Let me preface this review by saying this was the first game in the Far Cry franchise that I have played to completion, and immediately after, I purchased Far Cry 5. Although New Dawn may not be "the best" example of a Far Cry game, it stands on it's own as a really great product.

First I will address the negative aspects of the game, many of which have already been voiced by the community in comparison to its predecessor, Far Cry 5:

1) New Dawn is a "looter-shooter." You are going to have to scavenge enemies and raid stash houses to maintain supplies, and obtain access to new equipment.

2) The "game world is small" and undeveloped. This is in comparison to FC5, which is true, and there are significant visible portions of the map that are inaccessible due to an arbitrary line being drawn around them.

3) "Bullet sponges." As you progress in the game, much of the "challenge" in fighting opponents will come from their use of overpowered armor and weapons.

Now let me offer some counter points on why these supposed negative aspects may or may not matter to you as a player, and what makes the game good:

1) The "looter-shooter" aspect is not as present as you may think. I've never found myself being short on ammo or supplies. There are a few resources that are more scarce than others and can be tricky to find without deliberately hunting down hidden stashes, and you need these to unlock or upgrade certain weapons and vehicles, etc. However - this is an aspect I really enjoyed as a player; exploring old ruins and sniffing out treasures across the map is in itself a rewarding gameplay aspect, and there are many ways to "farm" certain supplies quickly if you just want to get it out of the way.

2) The "game world is small" compared to other Far Cry games, but one doesn't really feel this. Even for a player coming straight from FC5, the map has a diverse range of different terrains and regions, and the "character" of certain areas has been amped-up in New Dawn. It is a completely different world, and while there are some areas that are recognizable or recycled from FC5, New Dawn adds a lot of original new structures and little "twists" to the map in different ways that you will just have to discover for yourself. Not to mention, there is the option of embarking on "Expeditions" to 7 brand-new, detail rich maps to explore.

3) The problem of having "bullet sponges" as enemies in late-game is valid, as it can make you feel as if you need to grind more to upgrade your gear, or lead to simple frustration when you are getting creamed by a boss who has just absorbed multiple explosive rounds to the cranium at point-blank range without flinching. This makes the game feel a little "cheap" in its design.

However, have you considered tackling these objectives with a friend in CO-OP mode? This changes everything. Even a low-level noob with dirt equipment is ten times more deadly than the AI allies, and you'll soon find yourself in absolute hysterics at the creative ways two players can dominate in boss fights, outpost takeovers, and just random tomfoolery. The CO-OP mechanic is something that this game absolutely nails, and is one of the main reasons for buying this game.

In addition, this is still Far Cry, and there are many ways (including exploits) to take out every enemy. Geared-up players will eventually want to finally have something that they can unload their heavy artillery on, while other players may find more satisfaction in stealth tactics and diversion. There are definitely some "cheap enemies" along the story path of this game, but persistence and experimentation will allow any challenge to be overcome.

In conclusion, I would treat this game as an "expansion" to Far Cry 5 - all the basic game-play mechanics are still rock-solid, and it delivers on the Far Cry promise of making the player feel like a real survivalist - with a little neon spray paint thrown in.

Let me preface this review by saying this was the first game in the Far Cry franchise that I have played to completion, and immediately after, I purchased Far Cry 5. Although New Dawn may not be "the best" example of a Far Cry game, it stands on it's own as a really great product. First I will address the negative aspects of the game, many of which have already been voiced by the community in comparison to its predecessor, Far Cry 5: 1) New Dawn is a "looter-shooter." You are going to have to scavenge enemies and raid stash houses to maintain supplies, and obtain access to new equipment. 2) The "game world is small" and undeveloped. This is in comparison to FC5, which is true, and there are significant visible portions of the map that are inaccessible due to an arbitrary line being drawn around them. 3) "Bullet sponges." As you progress in the game, much of the "challenge" in fighting opponents will come from their use of overpowered armor and weapons. Now let me offer some counter points on why these supposed negative aspects may or may not matter to you as a player, and what makes the game good: 1) The "looter-shooter" aspect is not as present as you may think. I've never found myself being short on ammo or supplies. There are a few resources that are more scarce than others and can be tricky to find without deliberately hunting down hidden stashes, and you need these to unlock or upgrade certain weapons and vehicles, etc. However - this is an aspect I really enjoyed as a player; exploring old ruins and sniffing out treasures across the map is in itself a rewarding gameplay aspect, and there are many ways to "farm" certain supplies quickly if you just want to get it out of the way. 2) The "game world is small" compared to other Far Cry games, but one doesn't really feel this. Even for a player coming straight from FC5, the map has a diverse range of different terrains and regions, and the "character" of certain areas has been amped-up in New Dawn. It is a completely different world, and while there are some areas that are recognizable or recycled from FC5, New Dawn adds a lot of original new structures and little "twists" to the map in different ways that you will just have to discover for yourself. Not to mention, there is the option of embarking on "Expeditions" to 7 brand-new, detail rich maps to explore. 3) The problem of having "bullet sponges" as enemies in late-game is valid, as it can make you feel as if you need to grind more to upgrade your gear, or lead to simple frustration when you are getting creamed by a boss who has just absorbed multiple explosive rounds to the cranium at point-blank range without flinching. This makes the game feel a little "cheap" in its design. However, have you considered tackling these objectives with a friend in CO-OP mode? This changes everything. Even a low-level noob with dirt equipment is ten times more deadly than the AI allies, and you'll soon find yourself in absolute hysterics at the creative ways two players can dominate in boss fights, outpost takeovers, and just random tomfoolery. The CO-OP mechanic is something that this game absolutely nails, and is one of the main reasons for buying this game. In addition, this is still Far Cry, and there are many ways (including exploits) to take out every enemy. Geared-up players will eventually want to finally have something that they can unload their heavy artillery on, while other players may find more satisfaction in stealth tactics and diversion. There are definitely some "cheap enemies" along the story path of this game, but persistence and experimentation will allow any challenge to be overcome. In conclusion, I would treat this game as an "expansion" to Far Cry 5 - all the basic game-play mechanics are still rock-solid, and it delivers on the Far Cry promise of making the player feel like a real survivalist - with a little neon spray paint thrown in.