Have you ever played a game that had such a complex backstory, it could serve as a reality show? The fourth main installment in the Far Cry series, Far Cry 4, is just that. Spoiler alert! I do reveal one of the endings of this game.

You play as Ajay Ghale, a Kyrati-born American who wants to fulfill his mother’s dying wish of taking her ashes to Lakshmana. Raised in America, Ajay knows nothing of the fictional Himalayan country, Kyrat, nor Lakshmana. Still, he insists on fulfilling the wish.

The game begins with Ajay touching Kyrati soil, meeting main antagonist and tyrant king, Pagan Min, who immediately recognizes Ajay’s eyes. At dinner, Pagan tells Ajay only a minor slice of his history with Ajay’s mother. It isn’t until the end of the game that Pagan tells Ajay more, so allow me to fill in the blanks.

Ishwari Ghale was a native of Kyrat. In her youth, she became the Tarun Matara, believed to be a living goddess according to Kyrati mythology. She married Mohan Ghale and had a son named Ajay. Together, they formed the resistance group the Golden Path to combat Pagan Min and his royal army.

While Ajay was still a toddler, Mohan sent Ishwari to be a spy in Pagan’s castle. Ishwari played the part so well that Pagan trusted her. A romantic relationship ensued and Ishwari became pregnant with a daughter, Lakshmana.

A year later, Mohan discovered Lakshmana’s true parentage and did the unthinkable. Rumor has it that Ishwari retaliated and Mohan suffered the same fate. However, Ishwari wrote Pagan a letter stating that she needed to get away from Mohan due to his loss of control. Therefore, we do not fully know what happened to him.

Ishwari fled to America with three-year-old Ajay in tow, where he was raised without any knowledge of his father, sister or where he came from.

When Ajay became an adult, his mother fell ill and died. Her last wish to Ajay was, “take me back to Lakshmana.”

This leads us back to the beginning of the game.

The gameplay consists of Ajay completing several tasks for others while attempting to make his way to Lakshmana, which he believes is a place, not a person. He meets two secondary protagonists, Sabal and Amita, who implore him to stay and “fight the good fight.” Ajay helps the Golden Path fight against Pagan, his underbosses and his royal army, before meeting Pagan once again at the end.

They sit for dinner like before, but this time, the player has a choice to either eliminate or spare Pagan. If the player spares Pagan, he takes Ajay to a shrine that he built for Lakshmana, stating that he has only been inside once, and that he came out a different man. Afterward, Ajay is able to reunite his mother with Lakshmana.

Now isn’t that an interesting episode of “Family Matters?”

This may be one of the most convoluted backstories in video game history. Granted, I haven’t played every video game, but this is one of my favorites. Ubisoft did a good job of not just making another Far Cry game; they put thought and effort into the storytelling.

Is this the best story out of all of Ubisoft’s releases? You will have to tune in again to find out. Until then, don’t go spying on tyrant kings, and if you meet a group called the Golden Path, stay far away. Be safe out there!

—

ESRB Rating: M for Mature

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft