When Forza 6 was announced last fall, it immediately jumped to my list of most anticipated games for 2026. An open world racing game set in Japan?! What’s not to be excited about?! At this point, Forza has already mastered its formula. It’s just a matter of picking the right destinations for players to coast in and, of course, they nailed it with Japan.

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Before diving into the gameplay, Forza welcomes you with a ton of settings that you can customize upon launch, similar to how things kick off in Forza 5 for those familiar with that title. The amount of accessibility options is impressive. Screen readers, in-depth subtitle keyword and background opacity color options, the ability to change the menu backgrounds, stop the background from moving, adjust text size, and more. Most games don’t come close to having all of these accessibility options. It’s clear that accessibility was a priority here, and that makes sense because more people being able to enjoy a game is always a good thing. Smart move.

You’ll also find the option to prioritize either graphic fidelity or FPS performance. If you prefer graphics over everything, then you’ll want to enable graphic fidelity, but if you’re like myself then you’ll prioritize frames per second, which makes the game buttery smooth as you’re coasting through the streets of Japan.

After getting your settings all sorted, you’ll customize your character shortly after a brief intro. This part feels familiar to anyone who played Forza 5 and that’s ok, because the character customization options were already solid. You’re essentially greeted with several stock avatars that you can further adjust through body type, hairstyles, skin tones, and more. The customization options are surprisingly robust and offer a wide variety of appearances. Some games’ character customization feels very cookie-cutter and lacks inspiration (I’m looking at you Final Fantasy XIV).

Surprisingly, you don’t have an option to pick a name at this point, but later on you’ll have that option. From a list that easily looked like it was over a hundred names, the game’s narrator will actually say your character’s name while you’re browsing your cars and in other parts of the menu. Nice touch.

Finally, the last thing when it comes to character customization goes back to my earlier point about inclusiveness. You have the option to give your character prosthetics such as arms and legs, along with hearing aids. These additions really help the character creator feel more thoughtful. What’s especially impressive is that they aren’t just generic options either. You can customize their colors and choose between different models, which is super unexpected but a nice touch.

Digging through all these settings while trying to make the perfect character I don’t mind seeing in the cutscenes probably ate up more than half of my “45 Mins In” time limit that I allocated for checking out Forza 6. No worries if you’re reading this and feeling a bit on edge because that’s all skippable, and on top of that, you can always change your character’s appearance, name, and just about everything else later in the game at any time. So feel free to dive right into Forza to experience the gameplay if you decide to check it out for yourself.

That said, let’s talk about the gameplay. Forza is probably one of the few driving games that I don’t mind switching to the driver’s view, or in other words, the view that resembles actually driving. The steering, the scenery, and the cockpit view all feel exceptionally real. If you’re not into using that camera angle then you’re in luck too because the scenery, which is more visible from an over-the-car camera angle, is very poetic and captures all the work the designers did to make the world come to life.

As you’re racing through the streets, you’ll fly past the famous Shibuya Scramble. As you look along the horizon, you’ll see Mount Fuji. And most importantly, as you go too fast, you’ll likely spin out of control a few times and crash into the woods. This is where one of Forza’s best gameplay features kicks in: the rewind.

At any point while you’re driving, you can press the rewind button and Forza will stop your car in its tracks, letting you rewind up to your spectacular burnout moment. So if you’re a terrible driver like me, then this feature will come in handy throughout your playthrough. The good news is that you’re able to use this feature during missions, so if you’re a casual player and want to make progress through the story at your own leisure then you don’t have to worry about perfecting anything. You can just rely on the rewind button for those moments when you goof hitting that sharp corner at 150 mph in your Mercedes-AMG One.

Another feature that you’ll likely get lost in is the camera mode. If you’re a fan of in-game camera modes then Forza 6 does not disappoint. You can save presets of all your favorite settings such as shutter speed, exposure, time of day, weather, and so much more. This feature is also taken pretty seriously for those that want a challenge, as there appears to be a grading system that ranks how good your captures were.

I found it pretty humbling because I took what I thought was a pretty solid photo, but the Forza 6 photo ranking engine thought otherwise and gave my picture a 1 out of 5 stars. With the world map being massive, I could easily see myself spending hours on end trying to get that perfect 5-star photo.

