Is Far Cry Instincts: Predator Still Great?

Back in the mid-2000s Ubisoft made a series of great Far Cry games that weren't afraid to take risks and experiment. But almost 20 years later, how do they hold up? Is old Far Cry Still Great? (Far Cry Instincts Predator Review).
This Far Cry Instincts Predator Review is the first of a three part series looking back at Far Cry Instincts, Instincts Evolution, Far Cry 2 and Far Cry 3. We'll see how each game evolved to the repetitive Far Cry formula Ubisoft are using today and find out why Far Cry 3 was so special.
My previous reviews:
Saints Row 2022 - One Year Later
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Saints Row Poor (Saints Row IV Review)
• Saints Row Poor (Saint...
Is Saints Row 3 Still Great? (Saints Row 3 Review):
• Is Saints Row 3 Still ...
Is Saints Row 2 Still Great? (Saints Row 2 Review)
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Is Saints Row Still Great? (Saints Row (2006) Review)
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GTA Trilogy The Definitive Edition - One Year Later
• The GTA Trilogy - The ...
Is GTA V Still Great?
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Is GTA IV Still Great?
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Is GTA San San Andreas Still Great?
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Is GTA Vice City Still Great?
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Is GTA 3 Still Great?:
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Red Dead Redemption Review:
• Red Dead Redemption Re...
For more info on the history of Far Cry:
History of Far Cry - Gamespot
• History Of Far Cry
History of Far Cry - Nick930
• History of Far Cry (20...
Research:
IGN Predator Review - General information about the game
www.ign.com/games/far-cry-ins...
IGN Instincts Review - History of Predator, and how Instincts differed from Far Cry 1 and commentary suggesting it was a great game
www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/...
Gamespot FC Instincts Evolution Review - How Evolution differed from Instincts, how it was received at the time
www.gamespot.com/reviews/far-...
Planet Far Cry - planetfarcry.gamespy.com/View...
IGN Video Interview
www.ign.com/videos/far-cry-in...
Worthplaying - How Ubisoft wanted to make the first half Prey and the second Predator in Instincs
worthplaying.com/article/2005...
Shack News Interview
www.shacknews.com/article/414...
Videogamesdaily Hands on Impression - History of Far Cry and remaking the game for Xbox
archive.videogamesdaily.com/ne...
Xbox Hub retrospective, highlights Predator is a bundle of both Xbox games
www.thexboxhub.com/looking-ba...
GamesRadar retrospective - Ubisoft changed the plot compared to FC1, highlights the powers in Instincts might have influenced FC3
www.gamesradar.com/oxm-revisi...
NME article discussing Ubisoft Montreal's work on Splinter Cell in 2002
www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/...
IGN List of Shooters for 2005 - highlights most were military and sci-fi or military sci-fi
www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/...
IGN list of shooters for 2006 - highlights similar popularity of both genres
www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/...
The article about Crysis used in the video (and also the Digital Foundry video)
www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoun...
Gamespot article when Ubisoft accounced Far Cry Instincts (2004) - History of Far Cry Section
www.gamespot.com/app.php/arti...
Gamedeveloper - Ubisoft aquires right for Far Cry used in History of Far Cry Section
www.gamedeveloper.com/game-pl...
Shacknews - EA and Crytek sign deal to make Crysis - History of Far Cry
www.shacknews.com/article/327...
More Crytek and EA deal articles:
IGN - www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/...
Game Developer - www.gamedeveloper.com/game-pl...
Metacritic scores correct at time of recording.
#farcryinstinctspredator #farcry #ubisoft #xbox360 #xbox
00:00 Intro
01:45 History of Far Cry (Instincts: Predator)
03:52 Far Cry Instincts
15:39 Far Cry Instincsts: Evolution
21:42 Final Thoughts

[@Bale4Bond]

I think that calling those Xbox Far Cry's "underrated" is appropriate for once, since they really are not all too well known.

[@rbfilms4752]

I wouldn't say they were underrated at the time - the multiplayer especially was a big hit in the early Xbox Live days. But they have become kind of forgotten.

[@bloodynin9757]

@@rbfilms4752never forgotten by those who were there, farcry instincts predator multilayer saved my life

[@kestrel1917]

I loved how Instincts grounded the more goofy elements of FarCry (2004). There's still mutants, mercs, etc. but they did a much better job on the console ports in terms of voice acting, character design, and in general much darker world building (e.g. you can find mass graves on Jacutan before Kreiger's mansion and soliders hanged by Crowe in the early game).

[@jdm3075]

Awesome video. Quality analysis. The multiplayer in these games was FANTASTIC and the map editor was GOATed. Core gaming memory for me.

[@bloodynin9757]

Did you play on Xbox and Xbox 360? I probably killed you ;)

[@jackdeviant2025]

I know we tire of remakes, but I wouldn't mind a remake of instincts. Keep the dual wielding and the superhuman abilities, but Far Cry 6 level graphics and all the quality of life improvements they've made over the years? It would be an absolute banger.

[@AJ-po6up]

What I don't understand is why Ubisoft never released these games on PC, as a PC gamer I totally missed out on them, also I try avoid playing FPS games with a controller as much as possible so not having these on PC is a huge mistake. Is so strange, Ubisoft was never into making console exclusives as far as I know as all their catalog is on PC apart from these games. What a weird decision.

