Far Cry 4 PS4 PlayStation 4

With the fallout caused by Assassin’s Creed Unity still very much fresh in everyone’s memory, there’s a little extra pressure on Far Cry 4 to not fall foul to the horrible flaws that plagued Arno Dorian’s inaugural adventure. Fortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Ubisoft’s second holiday sandbox has scored a slew of rave reviews, some of which we’ve included below. We’re still taking a little extra time with this before we formulate our own opinion, but make sure that you check back next week to read our verdict.

The Guardian - 5/5

Far Cry 4 truly shines in the almost bacchanalian sense of freedom it bestows on the player as they traverse through its environment. In Kyrat you have the ability to go anywhere and do pretty much anything – much as Pagan Min would advocate. Here, the only pact you need keep is that with your conscience. God help you.

Destructoid - 9/10

Far Cry 4 could have all of the multiplayer elements stripped away and it would still be a very strong game. If you enjoyed its predecessor and didn't grow tired of Ubisoft Montreal's open world formula, you'll have a blast living the experience again.

Joystiq - 4.5/5

There's a staggering number of adventures to extract from Far Cry 4, whether you chase the ones laid out by the game explicitly, or the ones that develop naturally as you take in the sights. It's another interesting and absorbing world to fall into, shoot through, burn and then guide to new beginnings. Far Cry 4 may have installed a despot, but it's still the undisputed king of the open-world shooter.

VideoGamer - 8/10

Far Cry 4 is a superb Skinner box, staving off monotony with constant upgrades, and it's so expertly crafted to appeal to baser instincts, so rewarding of you embracing them, that there's a strong chance you'll miss the broader point that all of what you're doing is utterly despotic. Like, say, a dictator might. A lot of games are about killing. Far Cry is about hunting. They're not the same thing, and it is as disquieting as it is enjoyable.

Eurogamer.net - 8/10

Far Cry 4 does all the things that its predecessor did and more - more weapons, more vehicles, more modes, more ground to cover - so if all you're looking for is a big old wide open space to tear up with a friend, go forth and make merry with mortar. That said, more does not necessarily mean better, and the truth is that the wilds of Kyrat simply aren't as beguiling as the Rook Islands were. Far Cry 4 is well worth a visit, but it's more a backpacker's delight than a five-star island paradise.

Howdah like that, then? Will you be picking up Far Cry 4 next week, or have you had your fill of open world titles for the time being? Get mahout of here in the comments section below.