Last year’s blockbuster hit Far Cry 3 was a game that pushed the franchise forward with its improved gameplay, strong story and highly engaging open-world sandbox rules. But even with all the excellent new additions to the game, it was still geared towards a realistic experience for the average gamer.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon does the complete opposite. It’s a throwback to the classic era of the 80s that is packed with explosive action, a retro-futuristic visual style and great dialogue.

Simply put, the game is crazy fun!

• Story: 8.3/10
• Design: 9.1/10
• Gameplay: 9.6/10
• Presentation: 8.8/10
• Overall Score: 9.0/10

Plot

You are Sgt. Rex Power Colt, a Cyber-Commando working for the new United States government after a nuclear apocalypse devastated most of the world as we knew it back in the 90s.

On a routine mission, your friend was murdered by your former commanding officer Colonel Sloan who has created his own armed force to wage war against the remaining countries of the world, and declare US supremacy through his own redneck ways.

Forced to cooperate with his chief scientist in secret, you infiltrate the island where Col. Sloan has set up shop and proceed to destroy his evil plans for world domination.

Oh, and there are giant dragons on the island too!

The story may not be the most enthralling part of the game, but it helps to flesh out the characters and drives the plot forward as you create absolute mayhem on the island.

You’ll interact with the characters through in-game dialogues, watch old-school 16-bit cut-scenes, and even listen to some rocking music as a training montage pops up. If there’s one thing the story does right, it’s bringing in great references from the 80s and 90s which will have you slapping your knee.

Gameplay

Blood Dragon’s main focus is to pump out non-stop action all the way through, and it certainly delivers on that front. You’ll be controlling Rex and going through the standard gamut of story missions, which helps to bring life into the characters you meet along the way.

As Rex takes down enemies and completes objectives, he’ll earn money and experience points (XP) that level him up. Ubisoft has crafted a more linear skill tree this time around, with new unlocks opening up every time you gain a level. Rex also possesses a handful of abilities right from the get-go such as chain takedowns, and the running slide.

Due to his cybernetic enhancements, you’ll also be able to sprint as much as you want and fall from any height without taking fall damage. There’s also the Cyber-Eye enhancement that lets you mark enemies from a distance, giving you better tactical advantage on the battlefield.

Even though he gains plenty of abilities along the way, the initial Rex you start out with is more than capable of getting the job done.

Since this is a downloadable title and a sidestep from the main Far Cry continuity, the story seems to be shorter than usual and clocks in at about five hours of gameplay. You’ll have access to the entire length and breadth of the island, giving you free rein to explore and play the game the way you want to.

Enemy bases that pop up along the way can be captured, provided Rex purges all the soldiers guarding it. Once the base has been cleared, you’re free to fast-travel to that location, stock up on weapons and ammo, and undertake side quests that reward with cash, XP and new parts for your weapons.

Each weapon can be upgraded a number of times that improves its capabilities in combat. Having a sniper rifle with explosive rounds, a shotgun that shoots incendiary rounds from four barrels or a laser-firing machine gun brings a lot of joy when facing off against enemies.

Similar to Far Cry 3, you can also go hunt for exotic wildlife, and also pick up numerous hidden collectibles scattered throughout the island for more weapon parts and bonuses. The most intriguing feature about the game though are the Blood Dragons that roam the plains.

These towering juggernauts take the tigers from the original Far Cry 3 to a whole new level by being hard to kill and possessing the ability to take down multiple enemies and shoot lasers from their eyes. You could choose to tackle one alone for a sizable reward, or set them loose on a base and watch as your enemies get completely decimated.

Using this tactic on the normal difficulty setting seems a bit too easy, but for higher levels, it becomes crucial to make use of these ferocious beasts and master the art of controlling them. The fire tech from Far Cry 3 makes an appearance here as well, as you’ll be able to set the jungle on fire and see the fire engulf everything in its path.

What makes Blood Dragon a joy to play is the host of options that you have at your disposal when attempting to do what you want.

Visuals

The futuristic landscape of Blood Dragon certainly does look like it jumped out from the ‘80s. Perpetual nightfall and dark magenta skies dominate the island as you rush about conquering it, one power-charged step at a time.

Players who are familiar with references and in-jokes from two decades ago will find plenty to laugh at here, since the visual style pays homage to everything from movies to games to socio-political campaigns. Most of the environment is neon-infused, and the various robotic sounds that you hear are both hilarious and nostalgic in their own right.

The 16-bit style cutscenes are a nice touch, but their length generally causes annoyance as they take you out of the action for too long. Lending his raspy voice to the cyber commando Rex is Michael Biehn, who has starred in movies such as The Terminator and Aliens, which brings an even more of a nostalgic factor to the game and solidifies Rex as a standout character within the game.

While it could have been just like any other expansion, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon stands apart as a solid game on its own. Building upon the excellent mechanics of an already stellar game, Blood Dragon brings with it some great tongue-in-cheek humor and dozens of hours of fun and enjoyment to the table, along with a possible spin-off of the main series.

So grab your cool ‘80s shades and load up to some funky music, this is one game that is definitely worth checking out.

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Shanghai
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Genre: Action-Adventure, First-Person Shooter
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows / Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3
• Released: May 1, 2013
• Website: fc3blooddragon.uk.ubi.com