The Far Cry franchise has been going on for some time now, with consistent new releases ever since Ubisoft launched the original Far Cry game in 2004. Since the original Far Cry's release, there have been numerous expansion packs, DLCs, spin-offs, and sequels for the first-person shooter franchise, taking players everywhere from tropical islands to prehistoric times. The next game in the series, Far Cry 6, will take place in the new open world of Yara, which is seemingly the Far Cry universe's version of Cuba.
Throughout the many different Far Cry video games and locales, though, the series has famously struggled in one key area. While the Far Cry series villains have proven to be compelling characters, the games have typically failed to deliver protagonists that can match up. With Far Cry 6, Ubisoft has the opportunity to address that lingering issue with the franchise, and based on what's been shown so far, it's well on its way to doing just that.
Ubisoft recently revealed more footage of Far Cry 6, with new protagonist Dani Rojas on full display. Based on what's been shown so far, it seems as though Rojas will be a more fleshed-out character with more personality than recent protagonists. To that end, Dani Rojas will be fully voiced, and players will also be able to choose whether they want to play as a male or a female version of the character.
Who is Dani Rojas in Far Cry 6
In Far Cry 6's open world Yara, the country is being ruled by the ruthless dictator Anton Castillo, also known as "El Presidente," who is trying to teach his son Diego about what it takes to rule the country. Some of Yara's citizens are in open rebellion against Castillo and the grip he has on Yara, with one of those soldiers being none other than Dani Rojas, who uses guerrilla warfare tactics with like-minded rebels in their quest to free Yara.
While Dani Rojas in Far Cry 6 wants to take down Castillo for political reasons, they also want to do so for revenge. In the latest Far Cry 6 story trailer, it's shown that Rojas has a personal vendetta against Castillo as well, having witnessed his forces gun down some of their people. This inspires Rojas to seek out other guerrilla fighters and reignite the rebellion against Castillo and his dictatorship.
Dani Rojas in Far Cry 6 being fully voice-acted should go a long way in making them a more intriguing and layered character when compared to some of the other Far Cry protagonists of late, but something else that will be a big help is the game's use of a third-person view during cut-scenes. While the Far Cry games are primarily first-person experiences, and that holds true for Far Cry 6, the recent story trailer confirmed that cut-scenes will be displayed in third-person.
The reason why this is important is that it will allow players to see Rojas emote and react to the events in the story instead of just having to go by the inflection in their voice. To some, it may seem like a small change, but it will likely make all the difference when it comes to getting players more invested in Far Cry 6's story.
The Problem With Past Far Cry Protagonists
Dani Rojas certainly seems like a big step in the right direction when it comes to protagonists in the Far Cry franchise, but some may be wondering what the problem has been with previous protagonists. Most of the games in the Far Cry series feature generic "soldiers" or silent protagonists, sometimes without even a name of their own. This has allowed Far Cry villains to completely steal the show with virtually no competition.
And even when Far Cry has had voiced protagonists, it hasn't always gone off without a hitch. Perhaps the most infamous example of a Far Cry protagonist is Far Cry 3's Jason Brody. Considered by some to be one of the most annoying video game characters ever made, Brody has a white savior complex rolled up with a grating personality. Brody's attempts at humor are cringe-worthy, and his character development is some of the most mind-numbing the series has ever produced.
At the beginning of Far Cry 3, spoiled college kid Brody has to kill someone to survive, and that seems to have a deep emotional impact. Immediately after Brody makes his first kill, however, he has no problem committing mass murder, making all kinds of eye-rolling comments while he does so. Brody's presence in the game allows Far Cry 3 villain Vaas to completely overshadow him, starting a trend where the villains in the Far Cry games are made to be the main focus of the story.
Undoubtedly, Giancarlo Esposito's Castillo will be one of the most compelling aspects of Far Cry 6's story, but as long as Rojas avoids being quite as frustrating as Jason Brody and has more personality than other recent Far Cry protagonists, they just might be able to stand toe to toe him.
Far Cry 6 launches October 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.