When you convert a popular game series from PC to console, you're going to run into a number of hurdles. That's really a given in the game industry. It's one thing to translate a game that used the keyboard and mouse as its primary controls and convert it into something that would fit like second nature on a controller. But you've also got the design of the game itself. Some newer titles out there were designed with higher video cards and processors in mind, and to cram that kind of power into an already-existent console...well, try to think of it as trying to pack an arcade machine into the trunk of a Hyundai. Mostly, it can't be done. Starcraft 64 ring a bell?

However, on occasion, a company gets it right. Earlier this year, Activision and Vicarious Visions rightfully proved us wrong by giving us a near-perfect rendition of Doom 3 on the Xbox. Now leave it to Ubisoft to surprise the hell out of us, with a first-person title that's a must-have in every library that's dedicated to the Xbox's best. Far Cry Instincts is that damn good.

The title's seen some skepticism since its introduction last year. When Ubi showed the game off at E3 2004, the build was rather horrendous and most people scoffed at it, feeling that the title would never live up to the reputation of its big brother on the PC. But then came E3 2005 and people saw its newest build, and the faithless began to become the faithful. The game was looking much more promising, and Ubisoft wasn't done yet with pouring goodness into it. Now, in its final guise, do we see what it has to offer. And it's a LOT.

The game puts you in control of Jack Carver, a down-on-his-luck mercenary who's resorted to take some jobs on the side to get by. He takes a reporter to a remote island, where she scouts out on a jet ski to get some pictures. Shortly after she leaves and Jack nods off to take a nap, he awakens to find his ship flanked by a couple of helicopters, wailing machine gun fire at him. Jack manages to make an escape before his ship is torn to shreds, and soon finds himself allied with a strange voice over the radio, who explains that the island has been overrun with rogue mercenaries. As Jack proceeds throughout the island, he'll not only have to face these threats head-on through a variety of on-foot and vehicular chases, but he'll eventually find a horrifying truth that may explain some of the changes he experiences during his adventure.

These are known as "feral attacks", and they're an addition to the Far Cry formula that mixes up the gameplay rather nicely. The first thing you'll notice upon gaining these powers, after about an hour or so in, is the feral attack, a fierceful lunge that could knock your enemies into the middle of next week, launching them in the air like a frisbee. There's also other new skills that come into play, including a night vision-like power where you can sense heat signatures and the ability to "sniff" out enemies from distances. You can also run faster and jump higher, enhancing your performance as the enemy stays on your tail.

These mix up the traditional first-person gameplay in itself, but the rest of the gameplay holds up on its own. As Jack proceeds, he'll gain access to a number of new weapons that come in handy, including a pair of machine guns, a sniper rifle (for those elegant distance head shots), and a rocket launcher, which will come in handy for taking out larger vehicles and road blocks. They aren't the most fanciful weapons in a game (in fact, most of them are by-the numbers), but they're efficient enough, and you'll need them, as the game contains an A.I. cycle that gets progressively harder.

The enemies aren't the smartest put into a game, but they aren't stupid and won't just walk up to you with a gun drawn as you wait to mow them down. Furthermore, they travel in packs, so if you manage to kill one the wrong way, he'll get off a call for help, and soon you'll find yourself flanked by his buddies. There's also distant snipers that can be a pain in the ass if you're not careful, as well as the occasional twisted foe that's beyond description for this review.

Fortunately, the gameplay also mixes some stealth into the picture, instead of the typical run-and-gun. Sure, you could run up and take your chances in mowing down a group with your machine guns, but there's some pleasure in hiding in some of the game's lush tropical settings, like behind a tree or getting on ground level in the grass, sneaking up on an enemy, and letting loose with a quick stab to the back. You can also set a number of traps, luring enemies into them by throwing a rock at them to get their attention. Some smarter foes may not fall for it right away, but, believe me, there's a satisfaction to be had watching a tree-whip knock an enemy away, like a baseball player would smack away a pitch. It's this kind of thing that keeps the game engaging, along with the "feral attacks".

Another concern for the faithful Far Cry fans was how the graphics would hold up. Well, let's go ahead and get the bad out of the way first. Seeing as this is an Xbox version of the game, the entire island is not loaded up at once. This means that part of the free-roaming element of the game is gone, sticking you instead on a straight-forward path. This may take away some challenge from the hardcore players.

That said, the game looks fantastic. Ubisoft Montreal and Crytek have done some amazing work on the environments, making the island look every bit as tropical as it should and keeping the frame rate at a steady 30 frames per second. Even when you're riding a vehicle, like an ATV or a heavily armed Jeep, the graphic quality remains the same. The animations are excellent and the lighting effects will wow you at some points in the game, like when you're in an underground cavern and walk through some beams of light that shine down on your character. Or when you use lighting to your advantage to hide from a crew of mercs. The loading could've been a little faster, but I won't complain.

As far as audio, Ubisoft has delivered outstanding work. The music, for what's included here, is very moving and keeps the game's pace from dwindling, and the sound effects manage to deliver, particularly the noises coming from some of the unspeakables scattered throughout. Furthermore, the game contains some thorough and sometimes humorous dialogue, and the main character, voiced by Stephen Dorff of Blade and Alone In the Dark fame, is just right in terms of desperation for survival, and not getting too cocky for his own talents. The game sounds terrific, so prep your sound speakers.

But the real pleasure of Far Cry Instincts lies in Ubisoft's recognizance of its most powerful asset- multiplayer. The game can be played off-line via split-screen or online through Xbox Live, and both of these will provide hours of fragging excitement. You've got a number of games that you can choose from, including Chaos, Team Chaos, Steal the Sample (aka Capture the Flag), and Predator, a mode where you rely on your "feral attacks" more than ever. All of these make for suitable play between you and your friends, and should quickly grow to be a favorite.

That's not all, though. Ubisoft was generous enough to also throw in a Map Editor, so you could not only create your own idea of paradise to roam around in, but upload it to Xbox Live to challenge your friends with. The utilization tool that Ubi has provided is wonderful, complete with all sorts of tricks and items to build with so you can actually create your own Fantasy Island...only without the Fantasy. And Tattoo. This feature alone adds plenty of replay value.

If Far Cry Instincts does have a fault, it's probably the way the game's difficulty ramps up and walks right all over you if you aren't careful. This may turn off some rookies who will be begging for an easy mode. But those who stick with it will not only find worthy hours of play in both single player and multiplayer, but new cheat codes that will further enhance their performance, even if they seem a little God-like.

So who needs a PC to do first-person shooting at this point? Doom 3 already proved to be a massive success, and EA and Valve will no doubt turn some heads with their forthcoming conversion of Half Life 2. Inbetween these two is Far Cry Instincts, a game that should find an immediate addition to your library if you're even remotely interested in shooters. Its combination of old and new gameplay elements is just right, and its multiplayer aspects are so enormous they couldn't even fit under a circus tent if they existed in real life. Trust your Instincts and go get this sucker.