Besides the vast amount of locations you’ll be able to photograph, there is a massive amount of vehicles that you’ll be able to photograph as well. That’s where things start to feel a bit overwhelming. After about 45 minutes, I owned five cars. When I took a look at the Autoshow, which I’m assuming is the store for vehicles, there had to be over a hundred cars spread across twenty-plus brands.

I could just keep tapping the “next” button for 30 seconds and still be surfing through cars. On top of that, there is an auction house where you can bid on cars, and then there seem to be car packs that unlock even more vehicles. Then there was a Car Pass and a Car Vouchers section.

For the most part, every car I clicked on appeared purchasable via the in-game currency, but there were areas that prompted me for $59.99 like the Forza Horizon 6 Premium Upgrade Bundle, and $4.99 for the Forza Horizon 6 Welcome Pack. The game already seems packed with vehicles, but if you’re somehow not satisfied with everything available through in-game currency, there are even more available as DLC.

That’s it for now as this 45-minute take has definitely started to creep into hour territory, and for good reason. Forza 6 has a tremendous amount of content that’ll keep you busy as you cruise around Japan. From all the side quests you’ll stumble across simply by driving around to all the car customizations, this game is jam packed with content.

There are definitely parts that’ll feel familiar to longtime Forza players, but Forza 6 manages to further refine a formula that was already working while making Japan one of the series’ most memorable settings.

Forza 6 is currently available on Xbox, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and it’ll be releasing on PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s also available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so if you’re a subscriber then consider checking it out if you’re into racing games.

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It’s the year 2015 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has just released with critical acclaim. There is no doubt this is not only the Game of the Year, but possibly one of the greatest video games of all time. 11 years later, CD Projekt Red has announced that Geralt’s story will continue in 2027.

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If you’re not familiar with The Witcher 3 and the game’s previous expansion DLCs, then brace yourself. Not only is The Witcher 3 a colossal game with a tremendous amount of gameplay, but the game’s storyline is deep and triggers just about every emotion you can think of. The franchise was already known for its lore, but CD Projekt Red, the developers behind the game, somehow managed to take brilliant lore and incorporate it into a phenomenal experience.

As mentioned, The Witcher 3 has already received two expansions, Hearts of Stone released in 2015, and Blood and Wine released in 2016. Both expansions also received high praise and could be argued to have more content than some standalone games. This is the main reason why The Witcher receiving another DLC over a decade after the game’s original release is such a big deal.

The Witcher 3 has already sold over 60 million copies and won more than 250 Game of the Year awards. Its new DLC, Songs of the Past, will likely continue to move the needle even further, especially now that the game can take advantage of newer technologies that didn’t exist back in 2015. CD Projekt Red will share more details about the upcoming DLC later this summer.

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Editor’s Note: This review was originally written on September 04, 2024 during the early soft launch period of Geek Foolish and is being republished in its original form.

Concord shows promise in the live-service gaming world, but as it stands, it feels incomplete. The game’s lore is where Concord truly shines—it’s deep, detailed, and clearly well thought-out. Players will appreciate the fleshed-out universe and planetary exploration that isn’t forced upon them but offers a rich backdrop to the gameplay. The Freegunner abilities are cool, and the pacing of matches strikes a good balance—not too fast or too slow, making them easy to jump into.

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That said, the game falters in several key areas. Despite the mature lore, the mechanics feel disconnected from it, which is a missed opportunity. There’s no competitive mode, no meaningful progression system, and the cosmetic options are disappointing, with the majority being bland recolors. Players looking for a reward system will be let down, as there’s no way to track individual team stats or unlock cosmetics effectively. This lack of progression leaves you feeling unrewarded, even after hitting level 20 with barely any exciting unlocks.

The absence of basic shooter features, like kill cams or a play-of-the-game highlight, makes the overall experience feel bare bones. Respawning issues disrupt the flow of matches, often putting you in unfavorable positions to be easily picked off by the opposing team. Adding insult to injury, the notable absence of consumer engagement leaves players feeling neglected post-purchase.

