Just Cause 2

[Taustin Powers]

I messed around with the demo a little last night.

Technically, it doesn't seem to be the most stunning and polished game - dude was running down an almost vertical mountain (impossible) with the same running animation as on flat ground (looks stupid). The graphics aren't bad, but we've seen much more detailed beautiful landscapes (Uncharteds, Far Cry 2).

BUT (!), I had fun playing it! The grappling hook works pretty well, think Batman AA, but more freedom and flexibility with it than just a few predermined grappling locations. Using it to connect stuff works great, too. I was attaching people to cars, motor bikes to trees, people to each other etc. in no time.

The overall atmosphere reminded me a little of the Mercenaries games. I will await some more reviews (saw a magazine in a store yesterday that gave it an upper 80's score), to see how the main game / storyline turns out. I want to make sure there is enough substance left once the novelty of the grappling hook wears off... ;) But I can see myself having a lot of fun just messing around with the environment, so I might well pick this up at some point.

[MacRumorUser]

Played both 360 & PS3 demos. Both almost identical, slight contrast difference, 360 has motion blur whilst PS3 does not, and the 360 seemed a tad more fluid especially in the opening cutscenes. But all in all an excellent rendition on both platforms for a change.

I thought it was very pretty and certainly an improvement over Just Cause. You have to remember this is an open world game with far bigger area than either Mercenaries or Farcry. It looks like it could be a lot of fun and they have improved the game a lot over it's predecessor which too was a heck of a lot of fun.

Comparing the game to Uncharted2 ? Well that's unfair. Uncharted does not render an entire open world. I doubt it would look any better than JC2 if it did. I personally think it looks better than FarCry 2 and another thing to take into account is that JC2 features jungles, deserts, mountains encased in snow, whereas FarCry's 2 environment was basically the same throughout the entire game. You could not take to the skies and enjoy exotic panoramas in FarCry 2 or Uncharted 2 either. With that taken into account it's amazing to see what they hVe been able to achieve with JC2 and running at a stable in game framerate throughout.

The grapple works as good as a Spiderman game. Nothing more fun than parahuting down, grabbing a helicopter, flying and unleashing a barrage of missiles, the jumping out as the helicopter plows into your enemies whilst you glide down to the ground and just as you do you unleash the grapple hook and land ontop of a motorcycle and ride away :D


I will be buying. It's just FUN. I won't be worried about it's authenticy as this is all about having a blast in a sandbox universe. Worrying about your man running up hill or such is missing the point IMHO.

[Sambo110]

PS3 version fails, if you play the demo from a different region to your PS3, it sucks. To press X, I have to press O and X together, it sucks. I have a Japanese PS3 and got it from the Australian store, never had this problem before. Still, a pretty fun game to muck around it.

[Taustin Powers]

@MRU

It may not look like it at first glimpse, but I think we actually mostly agree about this game. ;)

I do not "worry" about things like running down a straight wall or the animation looking off, it won't ruin a game for me, it's just something I noticed. The main thing is the fun factor, and that was definitely there. I enjoyed it a lot! It will likely be a very fun playground to mess around with....I just want to make sure it has a little more substance and is not just a big grappling hook tech demo. (In which case I would probably still buy it to have fun, but probably half a year later for half the price...)

As for graphics, I think FC2's landscape was done better, but that's just my opinion. I just wasn't blown away by the textures used on the mountains and such. But again, nothing bad, and definitely nothing that takes away from the fun. :)

[MacRumorUser]

PS3 version fails, if you play the demo from a different region to your PS3, it sucks. To press X, I have to press O and X together, it sucks. I have a Japanese PS3 and got it from the Australian store, never had this problem before. Still, a pretty fun game to muck around it.

Thats a strange one ? :confused:

[syndony]

Got it preoredered.

Along with Splinter Cell Convivtion, then.

Next 2 months are gonna be sweet.

Currently playing ME2 the fill in the wait.

It's nice to be a gamer these days.

Even my dear old Wii, is doing well, with SMG2 + M and Z this year.

[Sambo110]

Thats a strange one ? :confused:

Yep, and very annoying. O is select for me, and I can only press O in menus by pressing X and O together, and I can only press O in game. I almost downloaded this for the 360, but decided to wait a day for the PS3 demo. They better fix it in the full game, it's just stupid.

[Taustin Powers]

Yep, and very annoying. O is select for me, and I can only press O in menus by pressing X and O together, and I can only press O in game. I almost downloaded this for the 360, but decided to wait a day for the PS3 demo. They better fix it in the full game, it's just stupid.

Try and get the demo from the US store. It's working on my Euro PS3, no problem.

That said, I have never heard of problems even remotely like that before, it really does sound strange. :confused:

[sikkinixx]

Kinda fun I suppose. Controls feel clunky as hell though. The guns lack good punch and it has Red Faction syndrome (ie. the game simply throws as many baddies as it can render at you until you just run away). I know you have the hook and all but I wanted to climb a la inFamous or Ass Creed rather than have to grapple up 10 feet.

