Just Cause 4 is currently free to keep on Epic Game Store. But is it any good? I mean, for a price of 0, everything is infinitely worth the money. But is it worth your time?
The first Just Cause comes from a time when GTA-clones were all the rage. Just Cause did try to differentiate, but it was only with Just Cause 2 that the series found its own identity. Just Cause 3 was more expansive, more ambitious, but just not as good. I believe they overestimated the current gen consoles, and as a result, some things had to be compromised, and performance was still terrible. It also brought with it a typical open world grind that I've complained about this generation.
Just Cause 4 brings a significant improvement to performance. It now runs smoothly on all platforms, and PC performance sees a bump too - provided you go for the right settings. Unfortunately, this is another game that was rushed to market. Over the months, they have certainly improved the game significantly, and it stands in a pretty stable state today. In fact, this is the only major non-online AAA game I'm aware of that actually overhauled their graphics and added new options like TAA months after official release!
Just Cause 4 features a much more streamlined progression than its predecessor. There's still a bit of open world grind involved, but it's mostly all fun. Building your "Army of Chaos" does require more of a grind, but again, that's optional after a certain point. The variety of vehicles and traversal options remain a high point for the series, as does the massive open world sandbox with an immense sense of scale. Apart from size, it's a competent but otherwise formulaic open world. Despite its size, though, the transitions between biomes seem arbitrary and forced. Contrast this with Red Dead Redemption 2, for example, which is 1/10th the size, but it works because it doesn't feel the need to force in every type of biome possible, and the transition between each is gradual and organic. Still, as a sandbox to exercise your various traversal options, it remains enjoyable.
Just Cause 4's signature new feature are the weather systems, led by the awesome cyclones. These are indeed awesome - in the true sense of the word. The physics are remarkably true to life, and escaping from a cyclone's grasp is always thrilling. You can, of course, leverage them to your benefit too. Another key new feature is the customizable grapple, parachute and jet attachments. This brings a whole new slew of options for causing mayhem for the creative.
The gunplay is much improved, but remains mediocre compared to third person shooters. That's OK, though, as you can go wild with the aforementioned attachments, and the world also offers plenty of options to creatively destroy your enemies. It's one of those games, where you wonder "Can I do that?", and the game's physics systems responds in most situations. Larger objects are static, of course, but most small-to-medium movable objects will react to your actions. This is where Just Cause 4 shines - in its moment-to-moment gameplay, you get a ton of freedom to cause mayhem exactly in the way that you want. While there's a huge variety of vehicles and traversal options, the handling mechanics for all are pretty loose and generic. I do feel this is a deliberate decision, to make it easier and more accessible. Definitely not a Forza Horizon, either way.
The single player campaign and writing is largely generic, though the game does keep it minimalist, so it never gets in the way. The focus is squarely on the chaos the gameplay offers. There are definitely some fun missions, but most end up being formulaic. It's a shame, because the game has such a vast array of gameplay possibilities that just go underutilized. Some of the side missions - particularly the archaeology ones with puzzles - are refreshing though. The DLCs are more of the same, I would recommend them only if you enjoyed the base game.
Overall, Just Cause 4 is definitely an improvement over the lackluster Just Cause 3. It still doesn't achieve the heights of Just Cause 2, and the series definitely needs a rethink. All the elements are there - they just need ramp up their execution significantly. Just Cause 4 is a fun game, with many spectacular moments, but it could and should have been better.
