But here is the Far Cry 2 twist: They can die permanently. And if you don't save them? They might just show up later on the opposing faction's side, forcing you to put a bullet in the head of the man who saved your life last week. It’s bleak, emergent storytelling that no scripted cutscene can match.
As the mercenary attempts to track down the Jackal, he is forced to ally himself with either the UFLL or the APR to gain access to medication and resources. He navigates the complex web of the conflict, performing missions for warlords, arms dealers, and other mercenaries. Along the way, he discovers that the Jackal is not simply a profiteer, but a nihilistic figure who believes that the only way to save the country is to help one faction wipe out the other completely, thereby bringing an end to the chaos.
But looking back, Far Cry 2 is the game that the industry was too afraid to make again. It is the Dark Souls of open-world shooters—punishing, obtuse, and relentlessly hostile. It refuses to hold your hand. It refuses to let you win.
Modern shooters treat guns like laser beams. Far Cry 2 treats them like unreliable tools that want to kill you just as much as the enemy does.