For a game advertised as having “everything included,” there’s little to show for the $40 price tag. Right now, Concord feels more like an early alpha than a fully realized product, and while the foundation is there, it’s just not enough at this stage. Given another year of development and a visionary game director—think Naoki Yoshida of Final Fantasy XIV or Jeff Kaplan of Overwatch—Concord could become something special. Unfortunately, as it stands, it’s a hard sell.

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Editor’s Note: This review was originally written on September 17, 2024 during the early soft launch period of Geek Foolish and is being republished in its original form.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes players on an unforgettable journey, blending nostalgia with modern innovation. For fans of the original, this installment stays true to its roots while expanding the universe in ways that feel fresh. The soundtrack is, as expected, exceptional, enhancing every moment and adding depth to both the story and gameplay. With over 75 hours of content, I barely explored half the map, which shows just how big and detailed the game world is. This isn’t just a simple remake—there's so much more to experience.

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The story dives deeper into the characters and explores areas that were left untouched in the 1997 version, giving longtime fans something new to enjoy. At the same time, the game remains accessible to newcomers, offering difficulty options that let you focus on either the story or a more challenging gameplay experience. Visually, Rebirth is stunning, with incredible views and graphics that constantly remind you how far technology has come since the original release. The attention to detail in recreating iconic moments, paired with today’s cutting-edge graphics, really hits home.

That said, the game’s length might be an issue for some. It’s a huge time commitment, and for those with limited gaming hours, the amount of content can feel overwhelming. While I found the amount of content rewarding, others with less free time might have trouble finishing it. Additionally, recurring characters like Chadley (who was already annoying in Remake) are still present, which may bother some players.

Despite these minor issues, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is one of the most impressive games of 2024. It manages to give longtime fans what they want while also bringing in enough new content to keep things interesting. The emotional highs and lows, paired with an immersive world and solid voice acting, make it stand out in today’s gaming lineup. Even though it’s long, it’s easy to pick up and come back to without feeling lost. Overall, Rebirth is a must-play for anyone who loves JRPGs or just wants a great adventure—definitely a strong contender for Game of the Year.

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Editor’s Note: This review was originally written on January 19, 2023 during the early soft launch period of Geek Foolish and is being republished in its original form.

The Callisto Protocol is a solid addition to the action survival horror genre, offering stunning graphics and an innovative combat system that will captivate fans of the genre. The game draws clear influences from classics like The Last of Us and Resident Evil, which will be appreciated by players familiar with those titles.

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The gameplay initially feels fresh and engaging, with mechanics that make dodging enemies a thrill. However, the excitement fades as the combat lacks evolution and variety, becoming repetitive after a few chapters. The voice acting is commendable, and the game includes numerous accessibility features that enhance the player experience.

Unfortunately, the game design suffers from a frustrating checkpoint system and a limited variety of enemies, which can detract from the overall experience. The audio, while initially atmospheric and creepy, becomes predictable and overused, diminishing the tension and scare factor as the game progresses.

The linear storyline offers little replay value beyond trophy hunting, and the dodging system is quickly mastered, making subsequent playthroughs less challenging. To improve, the game would benefit from a more varied combat system, more diverse enemies, and clearer game design.

Overall, The Callisto Protocol is enjoyable and worth playing for its visuals and initial gameplay mechanics, but it leaves room for improvement. If given a sequel, it has the potential to become a standout franchise with more combat variety and refined design elements.

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When early access for Overwatch 2 launched in 2022, it was met with heavy criticism. Fans of the series were frustrated that Blizzard changed the game’s classic 6v6 format to 5v5 by removing one of the two tank roles. On top of that, the deeper PvE experience Blizzard originally promised never fully materialized. What was initially pitched as a more expansive cooperative mode with deeper hero customization was eventually scrapped altogether.

What did arrive with Overwatch 2, however, was a seasonal Battle Pass system, Mythic skins, and multiple new in-game currencies tied directly to those cosmetics. In other words, Blizzard found new ways to monetize the franchise even as major promised features disappeared.

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Over the last few years, many of the Mythic skins themselves also felt underwhelming. A lot of them lacked the charm and personality that originally made Overwatch stand out. Fast forward to 2026, and Overwatch 2 has officially reverted back to simply Overwatch after Blizzard dropped the “2” from the title earlier this year. More importantly, Season 2’s Mythic skins finally feel like a step in the right direction.

