Just Cause Review

By Kristan Reed Published 25 September, 2006

Unfinished sympathy.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Sometimes things just promise to be awful lot better than they turn out. Take Lost, for example. It has all the ingredients to become the best TV show ever made, and certainly starts off that way. With a great premise and solid cast, it has hints of greatness throughout, yet somehow the writers keep conspiring to screw it up by endlessly padding things out, changing their minds and stringing us along into believing that something mind blowing is going to happen any time soon - just tune in next week to find out. Or not. Whether it's blind optimism or the lack of anything better to watch that keeps you going whenever the show enters its periodic phases of losing the plot, it's hard to say. But by the end of season two, you'll wonder where your life went, and how long they can keep this drip feed water torture farce going before we all find something better to watch.

You go through similar peaks and troughs playing Just Cause. It starts off like it's going to be the be one of the most insanely brilliant action games ever made, as if the spirit of James Bond had been injected into an awesomely ambitious openworld adventure. But somewhere down the line developers Avalanche either ran out of time, or just ran out of inspiration to make the whole thing click the way it should have. Either way, you're subjected to some truly brilliant ideas that quickly become drowned out by some of the most pointless padding in a videogame ever seen. By the end of the 59th identical side quest, you'll question your own sanity.

Nevertheless, with ambition aplenty, Just Cause grabs hold of you immediately; it's a joyous manic pop thrill videogame with the bare-faced audacity to start the game by chucking you out of a moving aircraft and leaving you to get on with it. You first act in the game is to decide whether to pull the ripcord and casually parachute to safety, or plummet amusingly to your doom. If the former is your chosen course of action, you can either sail merrily to safety, or come to the realisation that shortly before impact that you can actually 'surf' on the top of any passing vehicle, pull out the driver and commandeer it. Excellent start.

It's Rico time

'Just Cause' Screenshot 1

The sense of scale in the game is unrivalled, but it's all in vain.

And when we say 'vehicle' we mean you can actually parachute into any vehicle in the entire game, be it a car, van, motorbike, industrial digger, chopper, or passenger airline. It really doesn't discriminate, for you are Rico, casual stuntman-cum-all-round gun-toting Latino action hero - a man who rather makes every other videogame hero look a bit lame by comparison. And being the Most Ridiculous Game Character Ever, you have the wondrous ability to subsequently abandon your vehicle in a couple of different ways. The first is the typical 'leap of doom' GTA-style, while the other is rather more spectacular, and involves going into what's known as 'stunt' mode. With the press of a button, you can go from tearing along at speed to standing on the top of a moving car, or hanging on the back-end of a chopper. From there, you then have the chance to effectively leap from one nearby vehicle to another, roof to roof - again, able to then kick out the driver and carry on in one swift motion. It's great fun to begin with, just gooning about doing insane things that no other videogame has attempted before.

Moving through the 21 story missions requires a fair bit of gratuitous craziness too, often involving tailing some guy, stunt-jumping into his own car, throwing him onto the road at high speed and proceeding to run him over in reverse. Repeatedly. It sounds fun, but the novelty value soon wears off by virtue of being way too easy to pull off - by the time you've done similar things a half dozen times, it just becomes the norm. A few missions in you even gain the hilarious ability to grapple any moving vehicle (including helicopters if you can aim) and then paraglide behind them. Entirely ridiculous, but good fun for a while. But to its detriment, the game peaks too soon, throwing all the high-octane fun at you in one concentrated dose then repeating the formula.

Being a sandbox adventure set in a politically unstable Caribbean island environment, you can probably guess that you end up working for some corrupt souls that want to take various drug cartels down a peg or two, and eventually raise their sights to the Government itself. But being Rico, literally no job is too big, and you'll quickly take the slaughter of entire armies in your stride - and in fact the side missions effectively task you with doing just that if you can be bothered.

Forgive me, for I have sinned

'Just Cause' Screenshot 2

Well that backfired.

Gunrunning is one thing you expect from the beginning, but it's also one of the game's weaknesses. Although you rather expect the early missions (like busting someone out of prison) to be a little on the unchallenging side, much of the perfunctory nature of the combat persists right to the very end - largely thanks to a ridiculously forgiving auto-target system and the general weakness of every enemy in the game, along with a recharging health system that makes dying a lot harder than you'd imagine.

