Just Cause Review (Xbox 360)

Just Cause Review (Xbox 360)

Navneet Prakash, Nov 04, 2006 1341 hrs IST

This Avalanche Studios title is an over the top (literally) 3rd person shooter that will keep you hooked for hours.

Good visuals, Certain innovative gameplay elements, A good package with long hours of gameplay, Stunts are very enjoyable, No loading time while roaming around the island.

Poor gun combat, Plain story, Several gameplay elements are borrowed.

Expert Rating :

Expert Review

It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's a man on a parachute hooked on to a jeep

Actually that sums up the whole gameplay, but its execution is far more complex. Rico is equipped with a parachute which he is able to pop and close whenever he likes. This makes him a force to recon with, as he can easily escape any given situation. He is a daredevil and can drive anything with wheels, faster than anyone else. The gameplay of JC is free roaming which means GTA styled game in lucid lingo. There are no boundaries and no rules; you can go anywhere, anytime.

The game is mission based, so you will have to complete the mission to proceed in the story. There are around 300 side missions as well that translate into many hours of gameplay. The game starts with you jumping out of a plane, as you reach the island to help your friend. You can easily glide through the air and enjoy the beautiful island. The developers have done a good job on Rico and his adventures through the air; it's very well executed. Flying through the air can be a whole lot of fun, and you should enjoy it as that's what you will be doing in most parts of the game. The basic aspect is that you can hook yourself onto cars and Para-Glide, while gunning down horde after horde of dumb islanders.

Although the game packs a lot of action, it isn't the best you would have played. There are a lot of guns, as well as a lot of exploding entities, but I guess it just doesn't have enough impact. In simple words it's more of a GTA than a Max Payne, so if you liked the way Tony or CJ used their side arms you will love the game's action. There are many guns and all of them can be collected or bought at your base camp. The base camp is where you stack your guns and vehicles; it's also the place from where you can buy new stuff for yourself. The gun combat is mediocre, so don't be surprised if you ride more than you slaughter. There are many side missions which are like CTF, and at the same time you will be earning respect by taking care of local gangs. Too many elements from too many games put together, that's what I feel.