Ubisoft's Far Cry series has been through a lot of changes since its humble beginnings in 2004. While each game has managed to retain the signature themes and iconic features the series is known for, it has still evolved to adapt to modern standards and expectations. This evolution has included changes in each game's setting, gameplay mechanics, customization depth, and visuals. For the most part, it's easy to tell a Far Cry game apart from other first-person open-world games, but that doesn't mean the series has been without its black sheep — particularly, Far Cry 5.

Far Cry 5 is a black sheep in the Far Cry series, not because of its reception, but because it broke certain traditions that each installment in the franchise honored before it. These traditions involve the game's setting, as well as its playable protagonist. However, despite these differences, it still manages to affirm its identity as a Far Cry game in the themes and plot elements that drive its story forward.

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Far Cry 5 Broke Two Significant Far Cry Traditions

Far Cry 5 Was the First Game to Take Place in the United States

One of the most significant Far Cry traditions that Far Cry 5 broke involves its setting. Not once prior had a Far Cry game been set in the United States, as each installment had taken players to exotic locations like the African savanna and the Himalayas. Far Cry 5 broke that tradition by being set in the American state of Montana. While its deeper setting is the fictional Hope County, its environments are clearly American-inspired, with Montana beautifully represented as a gorgeous countryside begging to be explored.

It's currently unknown whether any future Far Cry games will take place in the United States. Far Cry 7, the next installment, is rumored to take place in Korea, and it's likely subsequent installments will continue to hop around in their setting, avoiding America in the process. Far Cry New Dawn took place in the United States, but only because it was a spin-off and sequel to Far Cry 5. Nevertheless, wherever the next Far Cry lands, it's bound to be a sprawling exotic world filled with plenty of interesting sights to see and locales to explore. Managing to do so with a U.S. state is something many doubted, but Montana did seem as exotic as any locale before and after it.

Far Cry 5 Was the First Game to Feature the Option to Play as a Female Protagonist

Up until Far Cry 5, players could only play as a male protagonist, most of which were locked into a specific person. For example, in the first Far Cry, players assumed control of Jack Carver on his search for Valerie Constantine after she went missing on a mysterious tropical archipelago. Far Cry 3 put players in the shoes of Jason Brody as he navigated the fictional Rook Islands after he and his friends were captured by Vaas Montenegro, who planned on selling them into slavery. However, in Far Cry 5, players are given the option to create either a male or female custom character, which was a first for the series.

Far Cry 6 continued this tradition by allowing players to choose between a male or female version of its protagonist, Dani Rojas, so it's likely that Far Cry 7 will do the same. Still, Far Cry 5 is solely responsible for opening this door, and it's arguably one that needed to be opened. Thanks to Far Cry 5 breaking this one tradition, players can explore Far Cry's open worlds as a woman.

Every video game franchise has its traditions, as they typically help differentiate them from others. Far Cry was no different before Far Cry 5, and future installments will likely benefit from its willingness to break the mold. Only time will tell where the series goes from Far Cry 6​​​​​​.