Could Someone explain the twist at the end of Far Cry 2?

Question

I've finally completed Far Cry 2.

One of the final missions involves me going to pick up a case of diamonds for the Jackal. When I get there, I find all my old buddies there waiting to gun me down.

• why do all my buddies suddenly betray me?
• how come all my buddies from act 1 have come back from the dead?
• why have they come back from the dead just to screw me over?

I couldn't find any explaination for this anywhere in the game.

Answer 1

Your act 1 buddies aren't really dead, they are classified as 'Missing' if you look at your buddy information.

Jackal gave you a suitcase of diamonds to bribe the border guards so the refugees could escape. Your buddies betray you because they want the diamonds to pay for their own escape out of Bowa-Seko.

Answer 2

Firstly, why do all my buddies suddenly betray me?

They are mercenaries. Meaning, that they will betray anybody for the right amount of money.
The facts and lifestyle in Africa, show that most of the people living there are trapped, REALLY unselfish or up for quick cash (I of course mean the problematic part of Africa and not the safe regions like the South Africa).

Like the saying goes: TIA, bru!

"This is Africa", - meaning go with the flow/don't expect anything to run on schedule/enjoy life. Slang phrase. Appears in Blood Diamond (film) as well. There is also the film So This Is Africa, as well as the hit song "T.I.A." by Somali-born Canadian hip-hop artist and activist K'naan.

Secondly, how come all my buddies from act 1 have come back from the dead?

They are actually not dead, but MIA. I agree with you, that this part was extremely weird. The plot problems, referring to the final mission has been mentioned in most of the Far Cry 2 reviews.

Thirdly, why have they come back from the dead just to screw me over?

The writers probably wanted you to feel the TIA effect. So you would understand, how your best buds can betray you for the right rewards.. This actually is a valuable knowledge in IRL.
If you get the point, what the writers of the game wanted to make with the final mission. Then you can see, that there really aren't any alternatives to do so.. They couldn't make some random people betray you.. only the ones, who you "trusted".

If you really wish to understand, what Far Cry 2 is about, then you probably want to read the novels.

Answer 3

Your buddies are waiting to gun you down because they need those diamonds to pay for their freedom. There is no other way to leave that part of Africa.

Answer 4

See, its a game after all. But still, You can complete the game without killing even one buddy:--

Do this near the betrayal part:- When the friend starts talking to you (before they attack together)... don't listen. Just run and grab the briefcase and start running towards your 45* forward-left...

You can escape the area with the diamonds, and without killing any buddy at all. I have completed the game this way.