Far Cry 2 gets stunning remake in Far Cry 5's engine

Ubisoft released the first Far Cry game in 2004 for the PC before it eventually evolved to consoles and every generation since with fans eager for the return of its next entry.

With so many games in the Ubisoft series, depending on who you ask, many will likely give you a different answer as to which Far Cry game is the best. At the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference and the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same games.

Check out the Far Cry 2 trailer below!

However, the entry in the Ubisoft series that is the topic of today’s discussion is Far Cry 2 which was released in 2008 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. There was also a mobile version but the less said about that game, the better.

“You are a gun for hire, trapped in a war-torn African state, stricken with malaria and forced to make deals with corrupt warlords on both sides of the conflict in order to make this country your home,” reads the synopsis of Far Cry 2. “You must identify and exploit your enemies' weaknesses, neutralising their superior numbers and firepower with surprise, subversion,...”

Yet, as good as Far Cry 2 is or was, it’s 16 years old at the time of writing and it's showing its age, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. So it’s fair to say that if one game in this series needs a modern remake or remaster, Far Cry 2 would be a strong contender.

While Ubiosoft has shown no sign of giving us a modern remake or remaster of Far Cry 2, a dedicated fan has taken matters into their own hands. Uploaded to the YouTube channel Mojo Swoptops, Far Cry 2 has been remade using Far Cry 5’s Arcade Mode, which is basically a level editor, so it’s just about as official (without being official) as you can get, kind of.

The Arcade Mode of Far Cry 5 was easily one of its best features, which is why it’s a shame it was removed from 2021’s Far Cry 6. As you can see in the fan-made Far Cry 2 remake, this 2018-level editor looks gorgeous and has bags of potential in the right hands.

If there was a bonus of this Far Cry 2 remake, it’s that it doesn't include the seriously annoying Malaria gameplay mechanic. This mechanic requires the player to regularly take in-game medication and if you do not, you’ll eventually become immobile and vulnerable to enemy attack.

If you’re keen on playing the original Far Cry 2 it’s still playable on PC as well as modern Xbox consoles via backwards compatibility or you can check out this remake in Far Cry 5.