Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. The Digital Fix
    Jun 19, 2013
    90
    Like wandering through a theme park dedicated to the excess of 80s blockbuster entertainment, Blood Dragon takes Far Cry’s proven gameplay formula and adds humour, a new coat of paint and a script free from qualms of narrative dissonance.
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    90
    Blood Dragon is to the 80s what Fallout is to the 50s. [July 2013, p.78]
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  3. PC PowerPlay
    Jun 4, 2013
    90
    If this is what Ubisoft is capable of in ts "spare time", it deserves more time off. Inject this glorious blue neon goop into our veins. [June 2013, p.82]
  5. Eurogamer Spain
    May 9, 2013
    90
    This game is pure irony: story, dialogue, music, graphics... everything recalls the craziest clichés of the 80s.
  6. Everyeye.it
    May 6, 2013
    90
    Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a true manifesto of vintage culture, of 16-bit gaming and trash cinema: a gem of rare beauty!
  7. ZTGD
    May 3, 2013
    90
    Fans of Far Cry 3 should not miss this fantastic experience, and anyone who grew up watching films like Terminator, Aliens and Commando owe it to themselves to play this, as it was certainly crafted by people who understand the culture.
  8. Eurogamer Germany
    May 2, 2013
    90
    Thanks, Ubisoft Montreal, for getting this right on the first try, because this is undoubtedly the only time it will be fresh and exciting. Still, the degree of creativity and the load of ideas on display really demonstrates which ways you can treat your source material inventively via spin-offs or DLCs. I really could get used to that.
  9. IncGamers
    Apr 30, 2013
    90
    What could’ve so easily turned out to be disastrous piece of self-indulgent trash, replete with dumb “hey, remember the 80s, they were so 80s!!” referential humour, succeeds in paying worthy tribute to its subject matter. It’s trash alright; sublime, entertaining trash that lifts the desert chrome absurdity of VHS action movies and dumps it all over a compact version of Far Cry 3‘s open world and open choice combat.
  10. Digital Chumps
    May 1, 2013
    88
    Fueling creative energy with frayed Neuromancer paperbacks and worn out Terminator VHS tapes doesn't typically qualify as a safe investment, but Blood Dragon absolves its endearing risk by leveraging Far Cry 3 as its base and then running away to celebrate 80's cinematic excess. Ubisoft wins, Blood Dragon's creative team wins, Michael Biehn wins, and, most importantly, the consumer wins. Why can't all games be like this?
  11. GamingTrend
    Apr 30, 2013
    87
    Ubisoft should be commended for creating this crazy world — it’s just a shame that the gameplay doesn’t live up to its own premise.
  12. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 13, 2013
    86
    Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is 80's dumb and great at it. Far Cry 3's stealth is still in place but gives space to straight action and power fantasy - and ballads. [June 2013]
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  13. Machinima
    May 12, 2013
    85
    Blood Dragon is a reminder that a story about one man killing thousands is just silly. That’s fine though, because games don’t always need to be serious. Games should just be fun, and that’s exactly what Blood Dragon is.
  14. GameSpot
    Apr 30, 2013
    85
    Packed with entertaining action and hysterical writing, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is an '80s-inspired blast.
  15. GamingXP
    May 13, 2013
    84
    Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a tribute to the trashy action cinema of the 80s and early 90s. With all the quotations and references to popular movies and franchises Blood Dragon is a feast for nostalgics. Although the gameplay mechanics here and there suffer from the same weaknesses like Far Cry 3, this is a must-have for fans with a lot of content at a reasonable price.
  16. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 5, 2013
    83
    It’s the small things that you might not notice if you are unfamiliar with the specific decade, things that show that whoever had this crazy idea at Ubisoft (basically, creative director Dean Evans), knew exactly what he was doing. [June 2013]
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  17. PC Gamer UK
    Jun 19, 2013
    81
    It's Far Cry 3 dressed as trashily as you can imagine; the joke only goes so far, but it's definitely fun to play. [July 2013, p.90]
  18. Worth Playing
    Jul 3, 2013
    80
    Although it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a surprisingly good game.
  19. CD-Action
    May 13, 2013
    80
    Decent Far Cry 3 mechanics merged with a tongue-in-cheek setting absurd to a point of genius. You either love or hate this homage to the 80s. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.62]
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  20. Meristation
    May 2, 2013
    80
    It´s a poor man's Far Cry 3 without the stunning vistas and cut mechanics, but it´s also a fun homage to the 80s and Action Hero movies, all while delivering a nice and straightforward shooter.