As a result, all you have to do to succeed in most missions is to vaguely wave your cursor near an enemy, wait for the autoaim to kick in, fire less than a handful of bullets while zigzagging around and repeat to fade. Frankly, anyone even vaguely skilled in videogaming will be laughing out loud at how completely basic the whole affair is from top to bottom. With enemies that seem completely devoid of any AI to speak of, and barely any hit points to keep them on the screen for more than a few seconds, you're just a lead-spitting killing machine who's practically invulnerable to everything - including, believe it or not, carpet bombing from passing aircraft.

Admittedly, it's not always easy going in some of the latter missions. One (roughly halfway through the game) tasks you with planting devices on rooftops, but makes it almost impossible to fly there thanks to some unerring air defences. If anything ever holds you up in Just Cause, it's the simple contrary fact that once you're detected flying into enemy territory, their response is incredibly swift, and deadly to the point of instant death. Overcoming such trifling matters involves traversing long distances on foot, where almost no amount of enemy destruction will be able to stop you thanks to the ludicrous recharging health system. Even when two choppers are on your tail and firing relentlessly over several kilometres, they won't ever be able to take you down so long as you're running. Get into a vehicle of any description (including tanks), and you'll almost certainly be blown up in seconds - not to mention rammed off the road by a posse of kamikaze lunatics - but run along defenceless and you'll be fine because you are the recharging man of steel. How very odd. It's like Avalanche didn't have time to work out the game balancing, so instead of fixing the over-arching problem, just threw the inexplicable infinite health fudge and got the game out.

Just ice me

And the more time you spend with Just Cause, the more these inexplicable design decisions come to the fore. After the incredibly brief story missions are over with (just 21 - meaning about 7 hours or so is enough to polish it off), it seems like you may have only scratched the surface of what you can do. After all, look at how many side missions there are - there are 112 basic side quests (usually drive to point A, kill B, drive to drop-off point C), 13 collect missions (where you must trawl around to where the blue dots are on the minimap to pick up X of Y), nine checkpoint 'race' missions, and various other missions that see you liberating a territory from the clutches of the government or a rival gang. Although most of these are standard sandbox-style extras, the thing that grates is how little variety there is between them, and after ten or fifteen of them, you'll well and truly have had enough of doing the same thing over and over. The two different types of Liberation missions, for example, are almost always exactly the same every single time. Kill one wave of enemies, destroy their blockade, kill the next wave, destroy the second blockade, and so on until the end of the third wave when it deigns to let you capture their flag. As mildly diverting as this is the first few times, you might find it a little dull after the sixth, never mind the 135th.

If you do carry out the various non-story missions, you do get handsomely rewarded in theory - that being the theory of the design document. By effectively gaining respect with the Guerrillas and the Rioja drug cartel for liberating the individual territories that constitute all 34 provinces within San Esperito, you eventually get rewarded with promotion through the ranks. In turn, you end up with a better selection of vehicles and weaponry to access at the game's various safe houses, which often come in extremely useful elsewhere - or at least in theory they do. In truth, we got through the entire story campaign without gaining a single upgrade this way, instead battling through with whatever the 'agency' threw our way. Only after we finished the story did we go back and plough another 10 or so hours into the extra stuff, but after doing the same thing about 100 times, we'd lost any incentive to carry on at all, beyond scraping a few more hard-earned gamerscore points for the 'achievement' of having completed all the collect missions, or something ludicrous like 50 side missions. So although, yes, you gain easier access to things like big meaty choppers that can fire missiles - as soon as you realise that they're just as susceptible to anti-air defences, it brings you back down to Earth in more ways than one. In simple terms, the upgrades are a waste of time.

Just as completely inexplicable is how vast Just Cause is, for absolutely no discernible reason other than they could. Measuring somewhat larger than even San Andreas, this vast expanse is certainly a fine technical achievement, but proves to be nothing more than an empty boast once you start exploring and realise there's nothing remotely worth finding. Everything you need to locate is documented on the map already (even the secrets), and getting there is pretty straightforward as soon as you've earned the little helicopter. In what proves to be an excellent design decision, you can call for a heavy vehicle drop whenever you're not being attacked - meaning that if ever you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, you can simply request either a boat, car, jeep or mini chopper and be on your way. Better still, if you're tired of travelling by conventional means, you can call for extraction and be piloted direct to the start of a mission or to any of the unlocked safe houses in the game. Such an idea definitely scores Just Cause extra marks, but it's entirely necessary too, because otherwise you'd spend absolutely hours making completely pointless journeys across San Esperito.

