Being a westerner, when I saw the first marketing splash about Far Cry Five I was afraid it was going to be super offensive. Especially since I’m also a person whose faith is important to him.
The game is about a cult that takes over a sizeable chunk of Western Montana (the fictional “Hope County”) and the rookie Sheriff’s deputy who leads the fight against them.
Offensive bits:
- The most profane language I’ve ever heard from a screen (And I watch Archer).
- The use of the name “The Father” for the cult leader.
- The use of “Amazing Grace” as music sung by the cult.
Not offensive and actually pretty cool bits
The hero is assisted along the way by preppers, people with semi-real rural values, people who own guns (AR-15s, even!) and people who pray.
The representation of a western mountain landscape is so good I am constantly surprised I can’t smell the pine trees and campfires.
The game’s just flat out fun.
I’m not sorry I bought Far Cry 5 on sale. I’m really enjoying it, and the game does not set out to portray “Flyover Country” as the villains. I expected a SJW fantasy of beating up villainous trump voters, gun nuts, Christian bigots, and bitter clingers. What I found instead was a cult that bears no resemblance to Christianity and ally characters who could be my neighbors here.
I will say this, though: I wish moose were as easy to spot as they are in this game.