As Season 2 reached its midseason update, Blizzard released Mei’s first Mythic skin, “Hop Online!” It took nearly four years, but one of the original launch heroes finally received Mythic treatment. Mei has already had several fan-favorite skins throughout the years, from Pajamei to Beekeeper Mei, so expectations were understandably high. While “Hop Online!” may not rank as her best overall skin, it was still a welcome addition considering how long fans had waited.

Another original hero finally receiving a Mythic skin was Soldier: 76, and this is where things get especially interesting. Volted Overdrive is easily one of the best Soldier: 76 skins Blizzard has ever released. Grillmaster: 76 still holds a special place for longtime players who remember when the game focused more on play over being competitive, but Volted Overdrive comfortably lands in Soldier’s top-tier lineup of skins.

Overall, Season 2 delivered solid Mythic skins for two of the franchise’s original heroes. Fully unlocking every color variation for a Mythic skin can still climb toward the $75 range depending on how players engage with the game’s monetization systems, which remains difficult to justify for most players. Still, for the first time in a while, some of these Mythics actually feel worthy of Overwatch’s legacy and stand among the better cosmetics certain heroes have received since the original game launched back in 2016.

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In case you missed it, Overwatch 2 has reverted back to Overwatch. Alongside the name change, Blizzard has also rebooted the game’s story, kicking off Season 1 earlier this February. With Season 2 now underway, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the latest batch of Battle Pass cosmetics.

This season’s Battle Pass features eight new skins spread across 80 tiers. The theme leans heavily into spring and fairy aesthetics, with a dominant palette of green accented by softer, wing-like elements.

Upon purchasing the premium Battle Pass, players immediately unlock the Spring Fairy Moira skin.

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At tiers 20 and 30, two additional support skins become available: Spring Fairy Lifeweaver and Spring Fairy Wuyang, both classified as Legendary.

From there, the Battle Pass shifts toward damage heroes, offering a new skin every ten tiers. Spring Fairy Symmetra unlocks at tier 40, followed by Spring Fairy Torb at tier 50. Both designs emphasize green tones, though Torbjorn’s flower-studded beard leans more convincingly into the seasonal theme than Sym’s comparatively restrained look.

Tier 60 is the standout moment of the pass, unlocking Spring Fairy Echo. Unlike the preceding skins, this one breaks away from the heavy green palette, opting instead for brighter, more varied colors. The shift works. Echo’s design fully embraces the fairy concept and ends up being the most visually striking skin in the lineup.

At tier 70, players can unlock Spring Fairy Tracer. Similar to Symmetra’s skin, this one is available on the free track. It’s a solid addition, but Tracer’s already extensive catalog of standout skins makes this one harder to justify as a go-to. For newer players, though, it’s a solid pickup.

The final reward features Spring Fairy Ashe, accompanied by a seasonal redesign for Bob. that loosely resembles Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. While Echo remains the highlight of the pass, Ashe’s skin deserves recognition for successfully blending both the spring and fairy themes into a cohesive design.

As a whole, Season 2’s Battle Pass is visually cohesive but uneven in impact, with Echo carrying much of the weight.

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Over the weekend, Marathon, Bungie’s latest FPS extraction game, hosted a server slam to prep their servers for the game’s upcoming launch on March 5th. After PlayStation’s recent closure of Bluepoint Games, and Concord — one of the worst releases in video game history by Firewalk Studios — it’s probably safe to say this is Bungie’s last opportunity to get things together. Otherwise, Sony will probably come down on them hard. Fortunately, after checking out this weekend’s beta of Marathon, it’s clear that Bungie has a sleeper hit on their hands.

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Marathon kicks things off by throwing you into a battle against bots that’s supposed to serve as a tutorial to the basic mechanics. With no difficulty options and aggressive enemies, I’m not ashamed to say I didn’t complete the tutorial. It was too unforgiving since you had to start over at the very beginning every time your character died. That turned me off and made me question if this was for me, but thankfully you could skip it. Hopefully, they’ll bake the tutorial into a real-stakes mission in the future instead of isolating it like this.

