JUST CAUSE 2
DEVELOPER: Avalanche
FORMAT: XBOX 360
AGE RESTRICTION: 18
RATING: ****
Just cause is defined as "a reasonable or lawful cause to take action". So when a cruel dictator threatens the stability of the world, you've got your just cause right there. Now the only sticking point is what course of action to take.
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The world's superpowers are pretty predictable in this regard, swarming across enemy lands in super-sized army detatchments, blowing up everything they see. But in video games, all you really need is one guy. In Just Cause 2, your modern Rambo is none other than Rico Rodriguez. With the amount of destruction he wreaks, it's no wonder he works alone.
Rico is employed by The Agency, a shadowy Big Brother-type corporation with the world in its hands. It charters a big plane and send Rico off to the fictional island of Panau, in south-east Asia, to sort out this mess.
The bad boys never see him coming and that's because he's jetting in from on high. Using a parachute to glide into hostile territory, Rico comes armed with the element of surprise. Once he's made his entrance, he's also pretty adept at staying out of sight. This is mainly thanks to a trusty grapple hook that allows him to scamper out of harm's way while he contemplates a route to his objective. But once the formalities are out of the way, our man lets loose on everything he sees. Saving the world is one thing, but there's no just cause in some of Rico's actions, other than it being cool to blow up installations.
Anyway, the game rewards you well for stomping through the grey areas of international law enforcement. Aside from being a dab hand at demolitions, Rico also seeks out allies in the underworld, sourcing weapons and vehicles on the black market.
Along the way, he racks up a pretty decent body count, but shooting can be a pain, and not just for his enemies. The targeting system is a little awkward, and very much hit-and-miss. The grapple hook makes for a trustier companion. With it, you can drag snipers off their perch, reel in absent-minded guards, or drag unfortunate officers behind your speeding vehicle. The latter course of action underlines the game's strongest point: the ability to seamlessly link various daredevil activities in a manner only your imagination would permit. The possibilities are really endless - there are acres of terrain to explore, tons of vehicles to helm (including a Boeing 737), and legions of baddies ripe for the picking.
Just Cause 2 allies this sandbox-mode approach to the action with dazzling cinematic sequences, but ultimately, it's an uneven game. The gun play is limited, there's no recourse for cover other than diving out of the way (peculiar, considering the games' stealthy nature), and the plot is wafer-thin. So, while you may get plenty of joy in letting Rico loose on his surrounds, there's a distinct lack of tension in the action.