Far Cry 2

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,306 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Far Cry 2 Game Cover
Far Cry 2 meshes high-octane gunplay with open world gameplay, and it does a damn good job. There’s a lot of great games coming this holiday season, but don’t let this one go unnoticed.
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In Far Cry 2, players navigate an African war-torn region as a mercenary seeking to take down a rogue arms dealer. The game features an open world environment with day-night cycles and dynamic weather, allowing for various approaches to complete missions. Players will face dangerous wildlife, hostile soldiers, and the harsh African landscape while trying to complete their objectives.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Uplay
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,306 reviews
story654 positive mentions
stability377 negative mentions
  • story4,646 mentions

    The story of "Far Cry 2" is often described as simplistic and repetitive, primarily revolving around the player's role as a mercenary tasked with assassinating an arms dealer known as the Jackal amidst a civil war in a fictional African country. While some players appreciate the game's attempt to explore themes of moral ambiguity and the futility of war, many criticize the lack of character development and the monotonous mission structure, which typically involves traveling long distances to complete similar objectives, such as killing targets or destroying enemy assets. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling story in its own right.

    • “The story, while simple, effectively draws players into a world of conflict and moral ambiguity as they navigate allegiances and undertake missions that often require strategic planning and improvisation.”
    • “The story features the rough foundation for what could be an engrossing story about men whose very livelihoods depend on war, and the lengths they'll go to keep a war brewing, but as it stands, there's no real characterization to anyone.”
    • “The story is captivating and the characters are well written, with the jackal being a very well done villain, and unlike all the other Far Cry games, there is an option to side with him that doesn't end the game in 5 minutes.”
    • “The story is completely nonsensical, but this is a gameplay-focused game, so whatever.”
    • “The story is below average.”
    • “The story is so boring that I stopped playing.”
  • gameplay1,752 mentions

    The gameplay of *Far Cry 2* is characterized by its ambitious mechanics, such as weapon degradation, malaria management, and a unique buddy system, which contribute to a gritty and immersive experience. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, often revolving around driving long distances between similar missions and dealing with respawning enemies. While the game offers a rich atmosphere and innovative features for its time, its execution can feel dated and frustrating, leading to mixed reviews regarding overall enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay is immersive and engaging, with unique mechanics like weapon degradation and the malaria system that add depth to the experience.”
    • “Far Cry 2's gameplay is a standout feature, offering a gritty and realistic approach that keeps players on their toes with mechanics like gun jamming and the need to manage health through malaria pills.”
    • “The game excels in its emergent gameplay, allowing players to approach missions in various ways, whether through stealth or all-out assault, making each encounter feel unique.”
    • “Gameplay: you will fight the exact same enemies, the exact same way, in the exact same location, over, and over and over!”
    • “The gameplay loop is really boring.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is just not fun.”
  • graphics957 mentions

    The graphics of "Far Cry 2" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality for a game released in 2008. While some highlight the impressive environmental detail and realistic lighting effects, others criticize the muddy color palette and occasional graphical glitches that can hinder visibility. Overall, the visuals are often described as beautiful and immersive, especially with the aid of graphical mods, but they also show signs of aging compared to modern titles.

    • “The graphics are stunning and with the graphics options cranked up, I have a hard time believing that I am actually playing a game.”
    • “The graphics hold up very well for a 2008 game, the sepia filter does not.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly very crisp, especially for a game made in 2008.”
    • “There's a lot more that's smaller but a good way to summarize it is despite being praised as having a lot of realism past graphics, this game is only realistic in the absolute worst ways possible.”
    • “Enemies blend into the environment, the overall graphics are muddy and ugly, guns feel like toys because enemies shrug off bullets like they're nothing, the stupid jeeps with mounted mgs endlessly spawn, play the same irritating sound effect non-stop, and run you over killing you instantly when you try to fight them.”
    • “The graphics are extremely subpar even for its time.”
  • stability391 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players describe the experience as "unplayable" due to game-breaking issues, particularly on modern systems, and recommend using mods or specific settings to mitigate these problems. Overall, the game's stability is seen as a major flaw, overshadowing its potential enjoyment.

    • “This game is awesome and it runs great on my older non-gaming laptop.”
    • “Really good, realistic game, great physics, and runs great on low-end PCs.”
    • “Runs great no compatibility issues with new hardware and Windows 10 and supports 4K resolutions.”
    • “This game is plagued with bugs, glitches, and crashes often - sometimes after 20 minutes, sometimes after 2 hours.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess when you go above 60 fps.”
    • “It's truly unplayable, the sheer amount of bugs and glitches in this game cannot be understated.”
  • atmosphere315 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Far Cry 2" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of a war-torn African setting, effectively capturing feelings of isolation, tension, and realism. Players appreciate the dynamic weather, sound design, and environmental details that enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and technical issues. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as one of its most compelling features, making it a memorable entry in the series.