Merciful

'Just Cause' Screenshot 3

Even Spider-Man can't do this.

Thankfully, Avalanche didn't see fit to waste any more time trying to shoehorn in some kind of pointless multiplayer mode just out of obligation. Frankly, like so many games, it definitely doesn't need one, and we're grateful for its absence to be honest.

And yet after such a topsy-turvy review, there's actually a lot of good stuff to say about Just Cause. Technically it's often stunning, with absolutely marvellous vegetation, zero pop-up, rock solid frame rate, nice explosions and a decent engine underpinning the whole thing. But then it occasionally lets itself down too, with horrible graphical glitches appearing more often than is strictly acceptable, bugs that cause certain missions not to cue properly - things that are serious enough to require restarting the entire game. Less of an issue, and more down to personal preference is the slightly uninspired art style, some unfinished animation transitions (where, for example, Rico reacts inappropriately when knocked back, or when falling, and so on) slightly iffy handling, and some plainly odd interactions with the world - such as the ability to run like the Bionic Man through dense vegetation like it's not even there, or the super athletic ability to run up near-vertical inclines at the same speed as flat land. It's stuff that's evidently designed to make the game feel more fun and you can see why they did it, but at the same time it feels like yet another corner-cutting fudge.

One area where Just Cause could have redeemed itself would have been to come up with a meaningful, involving or even satirical storyline to carry the rest of the game. But as it is, what little narrative that does make it into the game (and there isn't much, in truth) is uninspired, uninvolving, lacking in depth or explanation as to who Rico is or why he's doing all this mad stuff, and just not very interesting. When it comes down to it, you're just killing some guy because someone told you to, but at no stage do you remotely care why. It's not enough, really.

Just do it

'Just Cause' Screenshot 4

Yes, it's got motorbikes in it.

Even the audio smacks of being rushed through to meet a deadline. At times there are some absolutely cracking tunes that really help drive the action, but they constantly reappear to the point that you'll pine for some sort of variety. That's the thing about sandbox games - you need the radio station approach to get over the amount of time you're expected to play them, and Just Cause doesn't even make a cursory attempt to mimic this idea. And while we're yakking on about audio, the whole Latino thing gets very tiresome very quickly. Just as Saints Row gets irritating with its macho gangster bullshit, it's a similar deal in Just Cause, only less varied and less of a potty-mouthed attitude.

If you did an edited showreel of Just Cause, you could easily make it look like one of the most essential games of the year, when the truth is some distance from that. It's got some great ideas that make it an easy sell, but despite the promise of this vast world with tons to do, the sad fact is that it feels like a rushed project that had a long way to go. With brainless autoaim combat, forgettable missions and little in the way of challenge, the flash stunts and crazy moves can't hide Just Cause's flaws, and ultimately, rather than being some sort of GTA-beater, it's more of a poor man's Mercenaries, ludicrously padded out with hundreds of entirely worthless side missions that sprawl over uninteresting terrain. That said, with many truly positive elements about the game to look back on, there's every chance Avalanche will be given more time to make a classic next time around.

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wolfblitzer #1 5 years ago

    First!....haha.
    They want how much for this game?

  • Jokerr #2 5 years ago

    /crosses off wanted list

  • Viktor #3 5 years ago

    Well written review, although I would've loved to read about Eurogamer's take on the game's politics :)

    Regarding the game, I played through the story and really liked a couple of the missions. However it's mainly a tech demo and an impressive one at that - maybe Avalanche can hire a few game designers next time?

  • mingster #4 5 years ago

    shame could have been so much more....

    maybe they should license the engine out

  • barchetta #5 5 years ago

    Design meeting...

    "Well, that is an impressively sized play area. But you're not going to fill it with an equally impressive amount to do and explore? Why the huge area then?"

    pause..... "just 'cause we can? It'll look great on the box art."

    /ahem...sorry

    Count me out of this one.

  • Darren #6 5 years ago

    I thought the demo had its fun moments but I decided against buying the full game as I had a feeling it wouldn't be good enough to warrant a purchase at full price, instead intending to pick it up cheap in the post-Christmas sales if it got amazing reviews.

