'Far Cry' reverts to feral instincts

"Far Cry Instincts Predator" for the Xbox 360 is a first–person shooter game with attitude, but it still has some of the flaws of its Xbox counterpart that was released in winter of 2005.

"Far Cry Instincts Predator" is essentially two games in one. You start off playing the original "Far Cry Instincts" campaign from the Xbox. Later, you can unlock the new Evolution campaign made just for the 360.

You play the game as a retired Navy commando named Jack Carver (voiced by actor Stephen Dorff). Jack is enjoying life on his charter boat near the Jacutan archipelago islands when, suddenly, some people in a helicopter decides they don't want him loafing around anymore.

Pre-game show

After his boat is reduced to driftwood, Jack decides to take his chances braving the waters to get to the nearest island. Of course, the island is crawling with jungle commandos who want him to do his best "I'm dead" impression.

After braving the jungle for as long as you can, you're eventually captured and injected with a strange chemical that gives you animalistic powers.

As you can probably guess, the real fun in the game isn't the decent shooting action, it's the super-punching-your-enemies-so-that-they-fly-off-into-the-distance action. Once you gain your animal abilities, you can knock down doors, run at super-human speeds, use your sense of smell to see enemies in the jungle and, of course, slap enemies around with your bare hands. The game's shooting action is still fun, and the additions of Molotov cocktails and remote explosives add some variety.

Still, the game really makes you feel like the tables have turned in your favor when you gain your feral abilities. Enemies fear you, and sometimes they run away if you charge at them. Even though you are vastly outnumbered, you still feel like you could have a fighting chance against the hordes of commandos.

Unrealistic reactions

On the down side, graphically the game is so-so. The environments in both campaigns are detailed and have great lighting effects, and the water effects are gorgeous, but the character models leave something to be desired.

Your enemies don't really react when they've been shot until you shoot them enough to kill them. It's just not realistic. Sorry, but if I were ever shot in the stomach a couple of times, I'd probably at least bat an eye. These guys might be hardened commandos, but, seriously, not even a flinch?

It's a great game with a lot of fun to offer, but its short 10-hour quest might be worth only a rental to anyone but hard-core shooter fans.

"Far Cry Instincts Predator" System: Xbox 360 Rating: M for mature Score: Decent, but it could have been great.