Far Cry 2

Let’s hear it for the humble in-game map, the stoic orientation-enabler of our favourite medium for decades. But not all maps are created equal. In fact some maps are so amazing that they’re amongst the very best parts of their respective games.

No seriously. And even in good games.

Whoa there, hotshot! This ain’t no celebration of videogame sound design – we’ve done that. Here, rather, are the games that come alive when piped through headphones directly into your brain. After all, brilliant audio will sound even brilliant-er when it’s loud, bassy and in dangerous proximity to your ear drums. But it’s not always about the music; sometimes you’ll want to slap on a pair of headphones during the most unconventional soundscapes - like say a pair of women in tight shorts GRUNTING VERY LOUDLY. Got your attention? Grab your best cans (not those) and read on…

Shit breaks. That’s just the way it is. After prolonged use you must expect an item, no matter how expensive, to wear down and ultimately fail. And while we’re fine with Father Time claiming the souls of our dead electronics, it’s nowhere near acceptable when something brand new starts crapping out, locking up or engaging in what we like to call “shitting the bed.”

As part of the gloriously negative Week of Hate, we thought it time to remember some of the biggest, most hated instances of our expensive hobby and lifestyle going tits up.

Generally, the first rule when it comes to rescuing hostages is ‘don’t let everybody get horribly done in.’ But sadly, this proves too much of a stumbling block for many game heroes. Be it accidentally killing geriatrics with a killer virus or letting the damsel in distress get crushed by a cow, the following rescue missions all get botched. Spectacularly.

Games are complicated these days. Plotlines are deep and branching. Worlds are open to explore, and to change. Major characters are expendable. Side quests are optional, dialogue trees are intricate and endings are multiple. We are the authors of our own digital experiences. Which sounds pretty great, until you reach one of those choices that you just know will affect the rest of the game.

You get three new weapons, two new vehicles and five new multiplayer maps in Fortune’s Pack. The best news is that Far Cry 2’s famously explodey action sequences are now augmented by an explosive-launching crossbow that packs more of a punch than the in-game rocket launcher.

On October 14, 2008 Far Cry 2 went gold - meaning the game was fully completed and sent to printers. One week later on October 21, 2008 Far Cry 2 was released in North America by Ubisoft. With an average Metacritic score of 85 - across the 360, PS3 and PC platforms - Far Cry 2 has received praise for emergent gameplay in an open world African setting.

It must be a tough job being a videogame artist. Tight deadlines, long hours, trying to replicate intricate concept art within strict technological limitations... and of course those pesky laws of real life. You see, for some reason people have this crazy notion that cars are smaller than houses. Yeah, what's all that about? We say to hell with it - these games certainly did

A Domino Rally of pyromania, crafted by Radar in FC2's level editor.