    I've read some mixed reviews to be honest, the UK reviews seem to be generally praising the game giving it 8+ out of 10 (OX360M, 360Gamer, X360, etc.), whereas the American reviews are more sceptical giving lower ratings (IGN, GameSpot). EG's is the lowest I've seen so far but the review echoes a lot of my own feeling from having played the demo; that it's just not good enough to make it a must-buy.

  • space_ace #7 5 years ago

    not as good as boiling point? :) i mean if you *experienced* that one, do you need to bother with this?

  • lambtron #8 5 years ago

    Meh I wish people would just concentrate on making better shorter games. I'd rather play 20 hours of genius than 80 hours of pap.

  • Derblington #9 5 years ago

    Hmmm, I've heard good things about this, mainly from the forum.

    Krudster - Is it much worse than Saints Row (as I really like that at the mo)? Would it be worth picking up to play around with for a few hours here and there?

  • Steroyd #10 5 years ago

    *looks at review*

    /vommits violently

    Oh well looks like i'll have to settle with just GTA:VCS this year. :-(

  • Rambaldi #11 5 years ago

    This is the kind of game that makes my resentment of 'sandbox freedom' all the more cemented. I'm far more impressed by designers who can craft persistenly changing and entertaining linear experiences e.g. Half-Life, Halo, PGR etc.

  • S.J.Rogers #12 5 years ago

    crosses off wanted list

    Will stick with Saints Row.

    Its a shame as this sounded fantastic and i realy wanted it..!

  • Huntcjna #13 5 years ago

    The review is a little over critical of the experience, I put a quite a few hours into this over the weekend and really enjoyed it. I thought the collect missions were great, very simple but I just enjoyed helicoptering my way around the islands and landing at collection points while trying to avoid being blown to pieces by the military defences.

    The thing that really should be noted is the quality of the dynamic weather system the clouds, sun rises and thunderstorms are awe inspiring at times. Oh and the load times are non existent which in itself is a massive achievement considering the visual quality on show and the size of the playing field.

  • X201 #14 5 years ago

    Worth getting at PC prices
    not worth it at console prices

  • kangarootoo #15 5 years ago

    @Darren

    On the issue of good and bad reviews.

    I am always wary of reviews in platform specific publiscations (and it seems your positive examples are just that, whereas the sites you mentioned that gave less favourable reviews are not). ESPECIALLY official publications, which are not much more than creative adverts.

    A magazine that serves one platform has a vested interest in the sucess of that platform, so their reviews have scope for bias (not saying it is always, or even frequently, the case). If an XB magazine slated a lot of XB games, that could weaken the appeal of the console, which may result in less consoles sold, which in turn would reduce the customer base for the magazine.

    I have no basis for this, its all just supposition (except in the case of official magazines, where I feel I have seen enough bias to be legitimately suspicious).


    Anyway, played the demo and sort of liked it (some bits were great), but felt the combat was a bit "I'm just hammering this button and the game takes care of the rest" and generally felt the same as you, that I didn't expect there to be enough there to justify buying the full game.

  • Greebo #16 5 years ago


    I reckon the Xbox version is worth a rental. Graphics aren't in the 360's league obviously, but it still looks good and makes up for it with the lack of load times (God bless hard drives as standard!).

    You could do the main missions in a weekends rental and they're worth a look.

  • Senor_Sanchez #17 5 years ago

    The demo of this was piss poor - does the main character still move like an electrocuted retard?

    Its nicely rendered but thats thanks to Crytek not these guys....

  • PearOfAnguish #18 5 years ago

    Its nicely rendered but thats thanks to Crytek not these guys....

    Why's that then? Avalanche made the game engine, not CryTek.

  • The_Foo_Fighter #19 5 years ago

    The demo really put me off this game anyway. Fees lazy, gimmick-ridden and just dull, really.

  • Phreedh #20 5 years ago

    Both me and my girlfriend were amazed how crap this demo was. It looked like shit, everything felt clunky and weird, there was no feeling of immersion what so ever. Crap it is! 6/10 was way too kind if the demo and game are similar in any way.

  • T4RG4 #21 5 years ago

    I had a feeling this was going to be a let down - Nice on paper, but after playing you realise it was toilet paper all along.

  • kissthestick #22 5 years ago

    was on my list, now off, gamespot and ign wasnt too impressed either

  • Stormflood #23 5 years ago

    I only just saw it was available on PS2 yesterday!

