Far Cry Primal Reviews

Far Cry Primal is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2016

Despite an underwhelming story and a few hiccups here and there, the stunning world of Oros makes Far Cry Primal an experience worth going through.

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Justin Celani
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Feb 23, 2016

From missions involving finding totems, to investigating why a river is causing sickness, investigating dark caverns, or climbing a great cliff for rare feathers, there is plenty of variation between all the killings. If the idea and theme don't resonate with players and pull them in, I'd probably rate this game a point or two lower then my personal score as I feel it's rather crucial to get the most enjoyment out of this title. That said, I absolutely loved my time with Primal though and to see a game set in this time period, with no guns, and with high production values just seems completely experimental and bold. I can't help but commend Ubisoft in attempting this.

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Feb 26, 2016

For the series, this is a confident step toward something much more disciplined and understatedly profound.

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Feb 22, 2016

Far Cry Primal is a bit of a surprise, not just being it happened in the first place, but that it works so well. It's a beautiful game set in an interesting time, place, and involving interesting characters. Weapons feel great, the gameplay itself is fantastic, and the new mechanics introduced work extremely well for the game itself. While it doesn't break any ground in the narrative department, it tells a decent story of family, legacy, and revenge. Far Cry Primal is an unexpected but wholly welcome entry to the series, and serves as an example of something you didn't see coming, but can't see yourself without.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2016

In terms of gameplay though? Far Cry Primal is a shining example of how a game series should advance, with meaningful and broad changes to the status quo while retaining the characteristics of the core game. A better backstory for Takkar, the Wenja, or even a stronger interwoven narrative may have helped, but it's still a lot of fun to ride a saber tooth tiger and launch spears at cannibalistic primitives for no other reason than we can.

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Feb 22, 2016

Far Cry Primal takes the series in a strange and satisfying direction

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5.5 / 10.0
Mar 10, 2016

Far Cry Primal is more and yet less of the same Far Cry we've been playing for the past few years, minus a few fun systems. It's not worth the asking price, and demands more of your time than it deserves.

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2016

While playing leaves players at the mercy of its time period due to the lack of firearms and weapons we've come to know in recent installments, instead players are treated to a leaner, and thrilling take on the series that works perfectly in its Stone Age setting. In any case, Far Cry Primal proves that looking back to the past can reveal an experience that's crazy and brutally fun.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 29, 2016

Far Cry Primal seeks to put you in the shoes, or rather, hunting furs of a primitive human trying to survive and secure a place for his people, but it seems to get in its own way at the worst times.

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PCMag
Top Critic
Mar 2, 2016

A change of scenery does the Far Cry shooter series good. Primal's caveman drama, beast-taming, and prehistoric hunting are highly satisfying, even though we've tread this ground before. Can we get dinosaurs next, please?

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Unscored
Feb 26, 2016

"Far Cry: Primal" won't re-wire your expectations of what a game can be but it has just enough energy to pleasurably distract one over the length of its journey.

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Feb 29, 2016

It would be difficult to call Far Cry Primal a bad game, but it would be just as hard to recommend it with anything other than a thousand and one caveats attached. While it presents itself as something new, different and vital, the truth behind this absurdly shallow veneer is that you've played this game before − at least if you've touched a Far Cry game since its third instalment.The amount of traction you get from that fact will vary, just as the enjoyment of Ubisoft's other big series, Assassin's Creed, wavers from person to person. A victim of Ubisoft's mass homogenisation techniques it might be, but Far Cry Primal is still fun, solid and the kind of thing you can lose hours to, given half a chance. Problem is, that half-chance is getting harder to come by. Why give it that amount of the day when you've already given nearly exactly the same thing your time before?

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Feb 23, 2016

Although it's light on story and can get a bit tedious due to an emphasis on hunting and crafting, there's a lot to like about Far Cry: Primal. A beautiful game through and through, it's as immersive as it is nice-looking, and presents a rich world that is easy to get lost in.

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3 / 5.0
Feb 22, 2016

All in all, Far Cry Primal is a great entry in the series when it comes down to gameplay alone. The refocus was necessary to rein in the series, introducing a renewed sense of helplessness with more thoughtful engagement.

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Feb 22, 2016

Taming bears is a blast, but sometimes playing beast master is still a day job.

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7.7 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2016

Far Cry Primal does little to reinvent the series established formula, sometimes taking it backwards more than its new time period may suggest. It's filled to the brim with the familiar and fun Far Cry trappings, if that's what you want out a game. It's an enjoyable, gratuitously violent romp in the past. If you're looking for some sort of narrative impetus tying it together though, you're bound to be a little disappointed.

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ACG
Top Critic
Buy
Feb 22, 2016
Far Cry Primal Review "Buy, Wait for Sale, Rent, Never Touch?" video thumbnail
Matt Buchholtz
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2016

Far Cry Primal really wants you to know that there are tons of things you can do in its prehistoric, open world. Unfortunately, you may not want to do any of them.

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4 / 5.0
Feb 22, 2016

Far Cry Primal presents an interesting take on the series' formula by going way, way back in time. The change in environment helps freshen up familiar mechanics that can get stale in a more modern setting while also making the game seem far more brutal and visceral. Folks who feel queasy at the sight of bloody animals and people might not be able to stomach Primal's prehisotric immersion. Gamers looking for a different open-world experience, however, will likely appreciate the change in setting.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2016

While this is a different direction for the Far Cry series, Far Cry Primal is an excellent entry into the franchise. While it might not be the best introduction to the franchise, it's certainly one the fans of Far Cry should definitely check out and those interested in the series will find something incredibly unique, action-packed, and a lot of fun.

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