I’m happy to report that taking down murderous thugs is just as fun in rural America as it is in the Himalayas, and Far Cry 5 is yet another great entry in the open-world series that Ubisoft knows how to have fun with. While it may be playing a familiar tune, the mix of combat, physics, and wildlife systems creates unexpected moments of intense and hilarious action.

Rural America may not offer the same level of exotic flair as a tropical island or remote mountains, but the open-world map of fictional Hope County, Montana, is packed with so much to discover and so much happening at any given time that it’s easy to get distracted from the mission at hand. And that’s not a complaint—I like games with big possibilities. The diverse terrain, including mountains, valleys, plains, forests, rivers, lakes, and caves, ensures that there’s never a dull moment.

While the scenery and characters might not look as polished as those in Assassin’s Creed Origins, Far Cry 5 is still a great-looking game. The Far Cry formula remains addictive, but there’s a certain level of familiarity to it. The tasks you’re assigned, the weapons at your disposal, and the supernatural dream sequences are all similar to what we’ve seen in Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4. As a result, there aren’t many surprises in those areas.

That said, it’s still a blast to play, and the brutal combat remains satisfying. However, Far Cry 5 doesn’t feel like a major step forward. Some will wish to destroy everything we’ve built here, while others will betray us.

Our main villain this time is Joseph C., a zealot leader. He’s a formidable threat, but his acts of terror haven’t had the same impact on me as Vaas or Pagan Min from the previous games. Joseph C. doesn’t have particularly memorable lines, and his motivations for wanting to end the world are a bit murky. That said, his story does take a surprising turn, making this open-world adventure worth seeing through to completion.

While your character, the unnamed sheriff’s deputy, remains silent, Far Cry 5 offers a nice change in that, for the first time in the series, you can choose between a male and female protagonist and do some light customization. However, for a series as over-the-top as Far Cry, the customization options feel a bit conservative.

One major change in Far Cry 5 is the structure of the main quest. To reach Joseph C., you first need to eliminate his three siblings. The ability to tackle the three different areas and bosses in any order gives Hope County a true open-world feel. Of the four main bosses, Faith C.—the only female—is probably the most interesting. She uses a drug called Bliss to induce hallucinations in her victims, and those sequences are some of the most visually striking moments in the game. Still, none of these leaders are likely to be remembered the way Far Cry 3’s creepy Vaas still is today.

Another key change is that, while Far Cry has always been about playing as a one-man army, Far Cry 5 lets you spend less time alone than in previous games. There are many more NPC allies to meet, and they’re all well-written and likable. “Now, I always keep my word. So, if you need a pilot who can shoot the tail off a gopher from 50 feet in the air, I’m your gal.”

Then there’s the “Gun for Hire” system, which adds companionship when you’re not playing in co-op, as well as new combat possibilities. You can recruit nine different specialists to assist with air support, sniper duties, or even animal companions. It’s another way to customize your experience and stir up some fun chaos.

The game also offers plenty of ways to get airborne. Unlike in Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4, planes and helicopters are plentiful in Hope County. It’s a joy to order a helicopter and take a scenic route to your next destination.

The entire story can be played cooperatively with a real-world friend, and that’s when Far Cry 5 reaches another level of craziness. Two players can generate double the chaos, and it’s an absolute blast to tear through Montana with a buddy, leaving destruction in your wake.

Then there’s Far Cry Arcade, a new mode separate from the campaign where you can create your own levels. It’s designed to keep you playing long after finishing the campaign, but in its current state, it’s a bit disappointing if you want to play rather than create. The editing tools are quite detailed, and you can design different mission types, but creating something worthwhile will take time, patience, and a solid grasp of level design. As such, much of the content available in Far Cry Arcade right now is either boring or nonsensical. There’s even a level called Resident Evil 7, which recreates the mansion from the horror game, but all you do is walk around the outside of the building. The potential for more interesting content is there, but it will depend on dedicated, skilled creators.

Far Cry 5 is another vast playground packed with everything you need to cause total chaos—loads of enemies, allies, wildlife, and explosions. Amid the mayhem, it still manages to tell a serious story with solid characters and a powerful ending, even though it doesn’t quite match the most memorable entries in the series.

The successful shift from exotic locales to America’s backyard has me excited to see where the Far Cry formula goes next.