Far Cry has always been known for its villains, with each being distinct from the next. Vaas was an outsider among his people and displayed psychopathic tendencies—chaos for chaos’ sake blended with hatred for Jason Brody. Pagan Min, meanwhile, was having a good time watching Ajay Ghale tear his kingdom apart and was far too eccentric to even understand at times.
Joseph Seed was thought insane but turned out to be right—he was trying to save his people, even if sometimes malicious means. And Anton Castillo wants to secure his country’s place in the world, his son’s place in the world, no matter what. Far Cry 6 seems to bring out their similarities in its DLC run, giving Vaas, Pagan Min, and Joseph Seed a roguelike run for their money.
Vaas’ DLC is already out, bringing the fan-favorite villain to life with the return of Michael Mando. Pagan Min’s is set to release in January 2022, and looking at what is known highlights a stark contrast. For Vaas, the roguelike design helped him work through his internal turmoil and let go of his past. In the end, Vaas beats Citra and Jason Brody. But for Pagan Min, it might be more about holding on.
Far Cry 6: The Moment That Broke Pagan Min
Pagan Min was always going to be a dictator; his character history makes that clear. But one moment, in particular, broke Pagan Min and made him the man players encounter in Far Cry 4: the death of his daughter, Lakshmana. Ajay, the protagonist, was his beloved stepson, so it’s doubtful Ajay plays the same role as Jason in Far Cry 6’s Pagan Min: Control DLC.
No, it’s about Pagan Min holding on to his past, his family, and his lost loved ones. Vaas wanted Citra and Jason to leave his mind, but Pagan Min will likely want to keep his family close. The official description describes the Pagan Min approach to his “inner mind of how he wanted his happy family to be together,” meaning he, Ajay’s mom Ishwari, and Lakshmana. Whereas Vaas fought to get rid of Citra and Jason, Pagan Min may fight to keep his family’s memory alive.
In Far Cry 4, Pagan Min has a terrible reputation as a dictator, to which he comments at one point was mostly earned after Lakshmana’s death and Ishwari’s departure. Ajay’s father created a rift in Pagan Min, one of grief that fed a need for control, a wave of eccentric anger, and more. If anything, it seems this road may be more emotional than Vaas’.
After all, Vaas was ready to move on. It’s clear his past had haunted him for too long, and he was able to keep himself at the end—something Citra broke in everyone else. The game, the roguelike format, and more may be trying to force Pagan Min to let go, something that is indubitably heart-breaking, but it’s clear that he wants to hold onto their memories, for better or worse.
Far Cry 6 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