    • “The sounds of the African wilderness – the rustling leaves, distant gunfire, and the haunting cries of wildlife – create an atmosphere that's both serene and terrifying.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfect for what it is, and the player can get lost in the setting and various dynamic encounters in the huge open world.”
    • “Far Cry 2 is, apart from a solid shooter, a magnificent atmospheric game, full of engrossing ambience and breathtaking vistas that will provide a cheap vacation alternative to sub-Saharan Africa, albeit in a much more hostile environment than you would ever wish for.”
    • “The atmosphere is drab, sombre, and depressing.”
    • “The action unfolded sluggishly, and in fact the story itself was flat and boring, the atmosphere was terrible - neither the music managed to make an impact, nor the character voices sounded authentic - more like a soulless Windows narrator sounding...”
    • “The whole setting and atmosphere makes you feel gloomy and depressed to be in a country like that.”
  • grinding229 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness and repetitiveness, with players frequently noting the long travel times, constant enemy respawns, and the necessity of completing monotonous side missions to unlock better weapons. Many reviewers expressed frustration with the lack of fast travel options and the overall grindy nature of the gameplay, which detracted from the immersive experience. While some players found enjoyment in the challenge, the overwhelming consensus is that the game becomes a tedious slog, making it difficult to maintain engagement over time.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's not overburdened with stuff, and the tasks to do are generally not that tedious, but it can still get tiresome after a while.”
    • “The respawning enemy outposts and repetitive mission structure can become tedious over time, detracting from the otherwise immersive experience.”
    • “It's tedious, frustrating, and repetitive.”
    • “The missions will sometimes ask that you travel half the map and having to go through all these outposts and patrols only to reach your mission which most of them are fetch quests that will take 2 mins to complete is just plain tedious.”
  • music189 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its African-inspired themes that enhance immersion and atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and distracting, particularly during combat. Many users suggest turning off the music to better enjoy the game's sound design and environmental audio, which they feel contribute more significantly to the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it often fails to leave a lasting impression.

    • “The soundtrack, composed by Marc Canham, perfectly complements the game's intense and somber tone.”
    • “The music escalates well whenever in combat, which adds to the atmosphere very well.”
    • “The soundtrack offers African-inspired music that helps immerse you in the setting and dynamically changes depending on the action taking place on screen.”
    • “The music was so disturbing, with human voices and a wrong dynamic aspect that I needed to turn it off. The surround sound was so bad I could not determine the location of the enemies, usually hearing them from behind me, which was very unnerving.”
    • “The music is really lame and repetitive, and the soundtrack is mostly just bongos and drums, which gets boring quickly.”
    • “The soundtrack is repetitive and tedious, and the fact that there's a bug that makes the music start playing as soon as you shoot a single shot got annoying quickly.”
  • humor102 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusing glitches, quirky NPC behaviors, and unexpected situations, such as jamming guns and bizarre AI interactions. While many players find the comedic elements entertaining, they often detract from immersion and can lead to frustration, especially when bugs disrupt gameplay. Overall, the humor is seen as a double-edged sword, providing laughs but also contributing to a sense of annoyance in certain scenarios.

    • “The walking animation glitch for the other characters is hilarious; instead of walking, they do a stiff-legged hop around everywhere.”
    • “The jam and degradation of guns is super fun; it can end in some hilarious situations even to your advantage and makes you be prepared for any confrontation.”
    • “I’d seen plenty of unpredictable, often hilarious things happen as a result of my violent actions -- I once shot a driver who then rolled his truck into a zebra, over a bridge, and into a river.”
    • “Some mechanics are interesting, but the game is not funny at all.”
    • “I had a problem with a few minor, if not funny, glitches, but they are nothing compared to the thick atmosphere of the game.”
  • emotional63 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players, with some highlighting moments of genuine heartbreak, particularly related to the buddy system and the weight of character deaths. However, many reviewers criticize the overall narrative as boring and lacking depth, leading to minimal emotional investment in the story or characters. While some players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of vulnerability and realism, others find the repetitive gameplay and poor mechanics detract from any potential emotional engagement.

