I just had to write a review to counter all the misplaced one-star slams this game has been taking at GOG, so here goes... Far Cry 2 is unlike its siblings in many ways. It took more chances with gameplay than its predecessor, adding hardcore elements that left fans of FC1 confused. A lot of FC2's mechanics - such as persistent respawns and gun jams - just make players frustrated and impatient, therefore they were taken out of the follow-ups. The narrative is pretty much nonexistent in comparison to 3 and 4, along with a (thankfully) silent protagonist in place of unlikable tools like Hawaiian Shirt Dude and Angry Young Man. I won't bother posting a large rant about how much better I think Far Cry 2 is in comparison to the rest of the releases in the series. However, I unabashedly love FC2, and I've played enough of it to feel competent in handing out some pointers to those who are new to the game or may be hesitant to go back and give it another try. *Play Far Cry 2 in hardcore mode -- FC2 is at its best when enemies present a real challenge. *Case your environment -- don't go in guns blazing; tactics are king in FC2, and rushing into a fight is guaranteed to get you killed. Use your viewfinder and tag ammo dumps, explosive barrels and vehicles. Take out hard targets long-distance and finish off the rest when they come looking for you. Move around a lot and exploit the terrain. Take advantage of machine gun placements. Sneak in if you feel like it and take them out one by one. Essentially, If you don't have patience for tactical firefights then this game probably isn't for you. *Get all the guns -- spend the time to collect those diamonds, because you'll need them to purchase all the guns in the game. And you'll want all the guns - combat becomes increasingly hectic as FC2 advances, and you'll need every advantage you can get. Try each one and get a feel for them, especially the mortar. The more comfortable you are with the firepower, the better you'll do. Also, THE FLARE GUN IS YOUR BEST FRIEND, SHOOT IT AND LOVE IT. *Take advantage of the buddy system -- use them, but don't abuse them. The buddy system has some great perks that go along with it, and you'll be better off if you interact regularly with them. *Learn how to maintain your weapon inventory -- gun jams got you down? Learn to identify worn weapons by sight in order to void picking them up. Make sure you upgrade your ammo capacity ASAP so you don't end up running out during a firefight. Buy weapon cases for your safehomes so you can easily switch gear before a mission. Remember, most mercs carry crap weapons, so you're better off relying on your own stock. It's no one's fault but your own if you pick up a jam-prone gun. *Guard posts suck, but you can lessen the suckiness -- go to moddb.com and download one of the realism mods that lowers the aggressiveness of the guards. They won''t leave you alone entirely, and they'll keep respawning like they always do, but it will lessen some of their more frustrating behavior. *Malaria? It sucks and I can't defend it -- it's so poorly implemented that I took a star off of my rating out of spite. Grin and bear it, folks. TL;DR: Far Cry 2 expects a lot more out of the player than the other games in the series. It's challenging, tactical, and sometimes frustrating. Ultimately, taking the time to learn the mechanics it runs on is the best way to maximize your enjoyment; that may mean a more "on-rails" experience when compared to FC1/FC3/FC4/Primal, but the game plays tighter and more streamlined as a result. One of my favorite games of all time, and definitely worth $9.99.
