I’ll be honest right away here, Just Cause 2 is one of the most fun games I’ve ever played. While many games have claimed to give you the creative freedom of a sandbox, Just Cause 2 probably comes the closest to fully realising that aim. It’s not only the sheer level of mayhem you can cause on a whim though, the scale of the world you’re given to play with is hugely impressive as well.
When Alex reviewed the game back in 2010 he was equally impressed, particularly highlighting the way it manages to bring together its disparate elements “into a cohesive, confident (and fun) action game.” Commenting on the game’s sandbox nature he said that “the game’s what you want it to be,” and called Panau “the ultimate sandbox.” I couldn’t agree more.
Probably the greatest tool in your sandbox of chaos is the game’s grappling hook, which allows you to shift around the world with ease, and even assault your enemies if you fancy being hugely entertained when you tug them towards you. Alex found the hook so revolutionary that he proclaimed that “the way a videogame presents the player with a ‘mission’ has now changed, forever,” due to the way the hook allows you to circumvent pretty much any obstacle with enough patience.
Then of course there’s the wonder of the game’s infinite parachute. I have no idea how it works, but then again the laws of physics in general seem to have been a secondary consideration at best in Just Cause 2. I can’t count the number of times the parachute has saved my bacon, or helped me make an aerial assault on a base.
These two tools, along with the possibilities they open up, stop the game becoming “an island based echo of Grand Theft Auto and the… Saints Row series.” Instead they help give the game its own identity, meaning you’re playing it “for the thrill, the explorable, rich environment and the inflated, often ridiculous ego of Rico.”
Ultimately Alex rated the game at 8/10, feeling its only real negative points were some inconsistent visuals and the lack of a co-op mode, something I agree could open up the game even more. Here’s what he had to say in conclusion:
A consistently smart experience, with some neat new ideas and some fantastic twists on familiar genre staples. Fans of the first game will love the second, and anyone that just fancies something different without being too deep will find plenty to enjoy. Avalanche have managed to make the game feel alive with improved AI, plenty of rounded characters and a smooth learning curve assuming you take early advantage of the flexibility of the game’s key element: the grappling hook. Do so, and you’ll have nothing but fun.
So did you “have nothing but fun” with Just Cause 2, or did Rico’s high octane adventure leave you cold? Whether you loved the game’s grappling hook or despised it for its patently ridiculous nature we want to hear what you have to say. All you need to do is drop a comment below, detailing your thoughts on the game.
Once you’ve done that, remember to add a rating for the game from the Buy It, Bargain Bin It, Rent It, Avoid It scale. On Monday we’ll take everyone’s verdicts of the game, mash them up, and hopefully come back with a fair representation of what the community thinks of Just Cause 2.
Taylor Made
Garbage! The game was all over the place, I just didn’t know what I was doing most time.
Rent it
jayboy31
This game is amazing, a massive time drain, you just can’t help having one more go.
It has something for everyone.
BUY IT.
jayboy31
I know this isn’t the place but how do I change my sodding profile pic?
three_leg_jake
Yeah about time, and where did you get that picture of me you are currently using?
Nocure-fd
Gravatar.
deadwelsh
Great game, but a victim of its own achievemnt, the size of the world is immence but takes forever to explore it all. I ended up selling my copy, gutted, might get it from the store now…
Buy it
KeRaSh
I’m really not a fan of sandbox games because the narrative usually has to make way for the open world environment.
Without a gripping story I usually lose interest pretty easily. The exception is when the gameplay is so much fun, that it makes up for all the shortcomings.
Just Cause 2 is one of the few examples where this fits the bill. I haven’t played too much of the story. The missions are pretty fun but the voice acting is horrendous. I’m still not sure if this is intentional. :P
The real fun starts when you just dick around in the huge open world and boy is it worth it.
I’ve literally spent around 10 hours (not in one sitting) just driving a jeep down a very steep cliff with my friend and we’ve had a blast the entire time.
Just Cause 2 just reminds me of a time when videogames were still fun. My verdict is BUY IT!
My dream open world game sequel combo: Just Cause 3 meets Red Faction: Guerilla 2.
cam the man
Not one of my favourite genres but had read some good things about it so decided to give it a go and really enjoyed it.
Buy it.
KittDJW
I really enjoyed it but have yet to finish it.. It’s one of those games for me where I easily get distracted on my way to missions and then just go off to do other things.
Only thing that would have made this better for me would have been a split screen option or full co-op. (Shame current gen consoles couldn’t handle it.) here’s hoping for Just Cause 3. :)
KittDJW
Oh yeah and Buy It! :)
E8_BALL_
Love JC2. I dream someday, we get the same fun packed world, but with an online freeroam element.
E8_BALL_
oops, buy it.
mmm… JC Online, one can dream.
Jakster123x
One of my favourite games of this generation and probably the most fun, and most time, i’ve put into a game on my PS3.
The grappling hook really is a gamechanger, and the beautiful world is a joy to explore.
There is always something to do in this world, besides the fairly enjoyable campaign with hilariously bad voice acting. Within moments of spawning into the world you can instantly be causing chaos with police on your tail before leading them off the edge of a cliff and then parachuting to your safety, firing a rocket launcher at a nearby wind turbine for good measure.
I have never felt so immersed in a world before with the feeling that i really could go anywhere i want, at any time and using any method; plane, boat, grappling hook and parachute. The choice is yours.
I’m not sure i can praise this game enough. Sure, it has its shortcomings, namely the fairly non-existant story, but i would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to have fun in a game by causing as much chaos as possible.
Buy it.
Kamokazi-UK
Even though I got this thru PS+ I managed to get this for 50p from work!