[@Mr.Not.Perfect]

Love your analysis of the stealth gameplay compared to modern games. It's one of the reasons these games just hit a spot many modern games don't. Bought myself a copy of this in a thrift shop last year to revisit old memories. It's part of the backward compatibility program too, so no need to dust of the ol' 360.

[@TwinSticksReviews]

The stealth was my favourite part of the game, would be great to see these mechanics in modern games more often where the devs trust us to use our senses rather than the UI. Currently playing through FC2 and it takes this idea to the extreme!

[@xTooPalex]

I just downloaded this again after years, mainly for the map editor and multiplayer, but I can't wait. This video deserves so many more views.

[@bloodynin9757]

Was anyone playing?

[@xTooPalex]

@@bloodynin9757 never tried online, I'd think there's a chance though

[@TheNocturnalLogician]

Instincts was one of the formative games that turned me into the gamer I am today. Along with the pre-Blacklist Splinter Cell games, Instincts fed a hunger in me for stealth that other games at the time just could not satiate. Between stealth and turning my character into as much of a god as possible, FCI was the GOAT. Not to mention I have always longed to possess animalistic special abilities in reality, so it definitely scratched a big itch for me. Also, I only ever played Instincts on the Original Xbox, and I can attest to the branch trap being endlessly entertaining. Got around to Evolution about 7+ years after release, but didn't really mind the return to the same abilities and general mechanics as Instincts. Also, I still have never played 2, nor do I have any plans to do so. 3-5 were fine, though never really hit the same, and I was deeply disappointed that none of them brought back any semblance of the primal abilities. New Dawn was an interesting alternative that I didn't hate. Won't ever touch 6, looked like trash, gameplay-wise, and I only picked up 5 because it took place in the States and felt a bit true to life for me. Anyway, great video, man, I left a like 🤘

[@bloodynin9757]

All farcry games after instincts predator were nothing like the same old farcry they were horrible and like a completely different game.

[@TallicaMan1986]

You can create the most bizarre maps in this game lol. Even on XBOX. It was one of the only games that allowed for No Clipping on infrastructure. For whatever reason that all changed after this game. Directly after it. You can't create weird ass maps in any of these games. It had the potential to rival Forge mode in Halo. In Farcry. You can create nigh anything and nearly any game type. In Map Editor you can choose you level size and play around in that. The not clipping on structures though is just insane, it's spherical in motion. You can play it however you want.

[@TechShadow91]

I was the first ever person who discovered jump from heights and throw frag & it will save ur life if u land on it

[@gamebriz4163]

For me personally Farcry 2 is the best in the series and still looks good 👍

[@bloodynin9757]

No way farcry 2 was the beginning of the end. It’s when the game moved to the bullshit gameplay that it still is today

[@jordanvalladares9448]

The original Far Cry Instincts is better than the predator one. Best video game score. Needs a remake.

[@bloodynin9757]

Nah farcry instincts predator is THE best farcry game, multi player anyway. I was addicted. Our team (clan) was totally unbeaten we never even lost one single game ever. I miss those days.

[@Itstwistedroots]

I loved this game. It was such a power trip.

[@Firthmax]

What I take away from modern Far Cry is that it condenses down the open levels from the original into isolated sections within an open world. It was something that seemed cool when a console's limitations were hindered but the fact they have since become more abundant in power this same approach has become more exhausting. I genuinely believe that if that same concept from yesteryear was expanded it would make for a truly exceptional experience.

[@jonathangrant480]

Was wondering when you'd come back. And I hope far cry 7 tries to be more unique without being a live service game.

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Same, I think FC7 has a point to prove. Montreal are lead devs for it so hopefully they can return to form after the lacklustre FC6

[@EvilGeniusRANIK]

This made me give this a second chance and bought it for £10 just now. Hope it wilk be worth it.

[@rbfilms4752]

The Instincts/Evolution story is pretty bad, but I feel like Stephen Dorff sold Jack pretty well. I've always had a slim hope they would bring him back to voice someone in future FC titles, or even just acknowledge the series pre-FC3 at all, but that seems really unlikely.

[@Itstwistedroots]

I love your voice. ❤️

[@TechShadow91]

I miss it 😢

[@BastosFC2]

here before the algo picked it up

[@XylustheFox]

Far Cry Instincts + Instincts: Predator WERE Far Cry to me. Me and my friends spent hours in the map maker making our own multiplayer maps. I was disappointed with Far Cry 2 and to me it just went downhill from there.

[@bloodynin9757]

oSo undefeated

[@apothos666]

Great multiplayer. Too bad it's dead and being gatekeeped by a few players.

[@bloodynin9757]

Are you talking about instincts predator? Gatekeeped by what players?

[@jesseclift3743]

Yeah please elaborate

[@shahorrbanou6353]

Please make a video about Minecraft is it still great

[@spongebelt]

I just couldn’t get into this game. And the controls are god awful on series x

[@TwinSticksReviews]

The controls aren't the best tbh, really sluggish and slow. I did get used to it after a few hours, but compared to how fluid everything is today it was still well behind.

[@apothos666]

That's just how the controls are for Predator on the 360. Unfortunately the controls aren't optimized that well for this game. The better version is the original Xbox version, the controls are much smoother. For whatever reason Ubi screwed the controls on the 360 port.

[@marbl3d45]

Is it bad to say that i really liked FC6?

[@Sal-hj8xy]

I got the vid to 69 likes

[@scalpeldude]

fun55 545