  • Mordum #24 5 years ago

    @Jokerr
    "/crosses off wanted list"

    It's a bit sad if you buy all your games based on other peoples opinions, try it for yourself (rent it) and then decide. For example I've been having plenty of fun playing this game (which of course is the main thing I'm looking for from my games), so my opinion is different from the reviewers. Make up your own mind, and don't base all your purchases on reviews.

  • Crea #25 5 years ago

    I'm really loving the game at the moment, but I have to concede the negative points raised in the review - objectively speaking they are entirely fair.

    If you're wondering about buying this, ask yourself - are you the type of gamer who often overlooks flaws in a title that inspires you in some way? If not, if the occasional glitch or gameplay quirk breaks your immersion, then definitely steer clear.

    But I have to say, flying what seems like miles into the air, before leaping out and skydiving down to the ground (which takes minutes), all the while watching the weather systems below (which include awe inspiring storm clouds where the lighting seems to be 'inside' the cloud, you know the ones), before falling *through* these same clouds - well, that goes a long way towards pushing my buttons. Even with ctrl-C crtl-V mission design...

    And those sunsets...

    Again, can't really disagree with the review, it's all fair. But even though this is an example of fairly poor game design in many ways, it really does do something for me. Guess I'm odd..

  • smelly #26 5 years ago

    >I am always wary of reviews in platform specific publiscations


    This is out on "all major platforms" according to tv advert .. including ps2.

    Which sort of highlights my point about most next gen games being able to run on the wii, they'll just need their graphics cut down to fit on ps2 (like this one has)

    Doesnt stop it being shit though.

    The controls on the pc demo i tried were awful.. Totally unnatural button config!

  • Genji #27 5 years ago

    I disagree strongly with the contents of this review.

    Lost is a GREAT show. The mystery is what keeps me coming back. Kinda like Twin Peaks. The mystery is always more interesting than the solution.

    /reads the rest of the review

  • Zob #28 5 years ago

    ...But Lost is great, Philistines!

  • ram #29 5 years ago

    Lost like Twin Peaks? ah ha ha

    Anyway the game...nice legs shame about the...etc

  • Genji #30 5 years ago

    "Lost like Twin Peaks? ah ha ha"

    It is like Twin Peaks in that the show revolves around a mystery at its core, one that doesn't get completely solved.

  • sharpfish #31 5 years ago

    I agree. 6 is spot on (mostly for technical merit). I remember a while back saying how another game had deserved it's number one spot recently, someone mentioned Just Cause being next. I didn't say anything at the time but I remember thinking "I doubt it"... the demo was fun in small doses but I didn't feel like I needed more. Also I got the feeling it was a technical showcase rather than firstly a game. The problem was, apart from a few small areas, the tech didn't impress me that much. It looked akward and "forced". Far Cry (original on PC) was easily 50x more impressive and that was how many years ago?

    Ok it may get to #1 still because Saints Row did and that was a big pile of XXXX also.

    Now... as I was saying GOW FTW please ;)

  • coojam #32 5 years ago

    I have to admit, it's not often, but I feel EG got this review totally wrong.

    Maybe it comes from having to scrutinise everything in detail, but when you step back and take a look at the game you're playing, I've found it utterly fun and thrilling.

    Theres nothing quite like flying through the clouds to 10,000 feet with the sun setting on the horizon and bombing out, saving yourself with a parachute moments before you hit the ground.

    It's by no means a perfect game; the story is pretty terrible, some of the character models pretty bland (and the cutscenes are pretty damn awful) with hammy acting. It's also no amazingly varied, but this review will put many people off, and this game is damn well worth playing.

    Something not mentioned in the review is the GTA-styled "randomly trash stuff when you don't want to do a mission". This has never been so much fun. Similarly, any "glitches" in this game are just as apparent in the likes of San Andreas and Saint's Row, so go figure.

    I'd heartily recommend this.

  • Shabtai #33 5 years ago

    Can't say i'm surprised. The demo wasn't good.

    I'm too not digging the whole "sandbox" game , everybody is getting hyped just because it's big non-linear world. So far , those kind of games sucked, Boiling Point and now Just Cause.

