Video Game Review: A far cry from boring
In this review, I explore the vast open world of Far Cry 2 and hone my Japanese speaking with My Japanese Coach.
Far Cry 2
Back in 2004, Far Cry for the PC received critical acclaim for pushing the boundaries of in-game graphics and physics. Since then, this shooter franchise has seen a number of spinoffs across multiple consoles. Unfortunately, all of those spinoffs have been incredibly lackluster in comparison to the original.
So, is Far Cry 2 the series’ return to glory?
Pros
Fun factor – I have to be honest, I was initially disappointed by Far Cry 2. The intro was slow and the graphics didn’t wow me the same way the original Far Cry did. But that’s not to say that this is a bad game and the graphics are terrible – far from it.
Let’s be clear, this is not a game for people with short attention spans. Instead, this is a game about exploring the vast open landscape of Africa. The beginning may start off slow, but if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with a notably diverse shooter campaign.
Furthermore, even though the graphics are not as innovative as the original, the savannas and jungles of Africa are beautifully detailed. I was very impressed by the draw distance and shadows.
Huge – I’m nothing short of astounded by the large world map. Additionally, I can’t believe this game can cram so much map space into a single loading screen. I don’t know how the developers did it, but props to them for working their magic.
Cons
Slow – The large world map adversely causes an unbearable amount of travel time. Each objective is placed way too far apart from one another. Players will find themselves spending the majority of the game traveling between locations.
So again, if you’re not a patient gamer, Far Cry 2 is not for you. But if you can bear the wait, Far Cry 2 provides a remarkable amount of depth, clocking in at upwards of 30 hours in length.
My Japanese Coach
Speaking as a student of the Japanese language, I’ve been waiting a long time for a game like My Japanese Coach , MJC, to come along. MJC is a portable on-the-go way to learn Japanese in as little as 15 minutes a day.
So, are those 15 minutes time well spent?
Pros
Value – First off, MJC offers a lavish amount of features. There are 1,000 interactive lessons, 10,000 words, 1,500 phrases, a dictionary, mini games and voice recorder.
Secondly, since this is a Nintendo DS game, the retail price is relatively cheap, $30. When you consider how much money it would cost to hire a tutor, take a class, or even buy a textbook, MJC is especially affordable for all it offers.
Perfect fit – I can’t imagine MJC on any other gaming platform. The DS is a perfect fit because of its hardware capabilities.
You can test your pronunciation via the built-in microphone then compare it with a native speaker. Plus, the touch screen allows players to practice correct stroke order for Japanese characters. Both features work very well and provide a unique learning experience – much better than a textbook.
Cons
Placement test – When you first load up the game, you’ll be offered a placement test. All of the placement test questions are rather easy and geared toward beginners.
If you score perfectly, then you can skip the first 10 lessons of the game. However, the worthwhile lessons for advanced Japanese speakers will not show up until much later in the game. So, advanced speakers will be sifting through a lot of easy lessons to get to new stuff.
In the end, MJC is a great way to learn on-the-go. And the $30 price tag by itself makes this game a must buy for anyone wanting to start learning Japanese.
Far Cry 2 and My Japanese Coach were developed and published by Ubisoft. Far Cry 2 retails for $60 and was released on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 on Oct. 21. My Japanese Coach retails for $30 and was released on Nintendo DS on Oct. 14.