Wikipedia

Just Cause(video game)

Just Causeis a 2006 third-personaction-adventure gameset in anopen worldenvironment. It is developed bySwedishdeveloperAvalanche Studiosand published byEidos Interactive,and is the first game in theJust Causeseries.It was released forMicrosoft Windows,PlayStation 2,Xbox,andXbox 360.The area explored during the game is described as being over 1,024 km2(395 sq mi) in size,[citation needed]with 21 story missions and over 300 side missions to complete.[1]As of 23 April 2009, it has sold more than one million copies.[2]

Just Cause
Box art, featuring Rico Rodriguez
Developer(s)Avalanche Studios
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive
Director(s)Christofer Sundberg
Linus Blomberg
Stefan Ljungqvist
Producer(s)Fredrik Sjöö
Designer(s)Magnus Nedfors
Programmer(s)Andreas Thorsen
Sara Roos
Fredrik Lönn
Artist(s)Johan Carlberg
Conny Bergqvist
Mats Bergström
Svante Danielsson
Staffan Norling
Timo Väisänen
Vidar Rapp
Writer(s)Odd Ahlgren
Matthew J. Costello
Neil Richards
Composer(s)Rob Lord
SeriesJust Cause
Platform(s)
Release
  • EU:22 September 2006
  • NA:27 September 2006
  • AU:29 September 2006
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, with a large,open worldenvironment in which to move. 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, includingcars,boats,aircraft,helicopters,andmotorcycles.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 theirparachutewhile still in motion on the roof. Other key features of the game include skydiving, base jumping, and parasailing (by latching onto a moving car or boat 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 roam freely. However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities.

The player can partake in a variety of optional side missions, for example, liberating a village or taking over a drug cartel hideout. These are necessary to gain points with certain factions.[citation needed]

Plot

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Just Causebegins in 2006[3]with Rico Rodriguez, an operative for an organization known only as the "Agency", being dropped into aCaribbeanislandnation called San Esperito to link up with his mentor and Agency superior, Tom Sheldon, and help him overthrow San Esperito'sdictator,President Salvador Mendoza, whom the Agency believes to be in possession ofweapons of mass destruction.[4]After his arrival, Rico meets up with Sheldon and fellow agent Maria Kane, and they ally themselves with aguerrillagroup and the Rioja drug cartel staging a rebellion against both Mendoza and the Montanodrug cartel,which has exploited the corruption of the regime to expand its operations throughout San Esperito. Most of the game focuses on Rico's efforts to dismantle Mendoza's regime, eliminate the Black Hand mercenaries hired to oppress the people of San Esperito, and fight back against the cartels. Rico can also assist in the liberation of various territories to further destabilize the government's rule over the island.

Eventually, Sheldon discovers that Mendoza does, indeed, have control of WMDs, and with San Esperito lost to his control, the president is forced to retreat to his private island just off the mainland. To stop him from using the weapons, Sheldon and Kane fly Rico to the island, causing Mendoza to attempt an escape by jet. However, Rico boards the jet and kills Mendoza and his remaining bodyguards, ending his reign over the islands and allowing the Agency to secure the WMDs.[5]

Development

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The game was in development for 3 years.[6]

Reception

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The PC version ofJust Causereceived "generally favourable reviews", while the rest of the console versions received "mixed or average" reviews, according to thereview aggregationwebsiteMetacritic.[30][31][32][33]In Japan, where the Xbox 360 version was ported for release under the nameJust Cause: Viva Revolutionand published byElectronic Artson 8 November 2007,Famitsugave it a score of 31 out of 40, whileFamitsu Xbox 360gave it a score of one seven, one eight, one nine, and one eight for a total of 32 out of 40.[10]

IGNnoted that the gameplay of the same console version lacked depth and that the side quests are boring and repetitive.[23]The game suffers from its share ofbug-related issues though, as noted by many reviewers, who felt 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. Eidos had not released a patch for the PC or Xbox 360 versions of the game.

The Timesgave the game all five stars and said, "Fans of the Nintendo SNES classicPilotwingswill literally jump at the chance to parachute from any of the aircraft for spectacular views of the vast landscape below. There is bound to be a sequel, because this original is so good. "[29]Edgegave the Xbox 360 version seven out of ten and said, "For all its quirks, the overriding impression ofJust Causeis favourable. There's an almost childish enthusiasm at work here – and an unparalleled sense of freedom that can be enjoyed just as easily as it can be criticised. "[34]However, 411Mania gave the same console version 6.5 out of 10 and called it "a fun game but only a must-own by a wide stretch of the imagination."[35]The Sydney Morning Heraldgave the game three stars out of five and said, "Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes asGrand Theft Autoand others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun. "[29]

The Xbox 360 version stayed on top of the Xbox 360 sales chart in the UK for three weeks in a row.[36]

Legacy

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A sequel to the game developed by Avalanche Studios, published by Eidos Interactive and distributed bySquare Enix,titledJust Cause 2,was released in March 2010.[37]Just Cause 3was revealed in November 2014 and released in December 2015.[38][39]Just Cause 4was released for Windows,PlayStation 4,andXbox Onein December 2018.[40]Afree-to-playspinoff entry forAndroidandiOStitledJust Cause Mobilewassoft launchedin November 2021 in select countries before being canceled ahead of its official release in July 2023.[41][42]As of June 2022, a fifth installment in the franchise is currently in development.[43]

