Far Cry 2 - first look part two

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We bring you the conclusion of our revealing two-part preview of this sizzling sequel

Below is the second and concluding half of our look at Far Cry 2.Click hereif you missed the first part.

Far Cry wouldn't be Far Cry without a heavy dose of jungle. While you will be crawling on your belly through the forest, it's not all-consuming like before. The canopy opens up and there are large expanses of open ground where there's hardly a piece of bark in sight.

"It was an absolute requirement that Far Cry 2 maintain the exoticism [of the original game]," explains Pharand. "The African savannah was a natural choice because there are several different kinds of plain in Africa. The grasslands are only one, and [allow] long draw distances, off-road vehicle pursuits and long-range shooting and sniping.

"Savannah woodlands, on the other hand, actually come to approximate the levels of density you saw in the jungles of the original Far Cry, but in some ways it can feel like urban fighting with small but dense clusters of trees behaving like small buildings. Of course, you can't typically shoot through buildings, while if you think the enemy is on the other side of a stand of trees you can hose it down with a light machinegun to find out."

Ubisoft is hoping that the game will satisfy those looking for the original's jungle combat, while still allowing the series to cover new styles of play.

Yet large outdoor expanses feel empty unless you have the people and wildlife to inhabit them, which is where the game becomes yet more ambitious.

"Our AI is needs-driven, and the main needs are Rest, Duty and Social," explains Pharand. "Scattered all around the world are what we call SmartTerrain Points - locations where NPCs can perform actions that fulfil those needs. For example, a Sleep point will fulfil the Rest need as long as the NPC is sleeping."

As an example, we're told how gazelles will trek to watering holes each morning, drinking water before heading out to eat and sleep in the plains in the afternoon. Enemy patrols, meanwhile, will converge upon their base-camps at night, which means that the experience of raiding a camp at night or during the day will be drastically different. Planning your assault is now about more than just spotting your enemies. It's about choosing your moment, too.