Looking to revisit the great games that pioneered today’s shooter standards? There has never been a better opportunity. Try out Far Cry VR.
The original Far Cry isn’t a new game; it was released in 2004, the same year as Half-Life 2. Interestingly, Half-Life 2 has also been ported to PCVR through fan modifications.
The game was a remarkable success, prompting the studio behind it, Crytek, to create five sequels. Considering the success of the original game, why not bring it to Virtual Reality? While it might not boast stunning graphics or tailored VR interactions, this game has the potential to evoke a wave of nostalgia among players. Even if you lack any nostalgic connection to this game, it still offers an interesting experience with expansive maps to explore and engaging enemies to confront.
There is no better way to experience this game than in VR. That’s why the user who previously ported Half-Life 2 to VR has also updated their existing port of Far Cry, incorporating motion controls to enhance the game’s immersion even further.
What does the Far Cry VR offer?
The latest major update, version 0.5.0, of Far Cry VR introduces motion controls to the game. However, the overall port offers other intriguing features that leverage the potential of Virtual Reality. As stated on the creator’s website:
- The game offers a 6DoF room-scale VR experience – the player can play seated or standing and can walk around the room
- The player can aim their guns naturally with their hands thanks to motion controls and can use two hands to stabilize the guns further
- Players can physically swing the machete, similar to Resident Evil 4 knife mechanics
- Mounted and vehicle guns can be aimed by directing with the primary hand.
- Left-handed support is available
There is a video demonstrating short gameplay from the game:
How to Install Far Cry VR?
The game is exclusively available on PCVR through the mod. However, if you own a standalone VR headset like the Meta Quest 2 or the upcoming Meta Quest 3, you can still play the game using a wired connection through a link or wirelessly using AirLink or Virtual Desktop.
Important: To launch the mod, you will need the original Far Cry game, available on platforms such as Steam and gog.com. It’s priced at $9.99, which is a reasonable investment for over 10 hours of gameplay in VR.
Installation Instructors according to the creator’s website:
- Download and install Far Cry, if you haven’t already. The game needs to be patched to v1.4; this is already the case for the Steam and gog versions.
- Download the Far Cry VR installer from the link and run it. Note: the installer is not signed, so your browser and/or Windows will likely complain about not trusting the installer. You will have to tell Windows to run the installer, anyway.
- Make sure to select the right path to your Far Cry installation. If you are not sure where it resides, in Steam you can right-click on the game and select “Manage -> Browse local files” to find the path on your machine. Similarly, in GOG Galaxy you can right-click on the game and go to “Manage installation -> Show folder”.
- Finish the installer.
- You can now launch Far Cry VR by executing the
FarCryVR.batin your Far Cry install folder. Far Cry VR requires SteamVR; if you have trouble starting the game, make sure that SteamVR is running first and working with your VR headset.
Update instructions can be found here.
We are pleased to see yet another game joining the growing number of flat-screen games being ported into full VR experiences. For those seeking more intriguing ports, we suggest exploring the previously mentioned Half-Life 2 port or the series of Resident Evil remake ports developed by Praydog.
