| Just Cause | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Avalanche Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos
Interactive Valve Corporation (steam) |
| Engine | Avalanche |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | EU September 22, 2006 NA September 27, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: M PEGI: 16+ |
| Media | DVD, Steam download |
| System requirements | See System Requirements |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
Just Cause is a third-person sandbox video game developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released on September 22, 2006 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 in Europe. It arrived to North America on September 27, 2006. The fictional area explored during the game is described as being over 250,000 acres (1,012 km2; 391 sq mi) in size, with 21 story missions and over 300 side missions to complete.[1] As of April 23rd 2009, it has sold more than 1 million copies.
A sequel to the game developed by Avalanche Studios and Eidos Interactive and published by Square Enix titled, Just Cause 2, will be released in 2010.[2]
Contents |
Just Cause is set on a fictional Caribbean tropical island called "San Esperito", where the player works as CIA black ops agent Rico Rodriguez in a guerrilla war to overthrow San Esperito's dictator, Salvador Mendoza, who may be in possession of weapons of mass destruction.[3] The game draws its premise (and name) from the real-life United States invasion of Panama, code-named "Operation Just Cause", which involved United States military action to overthrow military leader Manuel Noriega.
Rodriguez has been described by developers as being "the child of one thousand comic books and action movies peoples. He is James Bond, Mad Max, Jason Bourne, El Mariachi, Wolverine, Punisher, Rambo, Tony Montana and Han Solo, Che Guevara all rolled into one. With a touch of Enrique Iglesias to top it all off!".[4]
The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, with a large, open world environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, swimming, and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can take control of a variety of vehicles, including cars, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and motorcycles. Players can also perform stunts with their cars in which they can stand on the roof and jump to another car, or choose to open their parachute while still in motion on the roof. Other key features of the game include skydiving, base jumping, and parasailing (by latching onto a moving car while one's parachute is deployed).
The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game, players can complete them at their own leisure. When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam. However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities.
The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions, for example, liberating a village or taking over a drug cartel hideout. These are generally (as indicated by most critics) quite repetitive but are necessary to gain points with certain factions.
A demo of the Xbox 360 game was released on August 24, 2006 on Xbox Live Marketplace. The PC demo followed in a premiere release at GameSpot.[5]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Game Informer | 7.25/10 |
| IGN | 6.8/10 |
| Official Xbox Magazine | 8.5/10 |
Just Cause received mixed reviews on release, with the average score varying by platform, from around 68% (PlayStation 2 version) to 76% (PC version).[6]
In an online review, IGN gave Just Cause a score of 6.8 out of 10. They noted that the gameplay lacked depth and that the side quests are boring and repetitive.[7] However, IGN UK awarded the game a score of 8.8, and the Official Xbox Magazine UK gave Just Cause a score of 9 out of 10, praising it for "varied, consistent, imaginative gameplay".[8]
The game suffers from its share of bug-related issues though, as noted by many reviewers, who feel the game may have been "rushed" to market without sufficient time to fix certain problems.[9] The PlayStation 2 version, in particular, suffers from a number of 'game-killing' bugs that render certain missions impossible to complete, or the entire game unplayable until it is reset. As of 2009, more than three years after the game's release, Eidos has not released a patch for the PC or Xbox 360 versions of the game.
GamerNode rated the game 6.7 out of 10,[10] while GameBrite gave it 51%.[11]
PC Gamer (UK) rated the game an 85% must buy (PCG 167). PC Gamer US rated it 93% in their December 2006 issue.
The Xbox 360 version was well received, scoring 9/10 in Play Magazine (US) and 360 Gamer Magazine UK. The 360 version also stayed on top of the Xbox 360 sales chart in the UK for three weeks in a row. [12]
The minimum requirements of Just Cause (PC version):
The recommended requirements of Just Cause:
UK, August 10, 2009 - Eidos Interactive's Just Cause is set to become a movie, according to trade paper Variety. Producer Adrian Askarieh, who also set up the Hitman and Kane & Lynch films, has landed the rights to the game, although the property is with a studio yet. Variety has the developers describing Rodriguez as a mix of Bourne, Bond, Wolverine Rambo and apparently a "touch of Enrique Iglesias." Askarieh is looking for around $30m in independent financing for the project, and is also now searching for acting talent.[13]
   | E3 06: Just Cause First Look - E3 06: Just Cause First Look - Xbox Previews at GameSpot |
| | Just Cause Interview - Just Cause Interview for Xbox - VideoGamer.com |
| | Just Cause demo - Just Cause for PC Downloads - Just Cause Downloads - Just Cause Demos |
| | Just Cause Hands-on - IGN: Just Cause Preview |
| | Just Cause Review - IGN: Just Cause Review |
| | Just Cause (Xbox 360) - IGN: Just Cause |
| | Just Cause Review - Just Cause Review - Page 1 // Xbox 360 /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More |
| | Just Cause (Xbox 360) - IGN: Just Cause Review |
| | ''Just Cause Review'' - Just Cause Microsoft Xbox 360 Video Game Review by AceGamez |
| | ''Just Cause Review'' - Review : Just Cause [Xbox 360] - from GamePro.com |
| | PC Demo - Just Cause on PC - GameDaily |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
