The Apocalyptic Choice: Unpacking the Endings of Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5, the open-world action-adventure game set in the fictional Hope County, Montana, offers a chilling and unforgettable conclusion – or rather, conclusions. The game features multiple endings, each carrying significant weight and impacting the player’s perception of the story. The primary choice boils down to whether you resist or walk away from the cult leader, Joseph Seed, and his doomsday cult, Eden’s Gate. This choice dictates the fate of Hope County and your own character. The main ending revolves around a resistance, the nukes falling, and being captured by Joseph.
Unraveling the Endings
The core of Far Cry 5’s narrative is the player’s conflict with Joseph Seed and his siblings, who control the region through manipulation, violence, and the promise of salvation from an impending collapse. As the player dismantles Seed’s operation, a final confrontation becomes inevitable, presenting the player with a pivotal decision.
The “Walk Away” Ending
The first ending occurs after defeating Joseph Seed’s lieutenants – Jacob, John, and Faith. You approach him at his church, and he offers you a way out: Walk away, and he will let you and your fellow deputies leave unharmed. If you choose to walk away, the game cuts to a scene where you and your fellow deputies are driving away in a truck. The Sheriff plans to contact the National Guard from Missoula. However, the scene is filled with tension, as the Junior Deputy (the player character) experiences increasing signs of being influenced by Joseph Seed’s conditioning. The radio plays “Only You,” a song used by Seed for mind control. The ending is abrupt and leaves the audience questioning whether the Deputy is fully in control.
The “Resist” Ending: The Canon Choice
The more commonly experienced ending, and the one considered canon, is the result of choosing to resist Joseph Seed’s offer. This leads to a final, chaotic firefight with Seed and his remaining followers. After a prolonged and difficult battle, you manage to subdue Seed and apprehend him. However, as you fly away in a helicopter with your allies, the radio broadcasts reports of nuclear attacks across the United States, confirming Joseph Seed’s prophecies.
Hope County is engulfed in nuclear fire. The helicopter crashes, and you find yourself in Dutch’s bunker with Joseph Seed, who ominously declares, “I told you so.” He subdues you with Bliss, his mind-altering drug, and the screen fades to black, leaving you trapped with the man who predicted the end of the world. This is a bleak and disturbing conclusion that emphasizes the futility of resistance in the face of overwhelming events.
The Secret Ending: An Early Exit
Far Cry 5 also features a secret ending that can be triggered at the very beginning of the game. When you arrive at Joseph Seed’s compound to arrest him, you are given the option to handcuff him. If you simply stand still and do nothing for a few minutes, the Sheriff will eventually tell you and the other deputies to leave. The game ends with the deputies retreating, effectively avoiding the entire conflict. This ending is often viewed as a comedic commentary on the player’s agency and the potential for inaction.
The Aftermath: Far Cry: New Dawn
The canon ending, where the bombs drop and the Deputy ends up in the bunker with Joseph Seed, directly leads into the events of Far Cry: New Dawn. New Dawn takes place 17 years after the nuclear apocalypse and sees the rise of a new threat to Hope County, the Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou. The game explores the rebuilding process and the consequences of the choices made in Far Cry 5. Joseph Seed returns as a key figure, now seemingly repentant and seeking redemption.
FAQs: Diving Deeper into Far Cry 5’s Endings
1. Which Far Cry 5 ending is the “true” ending?
The developers have confirmed that the “resist” ending, where the nukes fall and the player ends up trapped in the bunker with Joseph Seed, is the canon ending. This ending directly sets the stage for Far Cry: New Dawn.
2. Did Joseph Seed actually cause the nuclear apocalypse?
The game strongly suggests that the nuclear attacks were the result of escalating global tensions, as prophesied by Joseph Seed. While the Seeds controlled missile silos, it’s heavily implied that they did not initiate the nuclear war. Joseph Seed was, as it turned out, correct in his predictions.
3. What happens if you choose to “walk away” in Far Cry 5?
Choosing to “walk away” leads to an ending where you and the other deputies leave Hope County. The ending leaves you with the understanding that you are heading to Missoula to contact the National Guard. However, the Deputy’s apparent susceptibility to Seed’s brainwashing suggests that all is not what it seems.
4. Is Faith Seed really a ghost?
Faith Seed’s ethereal appearance and abilities are a result of her extensive use of Bliss, a drug that induces hallucinations and mind control. She isn’t a literal ghost, but her connection to Bliss allows her to manipulate perceptions and appear almost supernatural. When weakened, she cannot maintain this facade, leading to her seemingly demonic form.
5. Are Far Cry 5 and 6 connected?
All Far Cry games exist within the same universe, but not necessarily in the same timeline. Far Cry: New Dawn is a direct sequel to Far Cry 5 and continues its specific narrative.
6. What year does Far Cry 5 take place?
The game takes place in September 2018, as evidenced by calendars found within the game world.
7. Who are the survivors of the nuclear apocalypse in Far Cry 5?
Confirmed survivors include Nick and Kim Rye, along with their daughter Carmina Rye, Hurk, Sharkey, Grace Armstrong, and Pastor Jerome. Many other characters may have survived, but their fates are not explicitly revealed.
8. Is there a way to save Eli in Far Cry 5?
Unfortunately, there is no way to save Eli during the brainwashing sequence. Allowing the timer to run out simply results in a game over.
9. Can you avoid killing in Far Cry 5?
While you can choose not to shoot Eli during the brainwashing sequence, this only leads to a game over. The game mechanics do not allow you to progress without engaging in violence.
10. Is Far Cry: New Dawn a direct sequel to Far Cry 5?
Yes, Far Cry: New Dawn is a direct sequel to Far Cry 5, taking place 17 years after the events of the nuclear apocalypse.
11. What is the secret ending in Far Cry 5 and how do you get it?
The secret ending involves doing nothing when prompted to arrest Joseph Seed at the beginning of the game. After a few minutes of inaction, the Sheriff will order the deputies to leave, ending the game prematurely.
12. Why is Far Cry 5 considered controversial?
Far Cry 5 faced controversy for its use of American political and cultural imagery, particularly its depiction of a right-wing extremist cult in a contemporary setting. Some critics argued that the game failed to deliver a meaningful message about the issues it presented.
13. Was Joseph Seed a “bad guy” in Far Cry 5?
Joseph Seed is undeniably the main antagonist of Far Cry 5. While he believes he is acting in God’s name, his methods are violent, manipulative, and oppressive.
14. Is Joseph Seed dead at the end of Far Cry: New Dawn?
In Far Cry: New Dawn, Joseph Seed can either be killed or spared by the player. If killed, he dies instantly. If spared, he continues to live with the consequences of his actions. Either way, his body is gone, and you don’t know the full fate.
15. Are all the Far Cry games connected?
While all Far Cry games exist within the same overarching universe, they are largely independent stories with different timelines and characters. The connections between games are often thematic or referential, rather than direct narrative links.
Far Cry 5 offers a complex and thought-provoking narrative experience, prompting players to consider the nature of faith, free will, and the potential consequences of their choices. The game’s ambiguous endings leave a lasting impression, forcing players to grapple with the unsettling possibility that there may not always be a “right” solution.
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