  • [maven] #34 5 years ago

    I do think Crea put it pretty well, so +1 to that.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/06 @ 11:57

  • Royal Fool #35 5 years ago

    The whack-out physics and crappy controls are what bugged me the most about the demo, along with the whole "invincible hero" thing. I decided then and there that this was going to be pretty lacking as a game.

    Maybe justified as a PC purchase since the price is easier on the wallet but definitely not as a 360 game. What were they thinking?

  • Yossarian #36 5 years ago

    Twin Peaks is a hundred times the show Lost is

  • Tomo #37 5 years ago

    Loving the Massive Attack reference! Keep it up.

    One less game to tempt me to the darkside tho.

  • Zuiyo #38 5 years ago

    I will never spend my time watching Lost.

    I would rather watch Saved by the Bell.

  • Tonka #39 5 years ago

    SPACED > Twin Peaks
    Oranges > Apples

  • newt #40 5 years ago

    I'm too not digging the whole "sandbox" game , everybody is getting hyped just because it's big non-linear world. So far , those kind of games sucked, Boiling Point and now Just Cause.

    Don't forget those sucky GTA games.

    Anyway, spot on review.

  • Greebo #41 5 years ago


    The PS2 version might as well be called 'Just Fog'

  • Fatnick #42 5 years ago

    Have they actually released any screenshots from the PS2 version?

  • Greebo #43 5 years ago


    Yep - I think the American IGN review has some. I'm being a little harsh on it, for the PS2 it looks like a good effort, but can't touch the Xbox/360 for the big views.

  • jlaakso #44 5 years ago

    I wondered why they released the wholly underwhelming demo. I actually thought they had to be confident the finished product was considerably better. Oh well.

  • urban #45 5 years ago

    well i got it for £17 pc version so i'm happy, i enjoyed the demo so there..

  • kangarootoo #46 5 years ago

    @Tonka

    You know, I would agree with about oranges if I didn't give it much thought. But then everytime I have apple juice, I'm a little bit surprised in a good way (the way you pause, look at your apple juice and go "Mmmm";).

    ;)

  • skillian #47 5 years ago

    Can you change controls on the PC version?

    That was the most annoying thing about the demo for me.

  • [maven] #48 5 years ago

    killian: Yes (according to here).

  • skillian #49 5 years ago

    killian: Yes (according to here).

    Nice thanks.

    Someone here called me hillian the other day, what's going on? :/

  • kangarootoo #50 5 years ago

    If you had loads of cash, you might be called a billianaire.

    Ahahahahaha...ahaha...aha...sorry.

  • spaz_knackers #51 5 years ago

    from the screenshots it looks like this game is set in a magical candy world where everything glows..silly.

  • Fatnick #52 5 years ago

    "from the screenshots it looks like this game is set in a magical candy world where everything glows..silly."

    The game allows you to hijack jet fighters in mid air. Silliness is the name of the game.

    Personally, i feel the review is mostly right, although the final score is probably about a point off. Its a shame the developers didn't put more thought into the originality of the missions structure (something at least as deep as aged classsic Midwinter II would have been nice), but overall the overtop nature of the engine and the tremendous extent to which you're able to create your own fun really does save the day. Cars + bulldozer + cliff = wheeee.

    It's also nice that they've taken the time to make this look like a 360 game. Despite the fact it inevitably began life on the PS2.

  • Crashdown #53 5 years ago

    I loved all the freedom of hunting the deck of 52 in mercenaries. If you can do half the mental stuff that i did in that game i would be more than happy

  • Mr_Brown #54 5 years ago

    This game suffered for coming out after Saints Row methinks. If it had Saints Rows on foot engine (with all stunt moves added on) and physics engine this game would have ruled. But thats the difference between rushing a game out and properly finishing a game.

  • DocTep #55 5 years ago

    Ignoring the first paragraph (i'm trying to anyway), from the demo and everything i've seen of this game the review sounds to be spot on. So many potentially interesting ideas, but the developer seems to have got caught up with technical achievements and forgot about the actual game. A pity.


    I have no basis for this, its all just supposition (except in the case of official magazines, where I feel I have seen enough bias to be legitimately suspicious).


    Supposition maybe. Completely correct also, i might add.

    I'll never forget turning to one of the guys from Marketing as a fresh faced 16 year old in his first job and pointing out a really good review of the game i was working on, only for him to ask who had written the review and answer "Oh, yes. It got over 90% right? He always gives us a good review.", followed by a sly smile and a wink. I figured he was either hitting on me or trying to convey something which he felt he couldn't say out loud. ;-) It was the last time i ever bought that mag.

