GAMES: GameSpot | GameFAQs MUSIC: Last.fm | MP3.com MOVIES: Metacritic | Movietome TV: TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

xx Altered Beast
58 Arkanoid Live!
73 Banjo-Tooie
xx Battlefield 1943
76 Battlestations: Pacific
xx Bigs 2, The
70 Bionic Commando
xx Black College Football: The Xperience - The Doug Williams Edition
90 BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
57 Blazing Birds
xx Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island
77 Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
71 CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars
82 Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, The
xx Comix Zone
52 Crystal Defenders
37 Damnation
75 Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, The
xx Droplitz
59 Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires
49 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
61 Fable II: See the Future
82 Fallout 3: Broken Steel
83 Fallout 3: Point Lookout
76 Fallout 3: The Pitt
66 FIFA Soccer 09: Ultimate Team
88 Fight Night Round 4
xx Final Fantasy XI: A Crystalline Prophecy
68 Flock!
65 Fuel
xx G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
xx Garou: Mark Of The Wolves
73 Gel: Set & Match
80 Ghostbusters: The Video Game
65 Godfather II, The
84 Guitar Hero: Metallica
76 Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
xx Gunstar Heroes
xx Hannah Montana: The Movie
69 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
73 Hasbro Family Game Night: Battleship
71 Hasbro Family Game Night: Boggle
74 Hasbro Family Game Night: Connect Four
78 Hasbro Family Game Night: Scrabble
71 Hasbro Family Game Night: Sorry!
xx Hasbro Family Game Night: Sorry! Sliders
78 Hasbro Family Game Night: Yahtzee
xx Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
xx Infernal: Hell's Vengeance
xx King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, The
xx King of Fighters XII, The
25 Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust
76 Lode Runner
79 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
xx Midnight Club: Los Angeles - South Central
63 Monsters vs. Aliens
74 NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition
xx NCAA Football 10
50 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
68 Ninja Blade
79 OutRun Online Arcade
74 Overlord II
89 Peggle
xx Phantasy Star II
xx PopCap Arcade Vol. 2
78 Prototype
76 Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
73 Raiden Fighters Aces
85 Red Faction: Guerrilla
85 Resident Evil 5
57 Resident Evil 5: Versus
70 Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock
82 Rocket Riot
72 Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
xx Saints Row 2: Corporate Warfare
51 Saints Row 2: Ultor Exposed
74 Sam & Max Save the World
70 SBK 09 Superbike World Championship
xx Shinobi
79 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
80 Space Invaders Extreme
53 Star Trek: D-A-C
48 Stormrise
64 Superstars V8 Racing
49 Terminator Salvation
65 Texas Cheat 'Em
82 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
66 Tomb Raider Underworld: Lara's Shadow
64 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
66 Trivial Pursuit
83 UFC 2009 Undisputed
77 Uno Rush
65 Up
56 Velvet Assassin
71 Virtua Tennis 2009
73 Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram
73 Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures Ep 1: Fright of the Bumblebees
62 Wanted: Weapons of Fate
64 Wheelman, The
59 Wolfenstein 3D
81 Worms 2: Armageddon
69 WSC Real 09: World Snooker Championship
71 WWE Legends of Wrestlemania
75 X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Uncaged Edition
64 Yosumin Live
49 Zombie Wranglers

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Just Cause xbox360 Game Reviews
Just Cause
Critic Score
Metascore: 73 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.7 out of 10
based on 57 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 28 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

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]

PUBLISHER: Eidos Interactive
DEVELOPER: Avalanche Studios
GENRE(S): Action
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2006

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...

