Just Cause 4: PS4 Review

Just Cause 4: PS4 Review

Released by Square Enix
Developed by Avalanche Studios
Platform: PS4

Just Cause 3 was a blast; a game where logic defied the odds, and where physics was a concept rather than a reality.

But it was also a game that took its action movie roots seriously and progressed the story of revolution via Rico Rodriguez. Above all that it was also fun.

Just Cause 4, somewhat disappointingly, is a case of more of the same. But with a few technical issues marring the actual gameplay as well as new gadgets to tweak

This time, Rodriguez is taking on the Black Hand, a group of mercenaries last seen in the previous episodes as they sweep over Solis, a fictional South American country. But factored in this time to issues within Solis, Rodriguez has to deal with weather problems as well...and a father figure hides in the background

Just Cause 4 has a kernel of a good game within, but developers have over-complicated some of the gadgets in the hope of tweaking the system and improving on what was already done. It's a tough line to negotiate, embrace and enhance the past, but also try something new - and Avalanche don't quite get there.

Rico's trusty grappling hook has the ability to be updated with the chance to launch tethers with balloons on them to hoist people up and cars as well; or thrusters to do much the same. They're nice additions to have but difficult to execute in combat in reality. There's little time to quickly equip them and fire them off unless you plan ahead.

The reality is that Just Cause 4 feels like a progression of the third instalment; the flight abilities with wingsuits and parachutes still work incredibly well, shifting you around the world with speed and panache.

And the open world has potential but the place feels a little empty in places, with large swathes of fields having nothing but combatants within. Bolstering the army of rebels is one of the sole causes of the game, causing regions to be gradually liberated, and squads to push back the Black Hand factions.

It takes a little time to master the map skills, and the upgrade system as well; it's not intuitive and does feel a little over-complicated in parts. Extreme weather is nicely executed, but it's seldom the game-changer you'd be expecting, given the fanfare that comes with it.

Once Just Cause 4 has some of your time, you begin to realise the game's core mechanics are the same they have ever been - destruction is the name of the game still, and Just Cause 4's commitment to OTT set explosive pieces brings the fun that you'd expect.

There's a lot of repetition in the side missions and the main story as well, so you'd be forgiven for simply tooling up Rico and heading out into the world to see what happens - it's never as exciting as you'd expect and the feeling of deja vu is disappointing in some ways.

Ultimately Just Cause 4 does what it says on the tin - nothing more, nothing less.