I'll wait until this one is $20 clearance bin special, which feels bad to say but this month is just a little bit crowded what with Battlefield, Final Fantasy, God of War etc.

[Taustin Powers]

I kind of missed some simple climbing mechanics, too. Like jumping up and holding on to a roof and pulling myself up. If I can reach the roof of a little shed with my hands, I shouldn't have to use a grappling hook to get up there. :rolleyes:


EDIT: Played some more today. The controls really seem a little lacking to me. For the shooting parts, I would like some sort of cover system, but I guess I'll be fine without it as well - not a dealbreaker. But the no-climbing thing is really annoying. He is doing all this fantastic acrobatic stuff with his grapple, swinging onto the roofs of moving cars and all...but he can't climb over a freaking 2-meter wall? Really? :confused: I don't expect Assassins Creed-like super mad monkey climbing skills, but the ability to stretch up his arms and pull himself up on a ledge should not be too much to ask?

[Nuck81]

The Demo is a ton of fun, but I'll wait. This will be budget priced in less than two months...

[MacRumorUser]

Ok downloaded pc version on Steam and it's the best version and I can run it max, so add the fact you get Red Faction Guerrila free and it's 15 euro cheaper I have pre-ordered pc version.

[Taustin Powers]

Reviews are trickling in....generally favorable, upper 80's scores.

I might pick this up soon! :)

[spyker3292]

I'm having a ton of fun with this game, it's easy to get distracted. Yesterday I was just going to do *one more mission* when I noticed what looked like another airport on the map. Drove there, messed around, stole a plane, crashed it.... etc. Lots of weird things in the game too... like the Lost island (http://digg.com/gaming_news/Just_Cause_2_LOST_Easter_Egg_HD). I got the PS3 version, which is great. It includes auto-recording, so (once you turn it on) it records the last 30 seconds of gameplay, or you can start a video that's 10 minutes long.

It's quite an improvement over the disappointing Mercenaries 2, too bad it lacks airstrikes :p

[Taustin Powers]

Picked it up today - Collector's Edition for 45€! :)

Shame the weather is way too nice today to play video games...! :rolleyes:

[MacRumorUser]

Ordered it for the PC but has not shipped, so cancelled and just went out and bought the lmtd edition 360 version.

Though mine cost €49.99 :( Taustin Powers stole my mojo!


(also picked up Resonance of Fate).

[ManhattanPrjct]

I played the demo last night - is it just me (or maybe just the fact I had just finished Uncharted 2), or do the controls seem a little clunky?

[Taustin Powers]

Spent some time with it this weekend. It looks very pretty, much better than I thought from the demo. The world is huge, there definitely is some exploring to be done. The few missions I have done were meh, nothing special. The voice acting is laughable...but I like to laugh, so it's fine. :D Honestly, I can't see myself going terribly far with the game's storyline missions, but I will probably be spending a lot of time messing around and blowing stuff up on the island - it's just fun! :)

[MacRumorUser]

^ yeah its certainly b-movie story & dialogue.

Looks really great though and i like how the world is open to you from the off. Hours spent just exploring and trying crazy stuff. Fun...

[2nyRiggz]

I haven't bothered with this game at all...I have so many games I'm playing at the same time that I'm going to miss out on this one and play red dead redemption in its place.

I'll check it out when it goes down in price but I can only handle one sand box game at a time.



Bless

[Dagless]

It's on my to-do list once I'm done with Heart Gold. Does look pretty good but I'm in no rush.

[TheSpaz]

Yeah, the style of this game is not about realism at all. That's why you can run straight up mountains. It's still a heck of a lot of fun though. I was amused by the demo. It runs darn well on the PS3 too... no tearing or anything.

By the way, I read a review about the xBox version and it tears under heavy load.

[spyker3292]

By the way, I read a review about the xBox version and it tears under heavy load.

Ya, I picked up the PS3 version over the 360 one. It's got a 1200mb install, but it's totally worth it. No tearing and it's got Youtube upload (occasionally glitchy, sometimes the menu to enter a name for the video doesn't pop up, and you are kinda screwed... have to quit the game). Having tons of fun :D

[NoSmokingBandit]

I havent had much chance to play it seeing as God of War 3 is taking up all my time, but i've enjoyed the little i did play. The game is quite good looking on my gtx260.

[angelneo]

I have to ask, is this the real accent of this character in this game?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTmyLsSWksM

[MacRumorUser]

360 version has 'minor' tearing, (really hard to notice compared to say resident evil 5), but has 'slightly' better texturing throughout and features better post processing effects (motion blur) and has anti-aliasing too over PS3.

However they are so close that unless you purposely set out to look at the differences between all 3 version as I did, you would be hard pushed to see the differences. Eidos did a great job at creating an 'almost' exact experience on all platforms.

