Distributed by
Square Enix

Regular: Special Editions: Price: £49.99 (Xbox 360, PS3); Players: 1 Widescreen: Yes SDTV: 60Hz: Yes (only) HDTV: 720p/1080i/1080p Dolby Digital 5.1 sound: Yes Xbox Live content: Game content downloads Vote and comment on this game: View Comments Share Just Cause 2, this time sees Agency Agent Rico Rodriguez having to eliminate an oppressive dictator called Baby Panay on the fictional island of Republic of Panau, South East Asia. Couldn't they just put Robert Mugabe in there and nickname him "Monkey-faced Hiter-tache"? Anyway, you've also got to work with three criminal gangs on the island to track down rogue agent Tom Sheldon who went disappearing during the regime change there. Find him and bump him off. As the game begins, while on the plane flying in, you're attacked and some packages of memory cards fall to the ground, not to mention your mate, Marshall, who's been shot. However, he's got your PDA with important info that you need about the baddie you're after, so you have to begin by throwing yourself out of the plane and catching up with your dead friend before he hits the ground, and also giving you enough time to pull your parachute!! This is all very easy, actually, as the last segments are done for you, so this is just a quick way to intersperse you into the game. Early on your also have to, ahem, get to grips with your grappling hook, which will help you leap tall buildings with... several single bounces. In fact, that bit does get rather confusing as while jumping about doing this, even though it looks very cool, your guy suddenly produces a huge parachute when you don't really want it to do so. It's odd that, to start with, I don't have a gun so I have to eliminate the guards by throwing my hook at them and trying to chuck 'em over the cliff edge - usually only resulting in ME going over the edge. It's even more odd that I can't punch their lights out. That said, when you get used to it, it's gun to grapple-hook them towards you and then shoot them in the face. The grappling hook also allows you to tether items together. It's a bit of a faff to get it to work first off, but it can be worked on and does come in handy when required. I got a good workout from the second hardest level in this game, which is for experienced gamers but not for the insane. I also had to attempt most levels several times but that's all part of the fun as you never tire of blowing stuff up spectacularly! On that note, you can create chaos by blowing stuff up big-time and earning points for it. Also, as you'd expect there's loads of bonus items to collect, this time being resource items and weapon parts, and as you progress, you'll unlock new missions, vehicles, weapons and control it all from your PDA after the intro missions.

Both the graphics and sound are outstanding. I played this in HD and there's not much you can say other than it's crisp, clear, colourful and action-packed with no slow-down whatsoever - just check the gameplay video. The sound is kick-ass from start to finish. I only got to play the original game briefly, but apparently this sequel contains much-improved AI, with the baddies using the environment more to their advantage when it comes to avoiding being shot at - and this shows; your cross-hair now has more control to it so baddies can have damage done to them limb-by-limb; there are new weapons including a rocket launcher with laser-controlled rockets, a one-handed grenade launcher, remote-triggered C4, and a detachable mounted mini-gun; and of all the new vehicles in the game, would you believe you can now take control of a Boeing 737?! Jesus! Unfortunately, as there's no 50Hz option in which to play this game, I cannot record the footage, so take a look at the link below with the extended gameplay trailer. Outstanding stuff! Good stuff: You can dual-wield shotguns which is great. Sabotage each area and cause chaos by blowing stuff up! Not only can you take charge of jeeps, boats and 100 other vehicles, but you can even grapple-hook onto helicopters and take them over, generally by pressing three buttons in sequences as dictated on screen. As well as helicopters, when being chased by cars you can jump from one to another to dispatch of the baddies and then get back to your guy. It's great fun to stunt-jump onto another car, then watch as the first one careers off down a ravine! Graphics are colourful, fast and fluid. It has a GTA-style feel to it, in terms of the sandbox style of game when choosing, and getting to, your next mission. It's pretty easy to find where you're going as pointers always direct you to your next objective. It has a massive playing area. I even went climbing some extraordinarily high mountains at one point as I didn't realise I was supposed to take a jeep which I'd initally failed to turn round and spot. Not-so-good stuff: I keep accidentally 'parachuting' from everything when I think I'm going to be jumping out of a car, because it does take a while to get to grips with it all! :) It's so easy to run out of bullets, and you don't always spot where more are if you're rushing past a place in a vehicle. The levels and tasks can get a bit repetitive.

Just Cause 2: Gameplay Trailer There's also a Special Limited Edition of this game, which contains the following items, although it's understood that the extra in-game content will soon be available as paid-for downloadable content. That said, the retail price is still the same even if Amazon are charging nearly a tenner extra for the limited versions: Just Cause 2 game Exclusive limited edition packaging Black Market Chaos Pack Fold-out Panauan Intel Map Black Market Chaos Pack: Agency Hovercraft - The ultimate in amphibious transport, the Agency Hovercraft is the most flexible form of transport in the game. Equipped with a turret-mounted grenade launcher, you're guaranteed to blow your opposition out of the water. Rico's Signature Gun - Customised by the Agency and adapted for Rico's shooting style, this deadly accurate and powerful pistol has precision, power and flair. Bull's Eye Assault Rifle - More powerful than the standard assault rifle, this lightweight and lethal automatic rifle features increased accuracy and a higher magnification scope. Chevalier Classic - No agent should be without a hot set of wheels and with an increased top speed and superior handling, you can arrive at your destination in style or make a guaranteed quick getaway. Chaos Parachute - Featuring a skull motif, make an entrance no one will forget... should you leave anyone alive to remember

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Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2010.