Far Cry Primal Reviews: The Results Are In
The critics have spoken. The results are in. We bring you the most important Far Cry Primal reviews from critics and gamers like you.
How did Far Cry Primal fare? Below is a summary of each of the critics’ positive and negative comments about the game as well as their respective scores.
Site: The Escapist
View Full ReviewReviewer: Marshall Lemon
Rating: 4.5/5
Overall Comment:
Far Cry Primal is the Stone Age survival game we never expected from the Triple A industry, complete with a lush prehistoric world you can explore for hours. Do you like Far Cry and survival games? Play Primal right away. You won’t regret it.
PROS:
- Although it still has the standard Far Cry formula in it, everything in Far Cry Primal feels “refined into a purer, more brutal survival experience”
- Landscape is “beautifully lush” filled with prehistoric beasts, towering treetops
- Even the game’s sound design is “top-notch”
- Beastmaster abilities – Spiritually bonding with your owl is a nice twist on the Far Cry series’ usual scouting mechanics
- Ubisoft has done an impressive work on the game’s narrative
CONS:
- Some skills that are unlocked automatically in the story quest appear unlocked in the skill tree; you would have to purchase the skill again to unlock it
- The aiming cursor is “a tiny speck on your screen” – this makes it frustrating for precision weapons like the bow
- Hunting vision mode deactivates after a few seconds
Site: Polygon
View Full ReviewReviewer: Justin McElroy
Rating: 8.5/10
Overall Comment:
I don’t want every Far Cry game from here on to trade bullets for arrows, motorcycles for tigers, but Primal is an invigorating example of how to reimagine a tired franchise while keeping its soul intact.
PROS:
- Far Cry Primal is a Far Cry game where players must search for resources, conquer enemy bases, etc. in a diverse world
- Oros is brutal, and although you get to upgrade your weapons later in the game, taking on a savage beast will still be a challenge especially if you do not have any tactics in hand – this feels refreshing for a franchise “that tends to elevate players to demigod status by the halfway point.”
- Far Cry Primal has the most immersive world in the Far Cry series; it won’t bore you for a moment
CONS:
- Takedowns are sometimes sabotaged by your overly zealous pets
- The “lack of richly detailed characters” makes it a little disengaging
- There’s a lack of mechanical diversity
SITE: Time
View Full ReviewReviewer: Matt Peckham
Rating: 4/5
Overall Comment:
Yes, Far Cry with dinosaurs would have been cooler, but you have to respect what Ubisoft Montreal’s accomplished here: deftly using a low-tech setting to craft a counter-intuitively breakneck adventure with that same “human pinball” feel. Far Cry 4 did it with ultralights and wingsuits; Primal manages with crazier wildlife and tighter crafting ties to the setting, not so much advancing as streamlining the elements that have made the series so deep and yet easy to drop in and out of.
PROS:
- In Far Cry Primal, “leveling up requires deep engagement and mastery of the game’s revised hunting and crafting systems, as well as far greater caution as you explore.”
- Your owl
- Beast master hunts!
CONS:
- Taking out enemy tribes repeats Far Cry 4’s fortress battles
Site: Game Rant
View Full ReviewReviewer: Riley Little
Rating: 4/5
Overall Comment:
It’s a refreshing take on a tried and true layout that manages to set up a solid structure within its sandbox environment. This is one of the good ones.
PROS:
- The world of Oros is absolutely stunning… “every inch of Oros stands out as some of the best scenery found in any game, let alone a Far Cry title.”
- Riding a sabretooth tiger, or instructing a bear to kill other cavemen are entertaining and helpful
- The dialogue from the Stone Age
- The game’s story, although told through captions, managed to be engaging thanks to well-written side characters and entertaining performances
- You will find yourself in the some of the most “gruesome combat ever seen in the series”
CONS:
- Taming predators isn’t “a challenging affair”
- Base building is somewhat forgettable
- Expect to be met with a very familiar formula established within a unique setting
Site: GameSpot
View Full ReviewReviewer: Mike Mahardy
Rating: 8/10
Overall Comment:
That focus on primitive times can become a hindrance at certain points, with limited tools and repetitive combat, but in the end, Far Cry Primal stays true to its callous setting, fleshing out every layer of the captivating world it creates.
PROS:
- The day/night cycle in the game adds more tension
- The game focuses on survival
- Having only a club, spear, and a slingshot as weapons bring a slow and measured combat pace
- “there’s a fine balance between tension and fun that elevates the whole experience”
- The Beast Master skill tree is “the most impactful change to the Far Cry formula”
CONS:
- There are powerful enemies that are heavily-armored and are difficult to defeat even with upgraded weapons – it chips away the fun
- You have limited weapons
SITE: IGN
View Full ReviewReviewer: Luke Reilly
Rating: 7.9/10
Overall Comment:
Far Cry Primal comes to the table with a quiver of neat ideas but it forgot to bring much of a story with it.
PROS:
- The game’s prehistoric and low-tech version of the Far Cry series feels authentic due to the language, environment, and character design
- Combat is brutal and satisfying
- The ability to tame wild creatures is a welcome addition to assaulting enemies in a tactical fashion
- A new collection element added to the game – by adding villagers to Takkar’s community
- Taming beasts is an integral part of the game
- It has a great sound design
CONS:
- The game has a basic plot, some uncharismatic villains, and often bland mission objectives
- Supporting characters feel “absent”, you won’t see much of them throughout the game
- You can’t ride your sabretooth tiger unless its health is at 100%
- “Crushing enemy camps is a familiar experience but they’re generally the best showcase for Primal’s brand of close combat.”
SITE: VideoGamer
View Full ReviewReviewer: Simon Miller
Rating: 7/10
Overall Comment:
Far Cry Primal is a great spin-off for the Far Cry franchise, but it doesn’t do anything drastically new.
PROS:
- The game’s atmosphere and scope are its highlights
- Crafting and building tools are essential from start to end
- The bow and arrow
- Taming animals
CONS:
- The game’s mission structure is set in a map so big, it will make you sick
- it’s a fun game, but it’s a game you’ve played before
Have you played Far Cry Primal? Let your fellow users know what you think about the game by posting your own review in the comments below! Far Cry Primal is available on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Uplay).
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