Ubisoft’s Far Cry franchise has carved a dominant niche for itself in the open-world FPS genre. The compelling villains and expansive world design made it popular, and while the early 2004 titles established the core gameplay loop, it was 2012’s Far Cry 3 that truly catapulted the series into the limelight.
This game wasn’t just about refined shooting mechanics. Its captivating story was what made it memorable. However, a substantial chunk of the credit for Far Cry 3‘s success undoubtedly belongs to Vaas Montenegro, the unforgettable villain masterfully portrayed by Michael Mando. Here’s why the upcoming Far Cry 7 should take a page out of his book.
Vaas’ Madness Makes Him An All-Time Great
Vaas’ impact transcends the confines of Far Cry 3. He’s not only the best villain in the series, but a venerable all-timer in the gaming hall of fame. His popularity sparked a deliberate shift in Far Cry‘s narrative focus. Subsequent installments heavily emphasized crafting riveting villains, hoping to recapture Vaas’ magic.
However, despite strong contenders like Pagan Min, Joseph Seed, and Anton Castillo, none could dethrone Vaas from the lofty heights he reached. This begs the question: could Far Cry 7 finally match, or maybe even surpass Vaas in the villain department?
A Big-Name Actor For Far Cry 7‘s Villain Won’t Be Enough
Before Vaas entered the fray, the Far Cry franchise had established a reputation for decent antagonists. Far Cry 2‘s Jackal paved the way for the more astute villains to come, but Vaas was a different breed altogether. His delirious and unhinged nature, intriguing past, and iconic monologues effectively ingrained the definition of insanity into players’ heads.
Naturally, Ubisoft recognized his potential and attempted to replicate the formula in later games by signing renowned actors for villains, like Troy Baker for Pagan Min and the legendary Giancarlo Esposito for Anton Castillo. Make no mistake, these performances were undeniably strong, but they still couldn’t top Vaas for their own reasons.
Rumors swirling around Far Cry 7 suggest it might feature multiple antagonists, similar to Joseph Seed’s cult in Far Cry 5. On one hand, it allows for the possibility of multiple villains vying for the spotlight, potentially leading to a breakout character. On the other hand, it diffuses the focus and risks creating a forgettable villainous collective if not executed carefully.
Regardless of the narrative structure, Far Cry 7‘s success hinges on delivering a villain that fixes the issues of past antagonists. A well-developed villain wouldn’t just be a worthy successor to Vaas, but would also revitalize the series’ core tenet of engaging stories driven by memorable antagonists.
Ubisoft needs to sharply focus on the villain’s writing, instead of which big-name actor they should land to play the role. After the mediocre entries of late, rekindling fan interest in the Far Cry series is desperately needed, and outdoing Vaas is the best way to achieve that.
