Video game sequels are difficult to get right and developers often struggle between refurbishing familiar gameplay while introducing fresh elements that are welcoming to newcomers and reassuring to fans. Makingsequels of critically acclaimed titlesis a far more tricky process, as it comes bundled with high expectations. Tthe recently released titlesFar Cry 6andLife is Strange: True Colorstravelled that same road.
BothFar Cry 6andLife is Strange: True Colorsare the latest entries in two popular and successful modern video game franchises, and while they cater to different audiences, they both face a similar issue.Far Cry 6andLife is Strange: True Colorseacg try to recapture what made their critically acclaimed predecessors -Far Cry 3andLife is Strange- so successful, but instead end up feeling like predictable sequels.
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The Predictability of Far Cry 6 and Life is Strange: True Colors
NeitherFar Cry 6norLife is Strange: True Colorsare bad video games by any means, though a common issue plagues them both.Far Cry 6, just likeFar Cry 5andFar Cry 4before it, takes a safe route that makes it structurally similar toFar Cry 3. There are plenty of interesting tweaks, such as the addition of Supremo and the removal of a dedicated skill tree, but the feeling of familiarity and predictability never leaves players' side inFar Cry 6’s 30-to-50 hour runtime.
Despite great performances from Giancarlo Esposito, Greg Bryk, and Troy Baker respectively as Anton Castillo, Joseph Seed, and Pagan Ming, this predictability means they don’t have the same impact as Vaas fromFar Cry 3.Far Cry 6was never going to reinvent the wheel, since Ubisoft’sFar Cryformula still provides a fun and frantic experience. However, it’s more disappointing how the latestLife is Strangegame is handled.
Life is Strange: True Colorscould have been the evolution of episodic narrative games, though it misses the mark by taking a familiar turn. Helmed by a different development team,Life is Strange: True Colorstries everything in its power to have the same emotional impact the first game left on many fans. It takes a similar path, including taking place in a quaint American town enveloped in a mystery. It introduces romantic interests that felt natural and believable in previous games but here feel more awkward.Life is Strange: True Colorsis so structurally similar to the firstLife is Strange that it makes the game’s antagonist obvious from the start.
Life is Strange: True Colorstries so hard to checklist the attributes that made the firstLife is Strangegame special that it fails to form its own identity. This results in an experience that feels dated and predictable. While it certainly could enthrall and surprise newcomers,Life is Strange: True Colorsfeels like deja vu for veterans, which is a shame because tucked beneathLife is Strange: True Colors’disjointed nature is stuff thatTrue Colorsdoes better than previousLife is Strangegames. These include some incredible voice performances, tackling complex themes, and detailed facial animations.
By sticking to the formula for bothFar Cry 6andLife is Strange: True Colors, the respective developers took an approach that lessened the chances of failure. However, by pursuing the ideologies of video games that were successful nearly a decade ago, the developers robbed their modern games of a risky, yet powerful attribute often needed to be highly successful: the element of surprise.
Despite their shortcomings,Far Cry 6andLife is Strange: True Colorsare still good games that offer something for long-time fans and newcomers. However, forFar Cry 7andLife is Strange 4to be breakout hits likeFar Cry 3andLife is Strange, the respective developers need to make more rigorous changes.
Far Cry 6is now available on Amazon Luna, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Life is Strange: True Colorsis now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch port is in development.
