Just Cause

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

AceGamez

Those magnificent occasions when you're hovering at 2,000 feet above the ground on your parachute actually justifies playing it through.

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.

GameSpot

Just Cause is able to justify its relative brevity and disrespect for physical law with some extremely visceral and often satisfying action.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.