Diving Back into Hope County: What Happens When You Start a New Game in Far Cry 5?
Starting a new game in Far Cry 5 essentially resets your progress within the game’s narrative and world, but it doesn’t completely wipe the slate clean. You’ll be back on Dutch’s Island, facing the initial challenges as if for the first time. However, you retain crucial elements from your previous playthrough. Specifically, your money, weapons, and vehicles are preserved, allowing you to approach the early stages of the game with a significant advantage. Think of it as a fresh start with your hard-earned arsenal at your side. Be warned however, selecting “New Game” from the main menu will overwrite your existing save file, as Far Cry 5 unfortunately only offers one primary save slot.
The Fresh Start… With Benefits
While you’re technically restarting the story, your accumulated resources offer a significant leg up. This can dramatically alter your initial gameplay experience. Imagine facing the initial waves of cultists with a high-powered sniper rifle you unlocked in a previous playthrough – a far cry (pun intended!) from starting with just a basic pistol.
Why Start Over?
There are several compelling reasons to embark on a new Far Cry 5 adventure:
- Experiencing the story differently: Perhaps you rushed through the main campaign the first time. A new game allows you to savor the narrative, explore the world more thoroughly, and discover hidden details you may have missed.
- Trying a different play style: Maybe you focused on stealth in your first playthrough. Now, you can embrace a more aggressive approach, utilizing your existing arsenal to dominate the battlefield.
- Exploring different choices: Far Cry 5 presents players with numerous choices throughout the story. Starting a new game allows you to explore alternative paths and witness different outcomes, offering a unique perspective on the narrative.
- Revisiting a beloved game: Sometimes, you just want to relive the thrill of exploring Hope County and battling the Seed family. A new game provides the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself once again in this captivating world.
New Game+ – A Step Beyond
It’s crucial to distinguish starting a “New Game” from initiating a “New Game+”. The latter becomes available only after you’ve completed the main story, specifically the “Resist” ending, on any difficulty. New Game+ offers an even greater degree of replayability. While starting a New Game gives you your starting advantage, New Game + adds in another layer of challenge and fun.
Accessing New Game+
New Game+ is available from the main menu once you have completed the main story with the Resist ending on any difficulty. When you start a game in New Game+, the Infamous difficulty will become available.
What Carries Over?
New Game+ preserves even more of your progress:
- Weapons: All your unlocked firearms, bows, and melee weapons remain in your inventory.
- Vehicles: Your collection of cars, trucks, planes, and boats is retained.
- Outfits: Your character’s wardrobe remains stocked with all the clothing options you’ve acquired.
- Skill Points: You keep all the skill points you earned in your previous playthrough, allowing you to further enhance your abilities from the start.
What Resets?
Despite retaining your gear and skills, certain elements are reset in New Game+:
- Quests: All main and side quests are reset, giving you a fresh slate of missions to undertake.
- Resistance Points: Your progress in liberating regions controlled by the Seed family is reset, requiring you to once again build up resistance and confront the cult leaders.
Understanding the Save System
Far Cry 5’s save system is relatively straightforward, but it’s essential to understand its limitations.
- Single Save Slot: The game primarily utilizes a single save slot for your main campaign progress. Starting a new game will overwrite this existing save.
- Autosaving: Far Cry 5 relies heavily on autosaving, automatically recording your progress at regular intervals and after significant events.
- Multiple Saved Games: You can have three saved games at a time. Please note that selecting a save slot that is already being used will overwrite the existing file.
FAQs: Starting Over in Hope County
What happens if I start a new game in Far Cry 5?
Starting a new game resets your story progress, returning you to the beginning of the game. However, you retain your money, weapons, and vehicles.
Does starting a new game delete my old one in Far Cry 5?
Yes, starting a new game will overwrite your current progress as Far Cry 5 has one save slot available and your new game will autosave any progress you make into it.
Can you have multiple saves in Far Cry 5?
You can have three saved games at a time. Please note that selecting a save slot that is already being used will overwrite the existing file.
How do I start New Game+ in Far Cry 5?
New Game+ becomes available from the main menu after completing the main story (“Resist” ending) on any difficulty.
What do I keep in New Game+?
You keep your weapons, vehicles, outfits, and skill points.
What do I lose in New Game+?
You lose your quest progress and resistance points in each region.
Can you keep playing Far Cry 5 after the ending?
Yes, you can keep playing after completing the story. You can reset outposts to encounter enemies again.
What triggers the ending in Far Cry 5?
The ending is triggered by completing the final mission in the main story arc, confronting Joseph Seed.
How replayable is Far Cry 5?
Far Cry 5 is highly replayable due to its open world, side activities, collectibles, and the availability of New Game+.
How many players can play Far Cry 5 together?
The main campaign supports up to two players in co-op.
Can you avoid being captured in Far Cry 5?
No, getting captured is a mandatory part of the story progression.
What is the canon ending of Far Cry 5?
The “Resist” ending is considered the canon ending by the developers.
Does Far Cry 5 have anything bad?
Far Cry 5 contains violence, strong language, and mature themes that may not be suitable for all audiences.
What happens to the player character after Far Cry 5?
The fate of the player character is ambiguous, but in the sequel, Far Cry New Dawn, they are assumed to be dead.
Did Joseph Seed cause the nukes?
It is heavily implied Joseph Seed did not cause the nukes, rather he predicted the coming nuclear fallout.
Continuing Your Journey in Hope County
Whether you’re starting a completely fresh game or diving into New Game+, Far Cry 5 offers ample opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and thrilling combat. Understanding the save system and the differences between starting a new game and New Game+ will help you make the most of your time in Hope County. So, grab your weapons, hop in your vehicle, and prepare for another unforgettable adventure! The Games Learning Society is a valuable resource for those interested in the educational aspects of gaming. Consider visiting GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.