  • Vin #56 5 years ago

    Pah. You want quality tele?

    Watch the Shield or CSI for some PROPER TV.

  • bunnymc #57 5 years ago

    I said IT before and i will say it again, NOTHING WILL EVER COME CLOSE TO GTA

  • Whitestar #58 5 years ago

    I agree with Crea and Coojam.

    I've had much fun playing this game. I also agree with many of the points made in the review, but still it's just fun to play. Especially impressive is flying in a helicopter in first person view. Try flying just above water and under bridges. Wow!
    Or what about taking your plane so high that you fly through all the rain clouds. Suddenly it stops raining as you get above the last cloud layer, and then it's all blue with just you and the sun. Below you can barely se the ground. It's immersed in clouds. Impressive!

    Then what do you do? Well, why not exit the plane and take the fast route to ground. I haven't timed it, but I'm sure I was in the air for at least a minute before coming down. That feeling of swooshing through the air is simply amazing.

    Using the other vehicles is also great fun, especially the motorcycles. Imagine jumping off a bridge or cliff and then, in mid air, use your grappling hook on a boat and start paragliding.

    In my opinion it's all this that makes the game fun to play. The shooting missions aren't that great. Other games do that better. Although some of the missions are fun.

    My hope is that next time we will have an equally huge playfield but also a lot of places to explore. Perhaps even cities with many buildings you can actually enter. Because even as massive as the area is, it feels a bit dead. There aren't really many interesting locations.

    Maybe soon we'll see this kind of graphics in flight sims. Now THAT would really be something.

    So in my book this game is well worth the money. The storyline isn't great, the missions a bit repetitive, but still it's just plain fun to play. :-)

  • SomaticSense #59 5 years ago

    100% agree with the opinion on Lost, every thing the reviewer stated is what I've been trying to explain to Lost 'fans' (read: blind obsessives) for ages. Brilliant first couple of episodes, boring after that. And I hate how whenever there is any suspense being built up, they inexplicably cut to a flashback and then immediately after that more adverts, only to return mid-way through the suspense scene thus totally destroying any actual suspense you may be feeling.

    And to those Lost fans who "love the mystery" - Are you even aware that they are clearly making it up as they go along episode by episode? It's obvious even the producers have no clue as to whats going on as plot constantly change and are even sometimes seemingly forgotten about.
    What happened to explaining why the Polar Bear and the other animals that don't belong in a tropical environment are there? What the hell was the giant smokey tree shaking monster exactly? And why do they constantly have to big up the next episode by showing brief glimpses of action and gun-fights (ie, 'stuff' actually happening), only for the actual action/gun-fight scene to turn out to be a complete damp squip and that STILL nothing actually happens in the entire episode until the cliffhanger at the end and yet MORE false promises involving the next episode? And whenever something does rarely happen, it's predictable as hell (Michael and the baby snatcher for example)
    But most importantly, whats with the adverts RIGHT AFTER THE "PREVIOUSLY ON LOST" SECTION???? Arrrggghhhh!!! Thank you but I've only JUST sat through 5 minutes of ads thank you very much, so you show MORE of them almost immediately after the start of the show!!!! I know that's more CH4's fault, but GOD that's frustrating.

    X-Files was FAR better. And pretty much every major US TV export as well. And to think that this rubbish is getting more accolades than the consistently fantastic 24.
    Believe me, I really want to like it, in fact I feel I should like it because of the premise. But every time I try and give it another go after someone 'yet again' persuades me that it's getting better I'm left frustrated yet again.
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/06 @ 17:35

  • DocTep #60 5 years ago

    Oh please shut up. *Yawn*

  • Darth_Flibble #61 5 years ago

    A mate of mine recommend this game, played the demo a while ago and thought it was a bit crap but he keeps saying its one of those games it gets better when you play it more. Picked up cheap on the 360 and my mate has no taste in games, the skydiving and flying stuff is good but the rest of the game is fucking shit. the missions are boring and painful to play, lots of glitches, dull side missions, animation of the main character is crap and the entire map is boring. It feels like the main creator wanted a tech demo to sky dive etc and put a game around at the last minute

  • piratematt #62 4 years ago

    I am Rico