While it’s an interesting idea on paper, Far Cry 2’s malaria mechanic is one of the most annoying ever introduced in a video game. The original Far Cry was released in 2004 and followed an ex-soldier being hunted on a lush tropical island. Far Cry featured stunning graphics and open-ended gameplay, giving players several options in how they approached the world. It was later adapted into a movie by director Uwe Boll which was poorly received and went straight to DVD.
It was the release of Far Cry 3 in 2012 that saw the series become a juggernaut, which refined mechanics from the first two entries while introducing new elements. It also received an excellent spinoff in Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, which took influences from any number of 1980s action films. The series is seemingly unstoppable now, due to the success of Far Cry 5 and sequel Far Cry: New Dawn. That said, critics and fans have criticized recent installments for doing little to advance the formula.
Far Cry 2 isn’t considered one of the franchise’s better sequels, but it was an important step forward. In keeping with most future entries, the story has nothing to do with the original Far Cry and instead focuses on a new protagonist sent to a Central African nation to assassinate a famous arms dealer. The sequel gives players a dynamic sandbox to play in but the fun is dulled early on by a new mechanic.
In the opening of Far Cry 2, the player’s mercenary character comes down with a bad case of malaria, causing the world to blur in a horrible yellow hue. From that moment on, the player character needs to pop malaria pills once every half hour or so to prevent a malaria attack. While this could add a tactical element it proves extremely annoying in practice. Attacks almost always happen at the worst time, with malaria preventing sprinting or jumping. Ignoring an attack will eventually lead to the player passing out and being sent back to a safe house.
Taking anti-malarial pills helps strengthen the player in Far Cry 2 but it can never be completely cured. While it provides an in-universe explanation for why the player can only sprint for so long before becoming tired, there was little about it that was fun to manage. The weapon jamming/breaking mechanic was another irritant, so while both elements were introduced to add immersion to the sequel, they were met mostly with scorn by fans. Neither element was present in the next game either and while Far Cry 2 was a critical stepping stone for future sequels and a solid title in its own right, its malaria mechanic isn’t missed.
Next: Far Cry New Dawn – Who Is The Judge?
