Besides missions, there are a slew of various outposts and locations to discover, usually under control by the pirate invaders. Your world map is constantly obscured by fog, but by climbing radio towers and fixing them, you can reveal various locations nearby. There's a main set of missions to follow, which lead Jason on an exotic journey through tribal territories, beautiful scenery, and plenty of perilous cliffsides. Because of this, you'll spend a decent amount of time exploring the island, gearing up and improving your skills.
As Jason Brody, you're not exactly a super soldier just a college-aged kid who finds himself in a bad situation. Like other Far Cry games, Far Cry 3 is all about giving the player a slew of options when approaching various combat opportunities.