Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition feels dated

It looks and feels sluggish, which is a shame

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition should be an easy win, but after just 30 minutes with this latest version, I think I’m ready to tap out. I feel a headache coming on.

This latest release — which is available as a standalone for $14.99 across PC, PS4, and Xbox One, or included at no extra cost in the Far Cry 6 Season Pass — doesn’t really do anything we haven’t seen before from Blood Dragon. And while that would be fine for some fans, many of whom have a soft spot for this zany cyber-heart-chucking mini-open-world adventure, I think it’s safe to say that many players were hoping for more than a “functional” re-release. The biggest setbacks? Sluggish aiming and 30 frames per second.

I thought I could handle that fine over time, but it’s low-key unpleasant.

After playing long enough on PS4 Pro to get through the tongue-in-cheek tutorials, sneak past some Blood Dragons, and take the first garrison, I wasn’t as acclimated to the frame rate as I thought I’d be. To be clear, I’m not a 60fps purist by any means — I just greatly prefer it. In this particular case, there’s something about the dark environments, vibrant neon, and not-smooth-enough motion that’s blending together in a bad-feeling way.

The cybernetic wackiness is still there, the pixel-art cutscenes are still ridiculous, and the shotgun is still badass. I dig the sense of progression, and it’s fun to become overpowered knowing that you can full-clear the island in a weekend. Classic Edition’s visual fidelity is more or less fine — I’m not asking for 4K or anything — but the aiming feels… chunky.

It’s a shame! When I recently reviewed the Far Cry 6 DLC Vaas: Insanity, a roguelike romp that looks fresh, feels challenging in ways that Far Cry 6 wasn’t, and doesn’t bite off more than it can chew, I was reminded of Blood Dragon. Back in the day, it was pretty special. As it stands today, I wouldn’t pick it up standalone, and you may just be better off sticking to the Vaas DLC (and the other villain stories) if you’re on the hook for the season pass.

I’m sure some players will fare better with Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition than I did, but I’m honestly bummed. Blood Dragon is nostalgic for a lot of Far Cry fans, and given the timing here (reminder: the original game came out in 2013!), this should’ve been properly updated for the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 generation. As is, it’s a way to revisit the game without any extra fanfare. My fond memories far exceed our current reality.

If you’ve got $15 to burn, go with Vaas: Insanity instead. Trust me.