Editor’s Note: A fifth of the way through of our twenty-five most anticipated games of 2012 now. After culminating a comprehensive list of the confirmed games for next year, the MediaKick team voted on the games they are most looking forward to for next year, and after processing the results through a methodical algorithm we’re here to bring you the results. Taking a closer look at both what we know so far and why the team are excited for each game, we’ll have an article at midday everyday until Christmas – when we’ll reveal our most anticipated game of 2012. Be sure to check out the previous games so far if you haven’t already - #25, #24, #23, #22.

It’s amazing what a good initial trailer can do isn’t it. Since it’s reveal at E3 we’ve had next to nothing on Far Cry 3, yet it still manages to leave a lasting mark on our team. To be fair though, it’s not hard to see why. The trailer was glistening in appearance, gritty in content and showcased the theme for the upcoming threequel brilliantly. Stepping into the shoes of Jason Brody, players will inhabit a tropical island, albeit totally alone. At the edge of the earth, you’ll be in a “savage paradise”, a land without rules or laws, requiring you to slash, sneak, detonate and shoot your way across the island.

And boy, doesn’t it look fantastic, the visual appearance is striking with copious amounts of greenery, immediately allowing Far Cry 3 to stand out amongst a genre defined by it’s grey and brownness. It was certainly something that grabbed Rob’s attention:

“The promise of returning to the lush tropical surrounds of Far Cry is something not to be missed. The environment, characters and unique interactions set out in the E3 gameplay bring something new to the FPS table which looks unmissable.”

He’s not wrong, the focus on a narrative-driven experience is something that Ubisoft have stated all along. Players will confront a darker side on humanity, all too obvious in the demo given at E3, with plenty of horrors and corruption afoot on the island.

Ryan, as someone who has played Far Cry games before, is “intrigued ” by the gameplay and hopes they retain the sense of fun found throughout:

“I have played Far Cry Instincts: Evolution and Far Cry 2 and, while they’re not the greatest games to have ever graced consoles, I thought they were great fun (except for the poxy guard posts in FC2, damn they were annoying). The gameplay shown so far has me intrigued in how it’ll play; whether we’ll see the return of a massive open world or whether we’re likely to see a more arcade shooter with the introduction of a points system. Plus, it looks totally badass when you stab a guy in the chest and then use the same knife and throw it at a guy’s face.”

Interestingly, the variety in gameplay is something that was showcased via an alternative E3 video, set in the same location as the first take, but this time, utilising a different set of tactics. With an environment “rich with opportunities” Ubisoft aim to use the locale as a tool for survival, improvising your attacks or deception of the enemy.

“Aside from the E3 trailer, we’ve had little in the way of tantalising information so far but I’m still quite excited,” said Harry.

“Far Cry 2 was a great game that could have been the best game of this generation, and I can only hope that the potential Far Cry 2 had is realised in Far Cry 3. While it is an FPS game (and we’ve had our fair share of those the past few years) the open-world gameplay and the stylisation of the franchise is a ‘far cry’ (har har) from the linear shoot-the-bad-guys-and-win FPS games we’re used to now, and I welcome the opportunity to step into an even better game than Far Cry 2 to soak up a rich atmosphere and reap the benefits of the RPG side of things. Give us something fantastic, Ubisoft.”

That seems to be what it boils down to, we want Far Cry 3 to flourish with the potential that Far Cry 2 brought to the table. With varying combat styles, a potentially gripping atmosphere and plot, and a quite stunning visual presentation, Far Cry 3 is certainly on its way to doing so next year.