses third-person gameplay that allows you to see your character’s entire body and have a better view of an approaching enemy.
On the other hand, Far Cry employs a first-person playstyle such that you will only see the avatar that will turn left, right, or move forward according to your input commands on your controller.
The setting of both games also differs. Just Cause happens in “San Esperito,” a fictional country in South America. Here, a player works with an Agency to overthrow the country’s leader. However, FC is on a mysterious tropical island where the player embarks on a quest to find a lost journalist and find his path back to civilization.
Far Cry’s gameplay is quite incredible, giving you numerous ways to complete a mission. The arcade-like and realistic gaming enhances your experience, the ragdoll effect doesn’t halt on corpses only, and you can use it on other characters.
Just Cause gameplay involves a broad environment, intensive driving, and third-person perspective, among other elements. Your character has vast abilities such as intelligent use of weapons and manning vehicles. The open environment also allows you to explore the world extensively and choose how to play the game.
You can roam and engage in side missions; however, you need to be extremely cautious not to fall into the hands of your enemies. FC and JC are also quite similar. Both games exhibit great quality video display with exciting quests and side missions to try.
The games are adventurous and action-packed, and you can play them on various platforms such as the PS and Xbox. Similarly, their levels of difficulty increase as you gain more experience through the stages.
Wrap Up
If you are looking for great entertainment and the best first-person shooter, the Far Cry games have you covered. They offer fantastic action adventures in open worlds where you are free to roam. Whether you play the spinoffs or the chronological releases, I guarantee you the best gaming experience.
However, your choice will depend on the game’s playstyle. For instance, you can go for Far Cry Primal if you incline to adventure and would have more fun battling natural predators. It is the best place to be creative as you craft melee weapons and use the meager resources for your survival. On the other hand, the original Far Cry, FC4, and FC5 are for gamers who love using advanced equipment and prefer a modern setup.
