Far Cry 6 Pagan: Control Brings More Villainous Mayhem

Far Cry 6 Pagan: Control is scheduled to release tomorrow, January 11. Part of a series of DLC focusing on classic Far Cry bad guys, this new experience focuses on Pagan Min, the witty and charming psychopath from Far Cry 4.

You might be wondering why I'm simply posting an article and a couple of gameplay videos for Far Cry 6 Pagan: Control, and not offering a full review for the game. This is due to the fact that I just reviewed the Vaas: Insanity DLC back in mid-November, and the Pagan: Control DLC is so similar that almost everything I said in that earlier review still applies to this new experience. Don't take that in a bad way - this new DLC is every bit as fun and exciting as the last one. But I must admit to a moment of slight disappointment when I realized that each of these three DLC experiences (Joseph Seed is scheduled to arrive in February) would follow the same roguelike structure. I had it in my head that each of these experiences would use different game mechanics. No one told me that, I just assumed.

But once I got going on Pagan: Control, all of my disappointment vanished into the ether. The villains in Far Cry are so strong, being given the opportunity to spend a little more time in their company is a delight. I've always been of the opinion that the iconic villains in the base games aren't present enough; they just pop in for cut scene here, a radio broadcast there. Featuring these iconic characters in their own solo experiences is a stroke of genius.

As a full review would feel very redundant, I've created a couple of gameplay videos instead. Minor spoiler warnings apply - I've skipped most of the story content in these videos, but you will see parts of the world and portions of the map are revealed.

In the first video, I am just getting started in the game. My Pagan is very underpowered, running around the game world pew-pewing away with the little pop gun with which he begins his adventure. Over the course of thirty minutes, I start feeling out the area and building up my character. Take a look if you would like to see what sorts of challenges you will encounter at the very beginning of the games. Warning: as usual in my videos, rampant cursing is present.

The second video takes place after I've spent a couple of hours building up a mid-tier Pagan. I've unlocked a few perks, and have access to the rifle (which was my favorite weapon in the Vaas DLC). I spend a bit of time running through a few of the more minor missions, unlocking the shotgun and cleaning up one of the many Pagan statues that litter the land. I also unlock a safe house, and demonstrate how it can be used to upgrade your character and save your progress. You will notice in this video that I am much more confident in my abilities - and that confidence almost gets me killed.

It isn't overstating things when I say that these villain DLCs are probably my all-time favorites out of Ubisoft's stable of weirdo Far Cry add-on experiences. They manage to flesh out some of the best characters in video games, while maintaining some very tight and entertaining gameplay. I have a blast playing as these mentally and emotionally damaged narcissists. The Far Cry franchise always delivers on great (and strange) DLC, and this series from Far Cry 6 are quickly rising to become the cream of the crop.