After the tutorial, you’re placed into some overly complicated menus that expand the lore through cinematic videos as you navigate between screens showcasing different characters you’ll be completing contracts for. Contracts are Marathon’s in-game missions. Each person on your squad has their own, so depending on how greedy you are, you may try to complete everyone’s contract — or maybe you’ll tackle one and extract early. Either way, you have 25 minutes to decide how to play things out. With unpredictable AI and other players in the mix, chances are you’ll dip out way before the 25 mins are up. Most of my games lasted about 15–20 mins unless things went catastrophically wrong and my entire team was dead within the first 5. These moments are what make Marathon feel special.

Although this was just a beta, there was still a lot of content to explore. There were two maps available before matchmaking, with a third teased but grayed out. There were about 6 different characters referred to as “shells.” Each shell has unique special abilities that activate over time, along with a passive that can trigger more frequently. For example, the shell I used could temporarily sprint faster, whip out a shield to block incoming damage, and unleash several homing rockets after dealing enough damage.

And although you lose everything upon death, successful extractions reward you with permanent perks if you collect the required materials. That gives you even more incentive to bounce immediately after finding key items instead of digging yourself into a hole you might not climb out of.

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This is where Marathon really shines. You search for materials or tackle contracts within large zones packed with randomness. Areas have multiple layers to explore — buildings with upper floors, hidden lower levels, and AI bots spawning from drop ships sporadically to keep you on your toes. Contract checkpoints drop in additional threats, and all of this happens while the extraction timer ticks down. It constantly makes you rethink your next move.

Ammo and rations are scarce. Throughout most of my runs, my team and I were desperately looting for meds or dropping ammo for each other. You’ll probably survive the first few fights against waves of bots, but eventually resources run thin. And that’s when Marathon’s biggest wild card enters the picture: other teams.

In a world where you’re listening to every footstep and distant gunshot, you’re forced to make judgment calls about whether to trust other players. In some sessions, other teams were chill. They dropped resources, gave us hints, or helped us complete contracts. Most times, they were ruthless. On sight, they’re gunning for you. Resources are limited, so people want as much as possible for themselves. Some players’ contracts even require them to eliminate other squads.

In one game, my squad ran into another team of three and a solo player at the same time. Everything was fine initially. The team helped us complete a contract while the solo player barely spoke and just moved around quietly. They weren’t AFK, but they weren’t engaging either. Marathon’s proximity chat creates fun moments when meeting other teams — but once that squad left and got out of chat range, the lone player gunned us all down and left us for dead. After that, you start playing a lot more careful.

Marathon’s server slam open beta showed serious promise. The servers didn’t show signs of lag, none of my games disconnected, and everything felt responsive. I didn’t feel outmatched by PC players while playing on PlayStation. Matchmaking was quick, and everyone I randomly got paired with was cool. There were minor bugs — like quest items occasionally not appearing — but nothing critical.

All in all, it was a strong glimpse into the depth of the lore and left me confident in the game’s potential. Bungie is known for building expressive, unique worlds in Destiny, so I’m not surprised they’re delivering a balanced PvPvE experience here with Marathon. Hopefully Sony remains a believer after this weekend’s beta.

Marathon releases on March 5th.

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For years, The Nurse has sat at the top of Dead by Daylight’s killer roster. Stranger Things Chapter 2 finally challenges that. Within my first 45 minutes, it was clear this DLC isn’t just another crossover.

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Dustin and Eleven are the new survivors, and what stood out immediately were the voice lines. Dustin, in particular, brings a surprising amount of personality. He reacts to Nancy and Steve, the survivors introduced during the original Dead by Daylight and Stranger Things collaboration back in 2019. It makes the whole thing feel connected in a way I wasn’t expecting. I’m not too sure if Eleven has as many voice lines, but that makes sense considering how quiet she was early on in the show. With Dustin though, you’re hearing him in the lobby and again the moment the match starts. It’s a small detail, but it adds a lot.

Something clever about this chapter is that both survivors are equipped with items after unlocking them. Dustin starts with a toolbox, which directly ties into his unique perk, Change of Plan. Jump into a locker and any toolbox gets converted into a full med-kit, even if it’s already been used. Eleven, on the other hand, comes with a key that lets her tap into her telepathic abilities. Seeing the killer’s aura around the map feels very on-brand for her. Nice.