References

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  1. ^Douglass C. Perry (22 August 2006)."Just Cause Hands-on".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2018.Retrieved4 July2018.
  2. ^"Corporate Strategy Meeting"(PDF).Square Enix.22 April 2009.Archived(PDF)from the original on 6 November 2015.Retrieved4 July2018.
  3. ^The Just Cause instruction manual clearly states that the game begins on April 20, 2006.
  4. ^Ricardo Torres (26 April 2006)."E3 06: Just Cause First Look".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  5. ^"Just Cause: Special Vehicle FAQ".GamersHell.14 May 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2013.Retrieved22 November2013.
  6. ^Killa, Thrills (7 July 2006)."Just Cause Interview".Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2007.Retrieved14 September2023.
  7. ^"Just Cause".Computer Games Magazine.January 2007. p. 72.
  8. ^abcEGM staff (November 2006). "Just Cause (PS2, Xbox, X360)".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 209. Ziff Davis.
  9. ^abKristan Reed (25 September 2006)."Just Cause (Xbox 360)".Eurogamer.Gamer Network.Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2020.Retrieved4 July2018.
  10. ^abc"ジャストコーズ 〜ビバ・レボリューション〜 [Xbox 360]".Famitsu(in Japanese).Enterbrain.Retrieved4 July2018.
  11. ^abcdJeremy Zoss (October 2006)."Just Cause".Game Informer.No. 162.GameStop.p. 93. Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2008.Retrieved4 July2018.
  12. ^Mr. Marbles (25 September 2006)."Review: Just Cause (X360)".GamePro.IDG Entertainment.Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2006.Retrieved5 July2018.
  13. ^abcRyan Davis (21 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (PC, Xbox, X360)".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2020.Retrieved4 July2018.
  14. ^Ryan Davis (21 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (PS2)".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2020.Retrieved4 July2018.
  15. ^Justin Leeper (21 September 2006)."GameSpy: Just Cause (X360)".GameSpy.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 13 February 2021.Retrieved5 July2018.
  16. ^"Just Cause Review (X360)".GameTrailers.Viacom.2 October 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2008.Retrieved5 July2018.
  17. ^John Wrentmore (23 October 2006)."Just Cause - XB - Review".GameZone.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2008.Retrieved5 July2018.
  18. ^Louis Bedigian (9 October 2006)."Just Cause - 360 - Review".GameZone.Archivedfrom the original on 17 May 2008.Retrieved5 July2018.
  19. ^Erik Brudvig (26 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (PC)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2015.Retrieved4 July2018.
  20. ^Erik Brudvig (18 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (PS2)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  21. ^Erik Brudvig (18 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (Xbox)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 6 December 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  22. ^Matt Wales (18 September 2006)."Just Cause [UK] Review (X360)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 8 December 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  23. ^abErik Brudvig (18 September 2006)."Just Cause Review (X360)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  24. ^"Just Cause".Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.Ziff Davis. November 2006. p. 117.
  25. ^"Just Cause (Xbox)".Official Xbox Magazine.Future US.December 2006. p. 84.
  26. ^"Just Cause (X360)".Official Xbox Magazine.Future US. November 2006. p. 72.
  27. ^"Just Cause".PC Gamer.Vol. 13, no. 12. Future US. December 2006. p. 52.
  28. ^abcdEliot Fish (7 October 2006)."Just Cause".The Sydney Morning Herald.Fairfax Media.Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2018.Retrieved4 July2018.
  29. ^abcdefTim Wapshott (23 September 2006)."Just Cause".The Times.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2006.Retrieved4 July2018.(subscription required)
  30. ^ab"Just Cause for PC Reviews".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2020.Retrieved4 July2018.
  31. ^ab"Just Cause for PlayStation 2 Reviews".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2020.Retrieved4 July2018.
  32. ^ab"Just Cause for Xbox Reviews".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2019.Retrieved4 July2018.
  33. ^ab"Just Cause for Xbox 360 Reviews".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 11 October 2015.Retrieved4 July2018.
  34. ^Edge staff (November 2006). "Just Cause (X360)".Edge.No. 168.Future plc.p. 82.
  35. ^Chris McCarver (9 October 2006)."Just Cause (Xbox 360) Review".411Mania.Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2006.Retrieved4 July2018.
  36. ^"TOP 20 MICROSOFT XBOX 360 (FULL PRICE), WEEK ENDING 30 September 2006".Chart-Track.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.
  37. ^Faylor, Chris (24 November 2009)."Just Cause 2Release Date Announced ".Shacknews.Retrieved16 July2024.
  38. ^Mahardy, Mike (11 November 2014)."New Details onJust Cause 3s Open World ".IGN.Retrieved17 July2024.
  39. ^Matulef, Jeffrey (16 June 2015)."Just Cause 3release date confirmed for December ".Eurogamer.Retrieved16 July2024.
  40. ^Fogel, Stefanie (10 June 2018)."'Just Cause 4' Is Coming Out Dec. 4 ".Variety.Retrieved17 July2024.
  41. ^Meena, Sumant (18 November 2021)."Just Cause Mobile has soft-launched in Singapore and Malaysia on Android".Pocket Gamer.Retrieved17 July2024.
  42. ^Morris, Iwan (3 July 2023)."Just Cause Mobile to be discontinued ahead of official release".Pocket Gamer.Retrieved17 July2024.
  43. ^Bains, Callum (7 June 2022)."Just Cause 5is in development ".TechRadar.Retrieved17 July2024.
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