Games
Sony
Microsoft
Nintendo
Other Platforms
Upcoming &
Recent Releases
xx
Aliens in the Attic
xx
Astro Boy: The Video Game
xx
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
xx
Band Hero
xx
Cabela's Outdoor Adventures 2009
xx
Cars Race-O-Rama
xx
DanceDanceRevolution X2
xx
Disney Sing It: Pop Hits
87
DJ Hero
xx
FIFA Soccer 10
50
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
xx
G-Force
xx
Guitar Hero 5
xx
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
xx
Jurassic: The Hunted
xx
Madden NFL 10
70
Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy
xx
Marvel Super Hero Squad
xx
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
xx
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
xx
NBA 2K10
xx
NCAA Football 10
xx
NHL 2K10
xx
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
xx
Rock Band Country Track Pack
xx
Rock Band Metal Track Pack
xx
Scooby-Doo! First Frights
xx
Secret Saturdays: Beasts of The 5th Sun, The
xx
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
xx
SingStar Motown
xx
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
xx
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up
xx
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Just Cause

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 28 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Avalanche Studios
Genre(s): Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: September 26, 2006
Summary
Assume the role of the flamboyant Rico Rodriguez – an undercover CIA operative specializing in regime change - as he tries to overthrow the corrupt government of San Esperito. This rogue South American island is suspected of stockpiling WMDs and it’s your job to negate the threat to world peace. It could be to your advantage that this tropical paradise is about to implode as various factions vie for power – it just needs a gentle nudge in the right direction. Just Cause offers the freedom to tackle your assignment however you want: play the island’s factions off against one another; incite a rebellion among the masses; or build alliances with rebel forces and drug cartels. The game world consists of 1,225 sq. miles of mountains, jungles, beaches, cities and villages which can be explored by land, sea and air. And you will have at your disposal a varied and exciting array of vehicles, planes and watercraft. [Eidos Interactive]
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Times Online
Fans of the Nintendo SNES classic "Pilotwings" will 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.
Read Full Review >PGNx Media
One of those amazingly fun, carefree games and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The action is hectic and breaks every law of physic and though the gameplay isn’t that varied, it’s still quite fun.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
Though the story is short-lived and the rest of the missions are repetitive, the main game is strong enough to rise above the shortcomings to provide enough action-packed thrills and spills to satisfy anyone after a game to just have fun with. [Issue 145, p.70]
Pelit (Finland)
Has a fun, over-the-top attitude and a great looking world to explore. Unfortunately, the missions repeat a pattern and get boring fast. Still, good entertainment in short doses. [Oct 2006]
Cheat Code Central
After you liberate the island and eliminate the dictator, there is simply no other reason to put the disk back in your system. The island looks pretty and there are plenty of attractions to see, but once you spend a little time there, you are ready to leave.
Read Full Review >Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
A jaw-dropping adventure that disappoints slightly thanks to a short central plot padded out with repetitive objectives. [Oct 2006, p.78]
PSM3 Magazine UK
A frustrating mix of the brilliant and the deeply average. [Nov 2006, p.64]
Gaming Age
For the most part, though, Just Cause pulls players along with a promise of bigger and badder weaponry.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
It is a fun game with some cool ideas, just one with its share of problems. If nothing else it tries a few new things, which is more than you can say about many games. [Oct. 2006, p.93]
Gaming Horizon
The early excitement quickly bores, add to that the relatively easy nature of the game and the repetitiveness in general and it results in the fact that Just Cause just doesn’t cut it.
Read Full Review >eToychest
The stunts, however, steal the show, and really elevate the game beyond its limitations. From skydiving and parachuting onto the top of moving vehicles to jumping out of helicopters or launching tow cables at passing cars, Rico can do some things that games haven’t allowed players to do before, and there’s a lot to be said for enabling new frontiers.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
Those magnificent occasions when you're hovering at 2,000 feet above the ground on your parachute actually justifies playing it through.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
The finicky grappling hook controls lack the intuitive ease you'd like from such an integral control element (never mind the fact that you can't hook onto buildings or trees...wha--?). Even by the game's end, I'd still stumble when trying to sling from car to passing helo.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Just Cause is able to justify its relative brevity and disrespect for physical law with some extremely visceral and often satisfying action.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
But why try the rest when you already have the best? Just Cause is competently done, but it fails to put anything truly new on the table, making San Esperito a nice place to visit, but not to live.
Read Full Review >PSX Extreme
Just Cause is fun for a little while, and if you get sucked into the atmosphere and style, you just might finish it. But there are too many pitfalls that routinely impede your enjoyment.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
And the world is huge. If it was more packed with opportunities for us to use those tools and stunts, this could have been a GTA-killer.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.
Read Full Review >PSM Magazine
A few more months and it really could have been something. [Dec. 2006, p.84]
TotalPlayStation
Piss poor visuals and gameplay that doesn't hold up post the double digit hour mark mean this is a game that's not only crippled on the PS2, but rather stunted to begin with.
Read Full Review >IGN
The ugliness of Just Cause on the PS2 also takes a lot away from the experience. If you're going to play Just Cause, you'll want to get it on one of the other platforms.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Do your part and make sure the Just Cause revolucion will not be televised. [Nov. 2006, p.117]
Thunderbolt
Just Cause reeks of wasted potential. The story could have been interesting, but the generic characters and bland execution aren’t endearing in the slightest.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Pete B. gave it an8:
Picked up Just Cause (PS2) off the bargin shelf and glad I did. Graphics could have been better but open-endedness of where to go and how to get there makes up for it a little. Some interesting weapons available too. Wouldn't paid full price for it but worthwhile bargain purchase. Bring on Just Cause 2!
Mike S. gave it a10:
I thought it was fantastic. Great gameplay, great graphics and great sound. What more can you ask for?
Sven S. gave it a9:
Even on PS2 this game is amazing, doesn't look as good as on the 360 but it still is just as fun and isn't that what really counts?
Rod O. gave it a10:
Just Cause is an amaizing game on PS2. Although the graphics on Xbox 360 are better, it has more glitches than on PS2.
Steve W. gave it an8:
Okie this game has its share of problems its graphicly very bad (ps2) and there is alot of glitchy issues like walking through trees and to top it off the shooting element is FAR too easy but that said it has some very original ideas with the grapple hook and parashoot combo that make this game extremely playable not to mention the sheer size of the map with next to no slowdown and no loading times. The main missions are actully quite fun and some are challenging although the side missions are a little boring and repatative. Overall tho there is some laughs to be had at this game intentional or not and when you come across some of the towns in the game you cant help but feel absorbed into the just cause world. Rent or buy? Rent first
Beau G. gave it a0:
Appalling game, GTA wannabee with bad gameplay and graphics.