Between the two, Eleven easily has the stronger perks. Extrasensory Perception lets her see the killer, other survivors, and key objectives just by crouching for a few seconds. It’s powerful, borderline absurd, and honestly one of the best survivor perks in the game. There is a tradeoff that removes the ability to hear the killer’s terror radius, but once you realize how much information you’re gaining, it feels more than fair.

Then there’s Vecna.

For nearly a decade, The Nurse has been the killer everyone compares against. Vecna immediately feels like he belongs in that conversation. He has two core abilities and both are brutal to go against. He can slip into the Upside Down to move quickly across the map, and once survivors are found, he launches himself into the air and slams down with a massive area attack. On top of that, he has a ranged attack with very little cooldown. Survivors have to be sharp with their mind games, otherwise they don’t stand a chance. His powers slowly curse survivors over time, and Vecna can kill them if they’re cursed.

What really surprised me is how much personality Vecna brings to the match. He has more voice lines than any killer I can remember. Depending on who he’s attacking, hooking, or killing if they’re cursed, he’ll drop different lines, which makes each encounter feel less repetitive. As his power ramps up, the atmosphere shifts into a darker, reddish tone when you’re in Worldbreaker mode, and it immediately changes the feel of the match. Visually, it works. His default character model already looks great, but the Henry Creel cosmetic you can unlock through the Rift Pass is chef’s kiss.

After about 45 minutes in, it’s safe to say Stranger Things Chapter 2 is one of the strongest DLCs Dead by Daylight has seen in years. If you’re still playing and you’re a fan of the show, there’s a lot to dig into here. Between the voice lines, the god-tier survivor perks, and Vecna being completely unhinged, this chapter leaves a strong first impression.

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Far Cry 3 doesn’t ease you in. One moment you’re vibing to M.I.A.’s Paper Planes. Minutes later, you’re face to face with a man who clearly enjoys watching you suffer. I went into this game completely blind, with zero nostalgia and no expectations. Forty-five minutes later, I understood exactly why this opening has stuck with people for over a decade.

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Earlier this month, Ubisoft rolled out a 60 frames per second update for Far Cry 3 on PlayStation 5. That update pushed the game straight to the top of my backlog. This was one of those games I missed when it first dropped in 2012, and once you game at 60 FPS, it’s hard to justify going back to anything locked at 30, especially action games.

Right from the start, I had one of those “wait… I know that guy” moments. Oh, that’s the dude from Better Call Saul. Vaas Montenegro, played by Michael Mando, immediately pulls you in and makes it very clear that you’re in trouble. He holds nothing back, and before you understand where you are or how you got there, you already know that getting out of this situation is going to involve going through him first. That works incredibly well.

The fast-paced, knee-jerk narrative is special here. Everything happens quickly, and it keeps you moving forward. By the time I hit the 45-minute mark, I was already locked in.

For most of that opening stretch, I had no real sense of place or backstory, and honestly, I didn’t need it. The game races. Tutorials are baked in naturally, teaching you mechanics without ever stopping the momentum. There are no drawn-out cutscenes. Just forward motion, constant engagement, and everything running buttery smooth thanks to the 60 FPS update.

Once that initial escape is behind you, the world opens up fast. Weapons feel abundant but not overwhelming. If a vehicle wasn’t already destroyed, I could use it. Every enemy could be looted after dealing with them. For every scenario, you could charge in guns blazing or play it slow and quiet to earn bonus skill points for stealth takedowns. Those points feed into a branching skill tree that unlocks new abilities with complementary tribal tattoos, which is weird but also kind of cool.

What surprised me the most was the amount of control I had. Nothing felt out of reach while progressing, and the controls didn’t feel dated at all. That’s wild considering this game originally released in 2012.

I wrapped up the session by hang-gliding off a cliff. It didn’t go great, but I fast traveled back to the mountain top in seconds. Unfortunately, the glider didn’t respawn. No do overs, no hand holding. Even though the game gives you a lot of freedom, you feel the consequences of your choices immediately. That’s how Far Cry 3 breaks you in within the first forty-five minutes. And it all just feels right.