100
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
100
AceGamez
A gaming triumph and a truly next-generational offering - indeed, it's offering next generation gameplay for PS2 and Xbox owners too, and anyone wanting a taste of where gaming is heading really needs to pick this up now.
Read Full Review
90
Ferrago
The frenetic immediacy of the uprisings and the power of their resulting fire fights is thoroughly entertaining as well as graphically hard hitting - despite the obvious "Far Cry" similarities. The sense of absolute speed when behind the wheel (or controls) of some of the game’s more ‘beefy’ land and sea vehicles is always thrilling.
Read Full Review
90
Play Magazine
No game has ever afforded this level of freedom, and it's simply breathtaking to behold. [Oct. 2006, p.56]
90
360 Gamer Magazine UK
Just Cause is brilliant because every player has the chance to carve their own personality into how they play. Most games have a create-a-character mode – Just Cause has a create-a-video game mode!
Read Full Review
86
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
85
ZTGameDomain
With plenty to see and do and a large variety of ways to cause chaos and mayhem Just Cause will satisfy any gamers appetite for destruction.
Read Full Review
85
GamePro
The sheer capacity of things to do in San Esperito is enormous and usually overwhelming.
Read Full Review
85
Official Xbox Magazine
Fuse together "Grand Theft Auto's" open-ended game world, "Mercenaries" militaristic vibe, "Far Cry's" tropical vistas, and the movie "Desperado's" titular hero, and you got Just Cause in a nutshell. [Nov. 2006, p.72]
83
Games Master UK
A laugh-out-loud, gun toting riot of action. [Nov 2006, p.67]
83
VGPub
A damn good sandbox game that is filled with all types of crazy action, and will provide many hours of satisfaction.
Read Full Review
80
Gaming Target
Stealing cars, shooting bad guys – it’s all pretty familiar stuff at this point, but Just Cause takes the formula and adds in amazing stunts and the freedom to take to the air in a variety of ways. That alone makes this title well worth a look for action fans.
Read Full Review
80
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]
80
games(TM)
Avalanche’s greatest achievement is that it has created an open, vehicle-based videogame that does not feel like GTA in any way, shape or form, be it thematically or mechanically. [Nov 2006, p.110]
80
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
80
Official Xbox Magazine UK
A delicious experience, containing some of the sweetest moments in any console game. The astonishing environment alone is enough reason to give it a shot. However, it's not quite compelling enough as an adventure to make you want to see the set missions through. [Oct 2006, p.82]
Read Full Review
80
X360 Magazine UK
Almost like "GTA" without any of the character. For these short bursts of satisfaction alone this is more than worth getting - however, don't be surprised when you end up switching off halfway through a mission and start praying that "Mercenaries 2" will fill the hole. [Issue # 11, p.80]
79
GameZone
Side missions are extremely repetitive, and with the main quest being kind of short, replay value isn’t as high as you’d expect from such an enormous set of islands.
Read Full Review
78
Digital Entertainment News
Just Cause had potential to be a GTA-style game on par with the GTA series itself. Unfortunately, a short story mode and a lack of much else to do robs this game of its staying power.
Read Full Review
76
GamingTrend
A game that delivers on some promises while completely losing sight of others. The overall gameplay is fun, but a few bugs tend to frustrate the experience.
Read Full Review
76
GameTrailers
It’s often a glitchy and shallow experience, yet you’ll have an absolute blast playing it.
Read Full Review
75
Gaming Age
For the most part, though, Just Cause pulls players along with a promise of bigger and badder weaponry.
Read Full Review
73
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]
72
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
72
IC-Games
The looks, story line and huge amount of missions and freedom that gave this game so much potential are greatly let down because of the glitches, bugs and terrible AI.
Read Full Review
71
Team Xbox
It’s one of those situations where I felt the potential wasn’t close to being met—what looked like it was going to be a big sandbox of exciting jungle warfare quickly revealed itself as a fairly small rubber stamp. Too bad.
Read Full Review
71
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Just Cause does have the qualities of an addictive game, but there isn’t enough substance to keep you interested for very long. And for all its fancy stunts and gun battles, the nannying controls take away the element of skill, making the whole experience feel a bit shallow.
Read Full Review
70
Boomtown
Perhaps it is only the desire to see more of the scope of the world (and hope for more variety) that keeps you going, but when you can count on your fingers the time it takes to finish the story missions, I wonder if my completist attitude will be enough to push me to claim the entire map as my own.
Read Full Review
70
VideoGamer
Just Cause's biggest draw is its huge island setting, but it's also what prevents the game world from feeling truly alive. As much as soaring through the sky in a fighter jet, before freefalling hundreds of feet, and then parachuting to your target destination is great fun, that's pretty much what you do, over and over again.
Read Full Review
70
MS Xbox World
Just Cause simply has too little substance to propel it to great status and I think most gamers will find the flaws adding up to make a tiring gaming experience rather than the fun one it should be. That’s not to say the game isn’t fun, because it is, just not all the time.
Read Full Review
70
RewiredMind
A terrible shame and no mistake. Just a little variation in the missions would have been enough to send the game into the upper echelons of greatness. As it stands, you’re looking at a massive amount of style over not a great deal of substance.
Read Full Review
70
1UP
It doesn't possess the solid competence of a game like Saints Row, but a different setting, new toys, and a gameplay experience that's actually a bit fresh have more than made up the difference.
Read Full Review
70
Total Video Games