  21. Giant Bomb
    Apr 30, 2013
    80
    This '80s action movie twist on the Far Cry 3 mechanics has a killer aesthetic, but it flinches a little too often, resulting an a game that oscillates between dumb B-movie tropes and a self-awareness that prevents the look and tone from working as well as it should.
  22. GameStar
    Apr 30, 2013
    80
    Blood Dragon is art.
  23. Gameblog.fr
    Apr 30, 2013
    80
    I really thought that Blood Dragon would quickly become too much, but I'm surprised that it was able to make me laugh all the way through this heavily deformed and 80's enriched Far Cry 3. It goes in all directions, and at great length, to charm all over-the top, punchline riddled, references fans. A smart and refreshing stand-alone take.
  24. Polygon
    Apr 30, 2013
    80
    Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a downloadable, stand-alone title that could stand with many AAA offerings on the shelves. It's not as deep, it's not as long, it's not as developed — but at 15 bucks, it doesn't need to be.
  25. IGN
    Apr 30, 2013
    80
    Blood Dragon is a different beast – and it’s something you shouldn’t miss.
  26. PC Games
    May 2, 2013
    77
    At the core of all of Blood Dragon's delightful silliness lies a solid shooter mechanic bereft of the biggest strength Far Cry 3 had: Its invitingly vibrant world.
  27. JeuxActu
    May 10, 2013
    75
    Far Cry 3: blood Dragon is a huge trip in the 80's that the developers have allowed themselves by modding the awesome Far Cry 3. Only sold online through Steam, the PSN and Xbox Live for 15 miserable euros, this game is a true acid trip that finally puts the humor as the central point in the storyline hence a game which is incredibly fun to play. Combining the strength of Far Cry 3 in its original form with a creative surge from a game designers with balls, Blood Dragon delivers what we were expect if since long ago: some pure unadulterated fun and that was clearly the objective of Sgt Rex Power Colt whose presence is enough to make this game one of the best investments of the year.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Best PC Game of 2013
44
#44 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
57
#57 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1038 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 796 out of 1038
  2. Mixed: 172 out of 1038
  3. Negative: 70 out of 1038
  1. oliver1h
    May 1, 2013
    8
    A deliberately cheesy, and funny 1980's B-movie video game homage. Michael Biehn has cool voice, so he is doing a nice job as Rex Colt, theA deliberately cheesy, and funny 1980's B-movie video game homage. Michael Biehn has cool voice, so he is doing a nice job as Rex Colt, the protagonist. Besides we have everything we need: Armies of rough cyborgs, a hot scientist chick, dragons that fire LASERS from their eyes, mutants, nuclear war, cool music with the right amount of synth, and neon-lit skies! I gave it only 8 because everything else is basically the same as Far Cry 3, and the game is rather short!… Full Review »
  2. YourNeighbour
    May 4, 2013
    10
    Definitely worth the money, compared to the highly forgettable realistic-wannabe shooter games out there Blood Dragon stands out as a kind ofDefinitely worth the money, compared to the highly forgettable realistic-wannabe shooter games out there Blood Dragon stands out as a kind of its own, giving you a break from being "some serious business special force guy" saving the world from nuclear war.

    A game made without push financial constraints and possibly involve someone going on a holiday and getting a bit too high.

    There's a lot of cheesy combat dialog involved, so if you like being a serious tightass, or just don't like having fun, this game is not for you.    … Full Review »
  3. Katharsis
    May 4, 2013
    10
    This game is perfect on so many levels. I haven't played FarCry 3 but I picked this game up because I thought it looked awesome, and itThis game is perfect on so many levels. I haven't played FarCry 3 but I picked this game up because I thought it looked awesome, and it didn't disappoint. Literally every mixed review from critics and users I've seen is a result of this game going over their collective heads. Xbox Magazine complained about how powerful weapons become and how short the game is. thatsthepoint.jpeg. Seriously, that's the damn point. The game is supposed to be short, you are supposed to become an unstoppable killing machine in no time. It adds to the satire. You can play stealthy and it is fun, but the guns are so powerful you really don't have to. There are character levels and you level up so fast. After about 8 hours of gameplay, you will probably be abut level 25 out of 30. Which again, adds to the ridiculousness. The humor is also great. A character in the game flat out says "Anyone who thinks video games cause violence is a idiot." I'm not kidding here, this is a line from the game. Your character (Rex) can breathe underwater forever, you can survive any fall, and by level 25 you will be taking 50% less damage from explosives. Need I say more? This game was going for the sci-fi cheesy action genres of the 80s, and nails it on every possible level. From the cheesiness to the satire to the explosions and over-the-top action like riding a Blood Dragon that shoots lasers out of its eyes at the end, this game strikes all the right cords in my book.… Full Review »
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