After reading a few shaky reviews for this game I was mystified as to how I ended up reviewing a copy of Just Cause. Then I remember having a liquid lunch and being sweet talked to by the editor before doing it. (I won't just review anything you know). The lunch seemed to help as this game at times seems to be have been designed to be played drunk or high. (Kids don’t do drugs.) It really needs the ability to just suspend disbelief as you run around involved in some outrageous action.
Smoke out those Bandito's
Viva la Revolution! Action hero's on holiday!!
The general story seems to have been stolen from the film Once Upon a Time in Mexico your character even looks and sounds like Antonio Banderas. You go round as Rico Rodriguez, American agent, trying to overthrow the corrupt government of San Esperito.
These dictator types, as in most games either wear far too tight and shiny military uniforms or lounge around like drug dealers, surrounded by beautiful women boozing by the pool. Until you come in and spoil the party.
The opening scene of the game throws you straight into action, none of your usual ‘get a feel for the game before anything kicks off’. Not in Just Cause, as you parachute on to the beach, pull out your dual pistols and just start shooting up the bad guys. To be fair it’s not bad for the first 5 minutes of the game, as you feel like you hit the ground running, as a real action hero. The problem with such a start is that basically, the game has nowhere else to go.
The Bond factor, but no fit birds
As a GTA style third person style shooter, Just Cause is a great idea on paper. You have plenty of weapons with which to cause mayhem, a good number of vehicles from motor bikes to helicopters to drive around and a huge island to explore. You can do various stunts, like jumping on the roof of cars, boarding helicopters in flight and generally topping James Bond in your ability to board and fight on fast moving vehicles. The stunts are further augmented by a grappling hook you get that allows you to latch onto vehicles and be pulled along by parachute. The game in no ways tries to justify this craziness, but it’s all good satisfying fun if you’re able to just shrug and let it go. Various missions advance the story of how you help the peoples revolutionary army remove their rulers and while you’d think this would be the ultimate sandbox game, once the novelty (or alcohol) wears off you’re not left with any depth.(And a headache.)
Agents that go AWOL
The gunning and running action remains the same through out the game, and most missions are pretty similar. Kill this guy, steal that thing, except for the odd terrible mission which really falls way below the bar.For example, running into a building stealing a car and dropping it off without killing a single enemy doesn’t really inspire the real action hero in you. Besides the main missions, there are also side stories to occupy your time with, while there are plenty of them, most are just your usual collect something or kill someone, then go to the designated check point. To be honest you could easily play the game without ever having to do a side mission, they add nothing to the main story, and just seem another way of extending the life span of the game.
Dictator seeks: Soldiers who can shoot, please!!
The simplicity of the shooting and combat doesn’t help Just Cause either. Killing enemies is so easy that even if you play the game after a session of afternoon drinking (I think I might have a problem), all you have to do is draw a weapon, run up to an enemy and the auto lock highlights the nearest enemy. All you have to do is pull the trigger and watch them drop like flies. The AI is only average and won’t present much challenge, with the exception of helicopter gun ships. If you’re chased by them on foot they only shoot with machine guns, you can spend all day dodging. (Well, not even dodging as they barely hit you even if you run in a straight line.) But the very moment you step near anything like a vehicle or turret and you get hit by a billion rockets/missiles. It’s overkill and feels ridiculous.
Look Ma, no hands!
Driving vehicles can also be really frustrating, which is a real no-no for this type of game. The controls are simple enough, and fairly responsive, but tap the brake and you can end up spinning out of control. (Like the ship in The Last Star Fighter when it does it’s special attack). Touch a rock at the wrong angle on a bike and you character goes flying without the slightest warning. (He’s not wearing a helmet either, but his long, oily hair probably gives him some kind of protection.)
Drunken car surfing - the latest craze in San Esperito
The game camera can also be annoying when driving, as even the smallest jump throws the camera into stunt mode. Going into stunt mode is a lot of fun in the beginning, but like most things in the game eventually the novelty wears off. There are times when you need to see where you’re actually trying to land.
It's a hiking holiday, oh joy!
The scope of the island in Just Cause, while fun at first can become a bit of a hindrance. Going cross country is fine to begin with but after a while it just takes too long. If you destroy your vehicle it can take ages to find a replacement, which can mean tracking through loads of repetitive jungle. The distance you have to travel between missions means that unless you like driving past endless rows of trees, you’ll find yourself always looking to steal a helicopter, it’s just so much quicker.
Beautiful views and tunes in the sun
The graphics, especially on the 360, look great with beautiful island scenery that makes you wish you were on holiday in the Caribbean. The water effects are particularly good looking, and soaring over the island on the end of your parachute line evokes a real feeling of a lush environment for you below. It’s just a shame that there isn’t enough variety for you once you get back down there. The sound is much as you’d expect with the sound effects being functional, if a bit weak at times.
The music is a bit better, with a Spanish equatorial flavour, meshing electronic beats, classical Spanish guitars and blaring trumpets with the onscreen action to create a heroic feeling when things kick off. The voice work is pretty cheesy but given how that fits the atmosphere with everything else in the game you’ll barely notice or care very much.
Fun filler ?
Overall this game does its job of filling in the release schedule before the big guns come out later in the year. The game is fun to play at first but delve into it further however and it stops being quite so good (bit like a late night donna kebab really). Just Cause becomes repetitive especially towards the end and once the gimmick of the stunt mode loses its shine, you’re left with a distinctly average game.
This game will be enjoyed by most GTA and third person action fans but if your going to spend the money get Saints Row over this, it’s much more fun (Unless your rich then get both, you’ve got nothing to lose.)
Written By Nick 'Skud' Skordis / Sam Bandah
