The developers have nailed it when it comes to the general gameplay mechanics, and that's good.
The game engine itself and the graphics are all good too in my opinion.
But the characters, their backstory and the overall story is very weak, even weaker than FC3.
I don't really know that much of Ajays past and history, as a player i'm just thrown in the game, starting mowing down bad guys like some sort of Rambo.
Poorly done of the guys that was in charge of storytelling in FC4. Of course I know some of the story and character details thanks to in-game letters and stuff. But why not
tell important, engaging parts of the story thru good in-game cinematics?
Almost all the intresting supporting characters in FC4 are really shallow, has no good backstory and so on, even Pagan Min.
The developers has characters like Willis, Longinus and Pagan Min but they didn't use them good when it comes to storytelling.
Even Ajay as the character the player is controlling, are an weak and pretty boring guy. Ajay feels somehow unbelievable as an Rambo savior.
Why does Ajay have his ordinary clothes even when he is in freezing Himalayas and all the enemies are geared up with warm clothes? Really, really bad and sloppy
design choice from the developers!
The game is about violence, death, weapons. The game has in some ways, swear words, drugs and human trafficing in it too. But the blood and gore when you shoot an enemy or burn him is really weeeak, like some sort of kiddy censor stuff. I'm not for over-the-top gore and dismemberment in FC4, but bullet wounds/holes on the bodies
and red mist/bigger sprays of blood when you shoot guys is enough and a good visual indicator that you hit your target.
Skinning an animal should leave a bloody carcass and burning an enemy or animal should leave burnt bodies. As the game show and handle those things at the moment it is really unrealistic and a poor design choice again.
The gear or the lack of gear that's i showing on Ajays body in third person perspective is just strange. He doesn't have a backpack, or tactical west with pouches or gear like that, so where does he store ammo, weapons, items and stuff?? You don't even see him bearing a second weapon on his back.
The gear he is constructing from animal hides, where does it go I wonder!?
Once again poor design work and lack of details.
I am one of those persons that have real problem with the Co-Op or lack of it. Really bad that one of the key features does not work!
Tips for future FC5:
Pay attention for details when it comes to graphics, even small details.
Create a engaging story, and don't make characters that has potential, shallow.
Make an believable main character. Soldier or mercenary preferably.
For me you could even go back to the african setting again, now with your better game engine and good gameplay mechanics.
Even the "old weapon jamming" mechanic could do a comeback, but with some improvments gameplay wise.
The african setting feels really realistic and in time so to speak.