PS3 version has some skipping dialogue in some of the cutscenes but minor problem in all effect as the cut scenes are hardly oscar material.

[Nuck81]

how can you not be endeared to a game with lines delivered in a saucy and gloriously overdone Spanish accent like "if you don't shut your mouth, I will slice of your hands and bitch slap you with them for the rest of the way!!"

[MacRumorUser]

So PC version fully play tested. With a MacPro Octo 2.8, 12GB DDR, 1TB Windows HD, Radeon 4870 1GB.

Running game at 1920x1080, Everything set to high / optimal settings with AA reduced from 4x to 2x the game looks great however the frame-rate is inconsistent. The game will often slug and then spring back to normal.

The extra benefit of higher res is diminished by the flow being interrupted with the framerate. Reduced the game to 1360x768 however it still does the same thing, it runs ok and then slugs here and there and not necessarily when there is a lot going on.

Personally I prefer the 360 version as even though the frame-rate never reaches as high as the PC's it feels more consistent.

PC version also tears if you take V-Sync off.

[Nuck81]

21 hours of play time

24% completion. I could be here a while...

[TheSpaz]

I got this game. I haven't even been doing the missions, I've just been messing around. Way too much fun blowing stuff up. Haha.

[TheSpaz]

This happened tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsAWHW7TsF0

Funny!

[Taustin Powers]

I'll see how long this one will actually last for me. At some point, it seems I'm starting to exhaust all the grappling/tethering possibilities, and then I am not sure what will be left. The story doesn't interest me much so far. The world is big and varied....but all the different places don't really "play" different, it seems. It's the same handful of civilian and soldier character models everywhere, and they all behave the same.

It's definitely fun, but I can see myself trading it back in after a few months...


P.S.: I may also STILL be grumpy that the guy cannot freaking CLIMB!

[TheSpaz]

I'll see how long this one will actually last for me. At some point, it seems I'm starting to exhaust all the grappling/tethering possibilities, and then I am not sure what will be left. The story doesn't interest me much so far. The world is big and varied....but all the different places don't really "play" different, it seems. It's the same handful of civilian and soldier character models everywhere, and they all behave the same.

It's definitely fun, but I can see myself trading it back in after a few months...


P.S.: I may also STILL be grumpy that the guy cannot freaking CLIMB!

Yeah, it frustrates me too that I can't simply climb onto a chest-high deck or something. Too bad it's not as intuitive as Uncharted but with a grappling hook and parachute.

[MacRumorUser]

Yeah climbing is cumbersome alright. Especially given the nature of exploration that is supposedly encouraged. A little reward for spending 15-20 minutes clambering and grappling up a mountain would be nice too rther than just 'the view'....

[chomomo]

This happened tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsAWHW7TsF0

Funny!

Nice ONE!.. had me ROLFing hard.... Played the demo, and really liked it. This video sealed the deal.

[NoSmokingBandit]

I actually managed to spend a good bit of time with Just Cause 2 today. The map is massive and gorgeous, but the missions just seem incredibly dull. They should have spent less time making tons of wasteland between towns and more time spicing up the objectives.

[Sleazy E]

I have had this game sitting in my console and I keep forgetting to play it. the game just didn't start off that interesting to me. the open world aspect is pretty jaw dropping but everything else seems pretty cheesy so far from game play to the really bad cut-scenes. Glad I got this for free.

[wttheninja]

Well I got it for the 360. I have may have done all but 4 missions so far. I have probably 24 hours of gametime so far. The island is so big and I just love exploring it. Plus the "Lost" island reference is great! and the hatch in the jungle on that island!!

[whooleytoo]

Kinda fun I suppose. Controls feel clunky as hell though. The guns lack good punch and it has Red Faction syndrome (ie. the game simply throws as many baddies as it can render at you until you just run away). I know you have the hook and all but I wanted to climb a la inFamous or Ass Creed rather than have to grapple up 10 feet.


:p

I just picked up this game last weekend, and my feelings were exactly the same. It's very similar to Red Faction Guerilla in gameplay; and the firefights are equally frustrating: "Fight until you die, or decide to run away". There's no real sense of satisfaction in that.

And the lack of any ability to climb is annoying. Some times you have to take a few steps back from a short wall in order to be able to grapple over it.

I thought most of the vehicles' handling are fairly poor; which means a lot of the races aren't much fun. I spent 10 minutes on one race alone, nearly made it to the end until the soldiers started shooting at me and blew up my car - and there's no "Restart race" option. You can Extract back to the race start (if you remember where!).

A lot of the missions are very repetitive, as are the mission briefings.

The game world is very big, and beautiful; but there just isn't much interesting to do, IMO. The collectibles are bland (you have 179 of 1000 weapons upgrades) as opposed to finding unique weapons or weapons parts.

I'll still play it, of course. Too much fun not to. :)

[whooleytoo]

Just finished this game last night... Oh dear lord... Probably the first game that would have been better WITHOUT the main storyline; just free roaming around. :p