WeView: Just Cause 2

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.

Just hanging off a helicopter, as you do.

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.