Just Cause 2 Updated Hands-On
That’s how one of the delightfully absurd story cinematics went in our most recent hands-on demo of this open-world action game. It’s heartening to see that the storytelling is every bit as eccentric as the gameplay because what we’ve seen so far suggests a sandbox game designed for the type of players who’d rather go off and create their own mayhem than stick to a rigidly designed story mission. It’s over-the-top action where hijacking vehicles often takes a backseat to BASE jumping from mountains or slingshotting into the air with a parachute and grapple hook.
This latest demo was among the most improbable yet. We started on a lush, tropical beach; hopped into an attack helicopter; and flew all the way up to a military base perched atop snowy mountain cliffs. Our task was simple: Destroy four vent stations, rescue a person of interest, and try like hell not to die. Just Cause 2 affords you the usual armory of submachine guns, grenades, and jeeps (which, if you drive like us, can certainly be considered weapons). But the real fun of this game lies in the creative combinations of weapons and tools. For example: You might launch yourself into the air with a grapple hook, open your parachute to begin floating effortlessly, and use your rocket launcher to unleash chaos without leaving the friendly skies. You can get even more creative and use your grapple hook to attach a vehicle to a helicopter then fling it into enemy strongholds like the most expensive wrecking ball ever.