    • “Getting overwhelmed by soldiers at a checkpoint on the road only to get saved by your buddy is always a gripping cinematic moment, and having to abandon or mercy kill them if they go down themselves is honestly one of the most heartbreaking death scenes in video games.”
    • “Well, you'll definitely be absolutely emotionally destroyed if your buddy dies in front of you. Seriously, I recall being 14 and getting the trophy for ending my buddy's suffering with a bullet... it hits so intensely and feels so real.”
    • “Far Cry 2 quickly became one of my favorite games because of how it sucked me in, made me feel weak, and then let me slowly adapt to it until I truly felt like the hardcore motherf*cker that I was supposed to be playing.”
    • “Boring story and characters; I had no motivation to continue because of this.”
    • “This game is just a complete mess: ugly locations, huge map not worth exploring, respawning enemies on every outpost, super slow driving, annoying weapon jamming, boring story, boring side quests.”
    • “Tl;dr: 3/10, boring story and an enormous world with nothing fun to do in it other than kill NPCs.”
  • optimization58 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and crashes, particularly on modern PCs. While some players found it runs well on Linux or with specific settings, others experienced frustrating stuttering and lag, leading to a general consensus that the game is poorly optimized for contemporary hardware. A few users noted improvements with mods, but overall, the game's optimization remains a major concern.

    • “On Linux, however, Far Cry 2 works very well (I literally had no crashes or performance issues at all) using Steam's Proton layer.”
    • “The game has easy requirements, so pretty much anybody can achieve great performance on their machines.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and beautifully on modern rigs, and aside from a few AI glitches, everything looks, sounds, and feels as if you were in an actual African jungle, savannah, or desert.”
    • “Unoptimized for modern PCs, didn't even have mouse support for me.”
    • “The performance of this game is awful.”
    • “Game is optimized like hot garbage, tons of bugs and glitches.”
  • replayability55 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it highly enjoyable and offering significant replay value due to its open-world design and multiple mission paths, while others criticize it for becoming repetitive and lacking substantial new content upon replay. Many reviews highlight the potential for modding and varied playstyles as factors that can enhance replayability, but overall, opinions range from "infinitely replayable" to "minimal replay value."

    • “The replay value of this game is enormous.”
    • “Hours and hours of gameplay and plenty of replayability.”
    • “Good stuff ... sandbox FPS with tons of replayability.”
    • “All of this, and yet the game remains with a problem that just makes it so...unreplayable.”
    • “This game has no replay value to be honest and has become quite dated in technical terms.”
    • “Replayability is minimal by itself; the start of new games may only change which sets of voices will boss you around in missions.”
  • character development22 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate a significant lack of character development in the game, leading to minimal emotional investment in the protagonist's journey. Many players feel that the absence of meaningful interactions, unique quest givers, and substantial dialogue detracts from the overall experience, making the gameplay feel aimless and repetitive. While some mention isolated instances of character depth, the consensus is that character development is largely insufficient throughout the game.

    • “There was some decent character development to the point where when one of my friends got killed I was actually upset.”
    • “+ The Jackal is great as a character, and has far more depth and character development than anyone else.”
    • “- Player-guided character development (can be a good guy-type or a bad guy-type).”
    • “Additionally, the lack of character development for the player's protagonist can make it difficult to feel invested in their story.”
    • “Character development is minimal, leaving little emotional investment in the outcome of the protagonist's journey.”
    • “The problem I have with this game's story is that there's very little, if any, character development.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it lacks intrusive microtransactions and in-game purchases, allowing players to enjoy the experience without the typical pressures of modern monetization strategies. However, some players express frustration with the presence of ads, particularly in vehicles, and the inability to toggle them off, which detracts from immersion. Overall, the game is appreciated for its straightforward approach to monetization, focusing on gameplay rather than gimmicky cash grabs.

    • “Even though it's an older game, it comes without all the hassles of in-game purchases.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “As we watch once-beloved franchises such as Ghost Recon, Assassin's Creed, and indeed even Far Cry itself, push deeper into number-based pseudo-RPG formulas in an effort to chase long-term monetization goals for the benefit of investors and quarterly earnings reports, replete with cluttered maps, intrusive HUDs and menus that do little more than blow any sense of immersion out of the water, timed events to induce fear-of-missing-out syndrome, along with half-baked gimmicks and actual health bars?”
    • “I couldn't even find a way to toggle ads, which is annoying seeing as even the first game you could toggle ads.”
    • “The jeep advertising was weird.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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Play time

16hMedian play time
22hAverage play time
17hMain story
42hCompletionist
6-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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