Far Cry Instincts: Predator

Written by Joe Comunale  on March 22, 2006

Final Glimpse: Far Cry Instincts plus Far Cry Instincts Evolution equals Far Cry Instincts Predator

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Following up on its unbelievable Xbox shooter, Ubisoft is re-releasing Far Cry Instincts for Microsoft's new console in Far Cry Instincts Predator. Fans of the game's progenitor can relive all the gun-wielding glory with sharper visuals and sleeker scenery. Not only does Predator include the original game and storyline fully intact, it also boasts a brand new storyline, areas, and characters. Simply put, Predator conflates the original Far Cry Instincts with Far Cry Instincts Evolution--the Xbox sequel soon to hit shelves--into one complete package.

Poor Jack Carver has once again found himself in a mess. After an alluring offer is made from a jezebel named Kade, Jack is persuaded into illegitimate weapons operations. His questionable choices land him basically marooned on the islands of Micronesia. As if matters could get any worse, he is also framed for murder. Unfortunately for Jack, the islands' inhabitants include some pirates that don't necessarily wish him the best, shall we say.

To counteract such threats, Carver is laced with an agglomeration of weapons and carnal strengths to boot. Players will recognize many of the weapons and find some additional firearms. Jack can acquire pistols, rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, SMG's, MP5's, and RCP90's. Scrolling through the repertoire of guns is executed with the directional pad. Weapons that are new to the mix include pipe bombs, blowguns, and Molotov cocktails. Effective with dispatching some of the bigger armies of goons, numerous pipe bombs can be dispersed before triggering them all simultaneously. Also, Carver can dual wield some of the guns, and even more interestingly, he can uproot immobile turrets and cannons from the ground and use them as shoulder gear. Of course, for those who like to move in silence, Jack can also sneak up behind unsuspecting victims and slit their throats with his knife.

Weapons aside, Jack Carver is still a force to be reckoned with. He possesses a slew of innate animal attributes. For starters, he has an amplified sense of smell, where he's able to distinguish enemies from afar; climbing trees and leaping implausible bounds is the norm for good ol' Jack. He can sprint like a cheetah, and his knuckles pack a knock-out blow as well. Granted, these augmentations are not limitless, as an adrenaline meter depreciates as Jack uses them. Both the adrenaline and health meters steadily increase during exploration, but finding health trinkets and special plants will increase the meters more substantially.

Since players must go on sojourns to the game's manifold islands, the creators have supplied Jack with different vehicles to get from place to place. Island hopping is possible with the help of jet skis found throughout. The jet skis take care of getting from island to island, while the trucks, jeeps and four-wheelers let Jack traverse each territory. Some of the game's vehicles have built-in turrets, and Jack can also fire his regular guns and drive simultaneously. In multiplayer, the transport trucks can hold a whopping eight players at a time. Oh, and let's not forget the hang gliders, which let players view the tropical sceneries from an airborne perspective.

Players are supplied with radar as means for navigation. Each area has different mission-based goals to be completed, and blue blips on the radar indicate where these objectives are located. Along the way, armies of pirates and mercenaries hidden in the verdant jungles will hope to thwart Jack's crusade. They utilize vehicles as well, so players should be prepared for the worst.

While the single-player mode is robust with island-hopping fun, the multiplayer and online aspects will have players coming back for more. With a dynamic map editor, players can utilize the game's land structures, weaponry, and other innards to create virtually any playing field they chose. Bridges can be structured, towers can be built, and even zip lines can be put up to however one sees fit. Thankfully, the end result can be uploaded to the online network for anyone to download and use. This is especially great for those not as savvy in this department, as they can simply go online and download a map from someone more apt with creating milieus. Players can vie in a number of different online matches--Steal the Sample, Predator, Seek and Secure. Each bout allows up to 16 players at once, and there are 22 different areas to engage in. Eight of the maps are new.