Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

We were fans of Far Cry 6 when it launched last year, stating in our review that:

“Far Cry 6 offers more of the same intense action-packed open-world gameplay seen in previous entries in the series, and I loved it. Between the riveting showdowns with Anton Castillo and co, the brilliant gunplay that brings with it plenty of varied (and often wacky) weaponry, and the beautiful and expansive setting that shows off some unique landmarks, everything is here that you’d expect of the Far Cry series. It runs at a smooth 60fps throughout too, ensuring the destructive action always looks sublime in motion.”

Naturally then, we had our eye on the Lost Between WorldsDLC, which brings with it a wild new experience that has a distinctly different vibe in both the gameplay style and the locales you fight across. Is it any good? I think so, though it didn’t quite hit the exciting heights that the main game reached.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds re-introduces some of the zanier elements of the Far Cry series, with a meteor hitting down on the island of Yara that sees the player get stuck in a strange, sci-fi reality. With an alien named Fai guiding you, players have to attempt to collect five special Shards to repair an alien ship in order to return to the normal world, all whilst fighting off a dangerous new threat of crystalised creatures. I told you it was zany…

Outside of the surreal nature of the experience, there wasn’t much that interested me in the narrative. It’s not that it’s boring or anything, but rather that it didn’t feel like it culminated in anything significant. Maybe it’s because I haven’t played Far Cry 6 in so long that I’ve found myself out of the loop now, or maybe it’s because it didn’t feel like it affected the overall plight of Yara that I’ve already been through? Either way, don’t expect the storytelling to blow you away, even IF the concept itself is actually pretty cool.

Given that you’re trapped in a new reality, the action doesn’t take place directly in Yara. Instead, players will move between inter-connected rifts to progress through the game, with each being based around different areas of Yara but in a more surreal way. Each rift also brings with it a challenge for players to deal with, whether that’s a heightened darkness, lightning strikes slashing your surroundings, perilous water to swim through, or even a maze with moving walls – there are plenty of unique ideas to be found, which helps keep the experience feeling fresh for the player. It definitely differs things up from the main game, with Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds completely drifting from the conventional formula that players would have been used to.

“Sure, it’s meant to be an additional mode that’s a fun extra for players to dive into, but it doesn’t take advantage of Far Cry’s strengths; instead, it just feels like just another rogue-lite shooter, albeit a very pretty one.”

Things also change up with the enemies you face off against, with a new enemy type called Shardfaces out to get you this time around. The catch is that these enemies are different colours and can only be damaged by weapons matching their colour. Facing off against blue Shardfaces? You’ll need to use blue weaponry. Red Shardfaces got you under pressure? Use your red guns. There are varying types of Shardface that pose a different type of threat to keep you on your toes, but they’re limited to just two colours so you won’t have to worry about your loadout too much.

Whilst the idea itself could be neat, the colour-swapping could get a little bit annoying. Admittedly, the limited colour range of the Shardfaces means you don’t have to change weapons TOO much, but when you face moments where you do have to switch frequently, it just felt like more of a distraction than anything. It never felt like it made the game more fun or made combat encounters more challenging, but instead slowed down the pace of each showdown and forced me to use weapons that might not have necessarily suited the situation. It’s one of those ideas that some players will probably like more than others, but I found it a little bit dull and restrictive.

One thing worth noting about Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds is the fact that it takes a roguelite approach, with players restarting their run following each death with a fresh loadout – there is a collectible currency called Glint that can be spent to revive you during each run, but if you don’t have enough, you start again. There are some permanent upgrades to earn as you collect those aforementioned Shards that can make further attempts a bit easier though, with tools like the grappling hook allowing you to reach previously inaccessible areas or the bomb allowing you to blast open shortcuts. They help streamline the experience and ensure that the game never gets too repetitive, with the roguelite nature feeling a little bit less punishing than similar titles.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It all comes together to make for a decent experience, though I do think Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds loses that sense of freedom that the series is so well known for. Whilst you do venture through some large areas and have the choice in which rift you want to tackle next, it never felt as satisfying as exploring a huge open world, causing chaos in massive showdowns with enemies in inhabited areas, or progressing further through a more meaningful narrative. Sure, it’s meant to be an additional mode that’s a fun extra for players to dive into, but it doesn’t take advantage of Far Cry’s strengths; instead, it just feels like just another rogue-lite shooter, albeit a very pretty one.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t work though and there’s no denying that the concept is cool. If you’re not done with your time in Yara and want more Far Cry 6 action, this is certainly a fun way to get it, whilst it also manages to maintain the exciting and fluid action from the base game. It just feels like it doesn’t embrace all of the things that the series does right, but instead plays it a little safe. It’s not a bad thing and that might be enough for a lot of players, but I think I hoped for a little bit more from the experience to keep me hooked in.

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Website: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/far-cry/far-cry-6