Far Cry 6 has enjoyed more than its fair share of coverage of late due mainly to the confusion over whether the game will toe Ubisoft's "non-political" party line. The latest entry in the much-loved series looks to have plenty to offer, though, and doesn't seem to be afraid to rock the boat a little to make some exciting changes to the Far Cry formula. Some of those changes are relatively trivial, while others appear to be a drastic departure from the style of the previous games.
A good example of the latter came to light in a recent gameplay trailer for Far Cry 6. In stark contrast to the previous games, the newest entry will feature periods where the camera shifts to a third-person perspective rather than the traditional first-person. This means that players will have opportunities to see protagonist Dani Rojas in the flesh rather than hiding out behind her eyes for the entire game.
The most obvious time that this change occurs is during cinematic cutscenes, but the camera shift also takes place when entering guerilla camps. These will function as hubs for the player, with shops and NPCs to talk with. As such, seeing Dani interact with the other characters will likely make these sections of gameplay feel more akin to something like Mass Effect or The Witcher.
The third-person camera will also make itself known in some combat scenarios across Far Cry 6's sprawling world map, specifically when using the Supremo backpack. These powerful items will allow Dani to use devastating combat abilities like a missile launcher or flamethrower. The camera shift is undoubtedly designed to showcase those violent delights in all their glory.
The reasons behind the drastic choice to shift the perspective from time to time are numerous, according to narrative director Navid Khavari. In an email to GameSpot, Khavari wrote that when the team was toying with the third-person camera during development, "it instantly felt like there was more of a connection to Dani's journey in the world." The ability for the player to see "their character customizations in these highly-realized story beats" was also a contributing factor. It appears the team is hoping for players to become more invested in Dani Rojas as a character than, say, the nameless protagonist of Far Cry 5.
Though it may seem like a small mechanical change, using a third-person camera at times marks a vital shift narratively for the series. Elevating Dani to an actual character rather than just a one-dimensional audience surrogate could lead to some great and profound story moments. As long as that drama and intrigue aren't offset by any gaudy accessories purchased via microtransactions, Far Cry 6 could well be worth keeping an eye on.
Far Cry 6 launches October 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: GameSpot