Although he had a relatively small role to play in the overall Far Cry 3 narrative, Vaas has stood the test of time as one of Far Cry’s most popular characters. It’s no surprise then, that Far Cry 6 has chosen to bring Vaas (and his actor Michael Mando) back for a slice of alternate reality (or is it?) DLC called Vaas: Insanity.
Vaas: Insanity brings a Rogue-lite twist to the Far Cry formula, giving players a central goal to complete in one run and augmenting those runs through one-time and permanent upgrades. A small island is at their disposal and players are asked to collect three dagger pieces before activating a final last stand to complete a “run.” But in between those key “missions” to collect the dagger pieces, there are a lot more things to do to help build out one’s arsenal.
Scattered around the island are a series of chests that hold a certain weapon archetype, like a pistol, rifle, or grenade launcher. Upon opening one of these chests, players will start a survival trial where they must defeat a certain number of enemies, usually at least 15. Doing so will unlock that weapon type for purchase at the central hub to use either on that current run or subsequent runs. Players can also spend cash to upgrade the weapon archetype, so the next version they buy will have upgrades like a scope or suppressor.
While unlocking and upgrading weapons is key to success in Far Cry 6’s Vaas: Insanity DLC, there are other items to spend cash on. Passive upgrades like faster weapon swap speed, better melee defense, or the ability to hold Vaas’ breath for longer are unlocked by picking up hearts from defeated enemies. At first, players can only hold one of these upgrades, but they can unlock more slots by spending cash. The same is true from permanent upgrades like more healing syringes, overall health, a phone to spot enemies, and access to the grappling hook.
What makes Vaas: Insanity such a surprise is the way that it ratchets up the tension of normal Far Cry. Usually, players reach a certain point in a Far Cry game where they feel so powerful that they become almost unstoppable. Character and weapon upgrades stack on top of each other to make the player character capable of clearing an entire outpost in a matter of minutes. For Vaas: Insanity, a lot of that power fantasy is stripped away, which makes the gunplay tenser as a result.
Players are only given a limited number of healing syringes and the only way to earn more is usually to complete an encounter. But survival is easier said than done and players will need to use cover and precision to take out all of the enemies in a given area to unlock the weapon archetypes or upgrades. And when it comes time to go for those dagger pieces, the difficulty ramps up even further, with Jason Brody making an appearance as well.
In addition to a surprisingly engaging and exciting gameplay experience, Vaas: Insanity allows for an open world that indulges the character’s state of mind. Rather than a realistic portrayal of a tropical island, the Rogue-lite's map has a ton of fantastical elements that help it stand out. Sharks swimming in the sky, a massive skull carved into a volcano, and a clever nod to Far Cry 3’s box art are just a few of the sights that help make this DLC feel fresh visually. A lot like Far Cry Blood Dragon embraced creative design over realism, Vaas: Insanity encourages searching the entire playable space.
A Rogue-lite DLC is fairly common for triple-A games these days but Vaas: Insanity surprises with how well it tailors the Far Cry formula to that sub-genre. It may be short – although a secret ending awaits those who fully “complete” the experience – but even just for a few hours, the DLC is worth investing time in.
Far Cry 6’s Vaas: Insanity DLC is available now.