Far Cry Primal - Review

I held out on FC-Primal until it hit the discount bin.  I couldn't imagine a game so equipment centered could be any good with just clubs, sticks and critters.  What I got was:  You are blazing through the wilderness on the back of a Sabretooth Tiger.  An event happens; some of your tribe are being taken away by another tribe.  You get off your mount and summon an owl who's eyes you can see through.  It flies over the target group using 'Hunter Vision' and tags your targets.  Through the owl, you can send your Tiger to kill 2 captors and attack the third with the owl.  Then you can run up and free the hostages.  Maybe you would prefer to run right up to them on the back of the Sabretooth; getting it to attack while you toss spears, clubs and fire arrows and shards.  Maybe you would prefer a stealthy approach.  It's all up to you. 

The game rewards skill as well.  In all other FC's before, someone shoots at you and you generally get hit.  Don't want to be hit?  Make it so they don't see you or can't hit you.  In FC Primal, if you don't want to get hit with a spear or club, you can move.  These projectiles don't exactly travel at Supersonic speeds.  Play it fast and loose and you have the edge.

You can't fly but, to be honest, that sort of broke the game in FC4.  As much as I loved flying in that game, it was all I ever did because it made movement and being safe so much easier.  FC Primal allows you to see the terrain around you through the eyes of an owl.  Knowing the terrain gives you an edge but you don't get to bypass it all together.

In FC3 and 4 you ended up getting almost all your crafting upgrades relatively early.  In Primal, there always seems to be something more you can get and do. 

What do I miss from FC4?  The music.  Hands down.  My most favorite missions were those with decent music to them.  That 'Reggie and Yogi' mission with Akasha playing 'Hippie Shit'... or driving the bomb truck to the barricade to the tune of 'Bombay Twist' ... awesome!  The Characters.  I mean, lets face it, the story was a huge pile of steaming crap but most of the main characters had a certain level of believability to them...at least they were relatable to some degree...that is until the story made them do something that was completely out of character.  

In FC3 the Characterization was magnificent...not only that but facial and body language were right on point.  All of Jason's friends were like real people that you have met or could meet.  The character of Buck scared the crap out of me.  He was both deeply charming and incredibly evil...brilliant.  There's no other word for it.

The problem with Primal is that good fiction is supposed to relate to the human condition.  Though it is fun to ride beasts and kick ass, there really isn't much meat-on-the-bone when it comes to relatable story.    My 'Story' self sat in the corner with her arms folded like a passive aggressive girlfriend at a 'guy's night poker game'.   I get it; everyone wants to be 'Minecraft'.  Well MC is done...we've played with our diamond swords...built railways...cursed at those green cactus looking things.  It's time for the young folk to bring in people who have imagination to make stories again.   That would be those who actually played outside with each other growing up.  Now THAT makes me feel like a Caveman!