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What happens when you switch locales, developers, and nearly rewrite the entire engine? Apparently, Far Cry 2. The only thing this game has in common with the original is its open world style play, which has now been enhanced and expanded. That doesn’t necessarily help the game though.

After you pick your character, you’re off to Africa in search of a corrupt arms dealer. You’ll contract malaria which is a constant bother, and mostly an annoyance. Far Cry 2 is complicated, probably the most complex FPS you’ll ever play. There is a lot to get into and manage, so don’t expect a standard experience.

Since the game is open world, you’ll be doing a lot of driving. Like Grand Theft Auto, you can hop into any vehicle and drive around (and they all have the same exact GPS system, which isn’t all that logical). Your objectives are clearly displayed, although not the best way to get there. There are numerous short cuts and roads to take, so this is a “feature” embracing the exploration aspects.

On your way to a mission, you’ll likely pass checkpoints. These are loaded with enemies who can apparently know who it is half a mile away. The constant requirement to stop, get out, shoot a bunch of guys, repair your car, take care of injuries, and then move on is annoying. The repetition is unbearable, as is the constant need to drive. There is no option to warp to locations you’ve already seen.

Once to your destination, you’ll likely have choices. Many missions offers you multiple paths, and it’s up to you which one you’ll follow. Every task has an infinite number of solutions. Taking enemies out from a distance, setting fires, running in guns blazing, or even waiting until the time of day changes to better your odds are all options. Again, the game is deep and complex, so playing it like a traditional shooter is missing the point.

Then again, trying to play it like a traditional shooter reveals numerous issues. Collision is terrible, and firing point blank on an enemy won’t always land a kill. Even if the bullets do hit, even in the head, it’s not always the indication that the foe is dead. Enemies have the uncanny ability (or a sixth sense) to see you through all of the brush, eliminating the opportunity for logical stealth.

You’ll be spending a lot of time in Far Cry 2 as the single player campaign is extensive. You can meet a lot of people, many of whom can get you out of trouble fast. Unfortunately, if they die trying to save you, they stay dead and it’s off to find someone else. Healing yourself typically leads to some interesting animation (all in first-person) such as pulling a bullet out of a wound, but in the end, all of them are the same in terms of gameplay.

Visually, the game is impressive technically. Trees sway realistically, character models look sharp, destruction is awe-inspiring, and explosions truly pack a punch. However, the shift from an island paradise to Africa has stripped the game of its color, resulting in what looks like yet another shooter drenched in ugly brown and darker browns. Random shrubs barely even bring out the landscape in which the sun is the only thing providing some life.

Multi-player offers combat for 16-players, although the modes are straightforward. The real seller is the creation engine. This is as detailed a map editor you’ll find, loaded with a simply stunning array of options that will eat hours of your time, just like in the original Far Cry.

Many will find the attack strategy variety compelling enough to satisfy them during their Far Cry 2 experience. The others will find the monotonous driving, frustrating stops, and abysmal collision enough to take a plane out of Africa and never look back. Far Cry 2 is too complex for its own good as it seems to have taken away from what should have been a tighter core engine.

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