Just Cause

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
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  1. Game Informer
    73
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Gaming Horizon
    70
    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.
  3. eToychest
    70
    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.
  5. AceGamez
    70
    Those magnificent occasions when you're hovering at 2,000 feet above the ground on your parachute actually justifies playing it through.
    All this publication's reviews
  6. GameSpot
    67
    Just Cause is able to justify its relative brevity and disrespect for physical law with some extremely visceral and often satisfying action.
  7. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    67
    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.
  8. Game Chronicles
    65
    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.
  9. PSX Extreme
    63
    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.
  10. GamesRadar+
    60
    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.
  11. The Sydney Morning Herald
    60
    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.
  12. PSM Magazine
    60
    A few more months and it really could have been something. [Dec. 2006, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  13. IGN
    55
    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.
  14. TotalPlayStation
    55
    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.

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Best PS2 Game of 2006
52
#52 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
58
#58 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 57
  3. Negative: 10 out of 57
  1. SvenS.
    Oct 10, 2006
    9
    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?
  2. MeCritic
    Jun 17, 2013
    6
    I give this game a 6/10 not because it's necessarily bad, but it's frustrating as hell. There are way more pros than cons, but if it weren'tI give this game a 6/10 not because it's necessarily bad, but it's frustrating as hell. There are way more pros than cons, but if it weren't for the one thing that I hate about it, it would probably be 8/10 or so.
    The graphics really aren't that great for its time. The lighting is, though. But the graphics really don't define the game. The gameplay is pretty good, and the controls are tolerable. The story is OK, but really nothing absorbing. It doesn't capture you like other games do. The thing that really brings this game down for me is the save system. Trying to save your game is next to impossible. Now, there are no 'save' button in the pause menu like there could, and should be. THe only way to save is at the most recent safehouse you've unlocked, and they fail to mention this at the beginning of the game. I had to look up on the internet for 15 minutes to find this out. It's more frustrating than it sounds, especially when you're like me and have a bunch of people bicthing at you to get off the T.V. but you can't because you just finished that mission that was very, very difficult. For me, the save system really dumbs down the quality of the game. Lots of other people enjoy it. But do whatever you want, this is just what I think.    … Full Review »
  3. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    6
    My childhood friends and me laughed so hard at this game for so many hours, it was worth it.
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