Just Cause Review

Another month, yet another GTA clone arrives through the door. The latest, Just Cause, from Eidos and Avalanche Games takes the open-world, free-roaming mechanics to the fictional South American setting of San Esperito, where a CIA black ops agent named Rico Rodriguez must assist in the local uprising against a dictator with a shipment of uranium. The overall premise is a largely clichéd affair, drawing obvious influences from the likes of Robert Rodriguez, to the point of making Rico an absurd pastiche of blockbuster heroes. With heavily stylised (or overly simplistic) cut-scenes, itâ??s hard to take Just Cause too seriously - but then again that may have been Avalancheâ??s intentions.

Away from the setting, Just Cause presents a largely routine GTA styled action experience, with plenty of driving, shooting, collecting items and completing various missions that generally revolve around the activities listed before. Undoubtedly, an action blockbuster, the style behind Just Cause is very much on causing wanton destruction without worrying about the consequences. The auto-targeting combined with Ricoâ??s ability to stand and take it leaves combat in Just Cause highly exaggerated and largely devoid of skill or strategy. The area surrounding an opponent in order to activate the auto-target is ludicrously large on the consoles, making combat a question of aiming in the right direction and holding onto a shoulder button. Because itâ??s so over-the-top, however, Just Cause still manages to excite and entertain, despite the fact youâ??re never really threatened - death typically comes from trying to be a little too clever

With only 25 story missions, Just Cause is a game that is all about that big first bang; it makes an immediate impression, but whether that will last is debateable. Itâ??s possible to run through the game in around six hours with the liberal supply of checkpoints and unthreatening gameplay, and although thereâ??s the customary batch of side missions, the overly routine and bland nature of these rarely leave you with a wish to complete them. Those that you do manage to sit through will unlock safe houses, along with extra firepower, vehicles and armour, although the low challenge of the game makes the reward somewhat questionable.

Unlike many other free-roaming titles that I donâ??t have the time or space to mention, Just Cause does at least aim to simulate the sheer scale of the genreâ??s highlight to date, GTA: San Andreas. The developers claim over 1000 square kilometres make up the islands of San Esperito, and after enjoying the view from several thousand feet above sea level, weâ??re not inclined to argue with them. Luscious jungles, towering mountain ranges, rolling beaches, villages and towns bring a stylish game world to life, even if it lacks any real substance.

Of course, any GTA clone needs something a little different to set itself out from the crowd, which comes from Ricoâ??s absurd repertoire of Hollywood stunts and tricks. Jumping from car rooftops, hanging from the tails of helicopters and free-falling from tens of thousands of feet, is all in a dayâ??s work for a black ops CIA agent. Relatively early in the game Rico gains possession of a grappling hook, which despite bordering close to Bondâ??s gadgets in terms of sheer incredulity, does however, provide a handy tool to get used to when it comes to hijacking a passing helicopter or launching into the air from a moving vehicle. Compared to the overly simplistic combat, mastering the stunts can be a clunky and frustrating aspect of the game. Despite context sensitive hints displayed on the screen it never really becomes natural, you will still find yourself leaping out of a jet fighter or jumping onto the wrong roof frequently throughout the game, never quite remembering which button does what. In many ways, it is welcoming that there is a challenging element of the gameplay, the extreme nature certainly adds something novel and fun compared to the typical GTA offerings.

The first title to come from the Swedish studio, Avalanche Games, Just Cause is a technically accomplished demonstration of the team and the engine that theyâ??ve created. Managing the impossible by creating a game that impresses on both current and next-generation formats (though the PS2 does suffer considerably); San Esperito is a luscious world to stage a game. On the Xbox 360, the tropical setting is brought to life vividly, with saturating sunrays, motion-blur and astounding explosions on an amazing scale. An excellent level of detail technique prevents the usual â??poppingâ?? issue, even when you are falling from several thousand feet above the clouds. The gameâ??s underwater areas are also a visual treat, dispersing the sun rays and the movement of water in a highly believable fashion - if it werenâ??t for all the corrupt cops and drug cartels on your back, youâ??d be forgiven for taking out the time to top up Ricoâ??s tan!

When it looked as though Just Cause might provide one of the more entertaining alternatives in the GTA genre and a respectable first title for Avalanche, it is a shame that the biggest issue is one that the studio could have ironed out. Suffering from the aggravating glitches that typically come from a rushed testing and polishing period, Just Cause is rife with niggles that can have a significant impact on your overall enjoyment. Ranging from gravity defying, but nonetheless entertaining, quirks with the physics engine, the most severe â??glitchâ?? encountered was also one of the most welcome I have ever seen. On a rather opportunistic shortcut around steep cliff faces, the display changed to a heart-sinking black screen. Fearing the notorious three-red-lights and the fourth Xbox 360 to fail in quick succession, the appearance of garbled junk on the screen quickly calmed the pulse like a shot of valium. Unable to see or move, it seemed Rico was nonetheless getting on with the job, unlocking various ranks in quick succession and along with them a series of Xbox 360 Achievements - the easiest GamerScore points I have ever achieved!