Once you look past the clichéd plot, production and associated oddities (where does that parachute go?), there’s a small amount of intense fun to be had with Just Cause. It is a shame that Avalanche didn’t take the absurdity a little further and develop a deliberate sense of humour to the game and Rico Rodriguez, other then the strong suspension of disbelief you will need to get going with the game.
Read Full Review
70
Edge Magazine
For all its quirks, the overriding impression of Just Cause is 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. [Nov 2006, p.82]
70
GamingExcellence
A fun, over-the-top, don’t-think-too-much-about-it kinda game that offers quick flashes of surreal mayhem between moments of quiet exasperation. The main problem is simply that Just Cause doesn’t offer enough diverse content to keep its incredibly large world fun.
Read Full Review
70
Gamezilla!
What really keeps this game from being a success is the issue of length. The main story isn’t particularly long, and though there are side missions to do for either faction, these aren’t nearly as engaging as the story missions.
Read Full Review
70
Gamestyle
If you can look past the bugs, brevity and repetitive nature of Just Cause, there is a lot to enjoy for the action enthusiast: abseiling behind speeding cars, insane parachute drops, massive amounts of gunplay and beautiful graphics to name just a few features.
Read Full Review
70
Deeko
This game is more a sandbox than any other created, and thus the only people who will really be able to enjoy the game are those who have the imagination to make their own fun in a world. For many, this will cause JC to fall into the shadows of "meh", but for creative gamers, it'll be the best sandbox game you will ever own.
Read Full Review
70
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
70
Armchair Empire
Just Cause offer’s some interesting gameplay elements and is definitely worth checking out if you’re into sandbox style gameplay. The only real complaint that can be levied against Just Cause is its lack of depth and polish, which makes it better suited for a rental.
Read Full Review
68
IGN
The lack of depth really comes through once you get more than about 10 hours into the game and the monotony of doing the same side quests over and over takes its toll. After that, it comes down to how much fun you can create by yourself.
Read Full Review
67
Electronic Gaming Monthly
A spectacularly unrealistic collision of "Grand Theft Auto's" swipe-anything-that-moves sensibilities and "Mercenaries'" revolutionary warfare.
Read Full Review
67
GamerNode
Just Cause was filled with a lot of great ideas. It had the potential to be an awesome game, but what comes across as unsurety on the part of the development team really hampers it.
Read Full Review
65
PALGN
On the one hand it provides some unique experiences and some great moments, with a superior sense of speed and exhilaration. On the other, there are too many instances of uninspired design and rushed completion.
Read Full Review
64
Xbox World Australia
It's obvious the game could've used another couple of months in development, and with a more engaging protagonist, perhaps some branching narratives and a vastly overhauled driving experience, Just Cause could have been a real show-stopper.
Read Full Review
64
Kombo
Clipping issues are everywhere, and not comical ones like GTA or Saint's Row. While playing, I've been shot through buildings, implanted in the ground, and stepped through cars.
Read Full Review
60
Thunderbolt
Because of the unrealistic physics, you don’t feel vulnerable. There’s no risk involved running around the jungle wearing only y-fronts with a knife between your teeth, because you’re invulnerable to lengthy drops and those notorious life-enders called bullets. It’s this lack of fear that makes the save system almost neglectable – why bother saving my progress when the missions are all the same? Why bother saving when it’s almost impossible to die?
Read Full Review
60
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
60
Games Radar
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
60
EuroGamer
With brainless autoaim combat, forgettable missions and little in the way of challenge, the flash stunts and crazy moves can't hide Just Cause's flaws, and ultimately, rather than being some sort of "GTA"-beater, it's more of a poor man's "Mercenaries," ludicrously padded out with hundreds of entirely worthless side missions that sprawl over uninteresting terrain.
Read Full Review
60
GameSpy
Offers too little, too late to make an impact on Xbox 360. The stunt aspects may be worth a rental to check out, but "Saints Row" bullies this game around on all fronts -- giving it a wedgie in graphics, a wet willie in physics, and the ol' lead pipe to the kneecaps in terms of side missions.
Read Full Review
60
Planet Xbox 360
Perhaps with a little more time spent on the combat and a longer story, Just Cause could have been a much better title.
Read Full Review
60
Worth Playing
It doesn't come close to living up to the concept. Unexpectedly glitchy, terribly repetitive and incredibly easy, Just Cause might be fun for a rental, but even the most die-hard fans of sandbox games will want to look elsewhere for their fill.
Read Full Review
60
DarkStation
This high-octane actioner perfectly showcases the 360's graphical power, but is sadly hampered by its lack of depth and repetitive missions.
Read Full Review
60
XboxAddict
For a game that tries hard to create a flamboyant image for itself, Just Cause simply lacks the punch and the personality to truly deliver on that front.
Read Full Review
50
NTSC-uk
Fun, then, in moderate doses and more a tantalising promise of things to come rather than an essential early entry in the 360 canon.
Read Full Review
50
GameCritics
As an admirer of all things unusual and unusually entertaining, Rico's bizarre parachute tricks justify the four to six hours it takes to complete the campaign, but once the novelty wears off, there's not much here to merit a second glance that hasn't been done better by other games - mission accomplished, but just barely.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Johan A. gave it a7:
The best part about this game is the way stunts work. Allowing me to drive off a cliff in a burning car, narrowly escape the explosion by jumping to and commandeer a nearby military helicopter all the while the chasing police cars fly by, both plays and looks great. It really makes you feel like a super secret agent. Unfortunately it's not all good, the main story is somewhat dull, and the side missions get repetitive real quick. Some side missions you can't even complete because of bugs.

David N. gave it a7:
This game is really fun, but it could have been much better. The main missions seem like just somewhat random missions. The side missions are tedious. There could have stores to buy different clothing and hair styles, etc.

Darren D. gave it a7:
Would have scored an 8 if it wasn't so repetetive and the car handling didn't suck.

Jace N. gave it a5:
I'd say this game is more like the XBOX/PS2 game "Mercenaries"...with ten times the explorable land...half the terrain detail...and a quarter the things to do! The fact that its a multi-platform title also breaks it legs in the graphics department!

Mr. Review gave it an8:
After just completing every achievement offered in this title, I have become completely satisfied with my "Just Cause" experience. To begin, the graphics are simply stunning, in the brush, in the character (Rico) himself, and in the sheer size of what Just Cause allows you to explore. It can take one a half hour in plane to transcend the map in this game! Which can also hurt, for a map so large can keep a player overwhelmed and often frustrated. I have promised to make no grand Theft Auto references here, for Just Cause undoubtedly remains in that genre. But it does enough new things and daring escapades to remain memorable and sequel-worthy. Just Cause allows you to do stunts impossible in any other titles, and gives the player a sandbox so reminiscent of a fantastic island journey. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing this world is to explore. When approaching Just Cause, you must realize its flaws. We have an entirely frantic targeting system, which for some apparent reason is a constant problem in current games. The music is appropiate, but boring for large periods of exploration. The story, indefinitely, is so shallow its almost incomprehendable and just repetitive. Even Rico himself is a drone in this open world where he has failed to be exploited by any developers. Rico is a dork and a shame of a main character, as is this story, as is a large portion of this title. What makes Just Cause oddly exceptional, is its unique take on what this genre can accomplish. Just Cause is simply fun, with a host of tasks to complete. I am sure a sequel, indirect or not, can expand on what was lacking in Just Cause due strongly to what I can only assume was a time crunch.

Nima G. gave it a9:
This game is amazing. It's better than Grand Theft Auto.

Eli gave it a6:
I must give Just Cause some credit it has some really cool ideas. The grappling hook and parachute are awesome and just all the crazy stuntst you pull off this game are a ton of fun and the game is very nice looking as well. Alas the game fails in every other area. The shooting is downright awful and the missions are nothing but a series of constant repetition. Everything about the gameplay, besides the grappling/parachute, is crap which is a damn shame. If there is a sequel there have to be some major changes. Overall it's worth trying but the flaws in Just Cause make it a rental at best.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: iPhone 3G | Fantasy Football | Moneywatch | Antivirus Software | Recipes | E3 2009

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use