Just Cause 4 Review - Mildly Wild Ride
Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consolesIn parallel with the development of the post-apocalyptic RAGE 2 FPS, the Avalanche studio located in Stockholm is exploring the new adventures of Rico Rodriguez. Two years after his journey on the island of Medici, the hero of the Just Cause franchise is back in service in a fourth episode ever more furious, soberly entitled Just Cause 4. Has the formula arrived at the peak of its evolution? What is the console version worth? Explosive responses at the heart of a tornado.
VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN
Rico Rodriguez and his famous leather jacket sign a swirling return. In this direct sequel, our hero and his Chaos army attack the organization La Main Noire in the hope of thwarting Oscar Espinosa's plans. After an attack serving as a tutorial and an introduction to meteorological weapons, the story begins on the ground on an island of Solis in the grip of terror.Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consoles
The franchise is distinguished by the lightness of its subject and its uninhibited tone reminiscent of the great hours of action movies and their "Reaganian" heroes spitting shot and punchlines on enemies in excess. And Just Cause 4 does honor to its elders during an Over the Top adventure breastfed with testosterone and interpreted by a string of broken gules typical of genre cinema. Certainly anecdotal, this story punctuated by scattered cutscenes cement Rico's wanderings and justify the epic of an incredible scenario which manages to surprise thanks to its multiple twists and unexpected scenes.
The island of Solis plays a crucial role in this fourth episode of the saga. This South American paradise revolts and lives to the rhythm of the conflict. The mission of Rico Rodriguez is crystal clear. Destroy the Black Hand weapon of mass destruction and eliminate Oscar Espinosa. To do this, our hero must liberate the regions one by one.
A front line represents the progression of the Chaos army and the points of tension. Mission after mission, the vice loosens, which offers multiple opportunities to undermine the organization. The player is free to move around here and roams the map as he sees fit to fulfill his objectives ... missions that are too little varied (search, destroy, protect, escort), causing repeatability after several hours of play. Only the advance of the Chaos army symbolized by this system of fronts slows progress. And this progression rhymes with destruction, that of enemy buildings and vehicles in exchange for very useful relief units to liberate the country. Just Cause 4 is a story written by deeds. There is a libertarian wind on Solis which is not to displease us.
ALWAYS FARER, STRONGER, FASTER…
Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consolesThe Avalanche studios franchise lives up to its name and this fourth iteration always pushes the limits of a formula preaching the pleasure of play before the likelihood. Rico Rodriguez defies the universal laws of gravity with disconcerting ease. A few minutes are enough to take in hand the preferred means of transport of this extraordinary hero ... namely the iconic grapple of the saga accompanied by inseparable parachute and wingsuit which complete this aerial trio always as efficient and accessible. The pleasure of hovering and gripping anywhere has lost nothing of its superb, on the contrary. An exhilarating feeling of freedom emanates from Just Cause 4 and propels players several meters above the ground for their greatest pleasure.
Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consoles
The formula evolves over time and does not just recycle the gameplay of the third opus. First element to benefit from an improvement, the grapple which accommodates three modifiers (balloon, winch and propellant) and many properties for each of them to unlock by performing secondary missions. Unfortunately, this update is quickly limited to experimentation phases as fun as marginal. In fact, Rico exploits these novelties sparingly and mainly during clashes; several well-placed thrusters destroying a combat helicopter in less time than it takes to say. Our hero then tends to favor powder to eliminate the Black Hand and make his way on the island of Solis.
Gunfights gain in intensity and explosiveness. The level design is thought to provoke chain reactions as insane as devastating and to take advantage of the skills of the grapple. Rico Rodriguez, a character with an easy trigger, is a supporter of excessive pyrotechnics and vacuum cleaning. And the addition of a secondary shot has a major impact on these phases, which are at the heart of the experience. The feeling of arms in hand shows a desire to unleash the action in order to make it as attractive and dynamic as possible. However, the chronic lack of ammunition often hinders the warlike inclinations of Rico and his Chaos army. Running after a loaded weapon is not uncommon and breaks the rhythm of confrontations.
Vehicles become essential in this Just Cause 4 and broadcast several radios that enhance the walks. Easily maneuverable in most cases, these allow the hero to put Solis to fire and blood on land, sea and in the air. In addition, fast travel ensures safe transport to the four corners of the map in a minimum of time, enough to optimize playing time. However, the major addition of this opus on which is based the communication campaign around the title resides in the bad weather which strikes the island and more particularly the tactical meteorological weapons. Unfortunately, this promising feature too rarely has the desired effect. Beyond the visual aspect which leaves something to be desired, tornadoes and storms only impress during scripted missions. The rest of the time, they go about their business, often several leagues without any real effect on the gameplay.
A TECHNICAL STORM
Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consolesThe series has never established itself as a model of visual perfection and photorealism, and Just Cause 4 continues this momentum. However, this TPS exploits the APEX (Avalanche Open World Engine) developed internally to build an immense island of Solis emphasizing the change of scenery through several environments to discover. Snow-capped mountains, arid valleys, South American beaches and tropical forests make up an exotic postcard that arouses curiosity. These biomes are also populated by different animals with no impact on the gameplay. In addition, the dynamic weather and the day / night cycle complete this picture and add life to it for an honorable result if not breathtaking.
Just Cause 4: A libertarian adventure, but technically limited on consoles
Despite all these good intentions and partially destructible environments, Just Cause 4 fishes in the realization and this is felt all the more on home consoles. Too much sunshine burns all the colors on the screen. The tones are simply saturated with lights which spoils some visuals. And the technique as a whole blows hot and cold on the experience. If the reduced loading times are to be welcomed, the appearance before our eyes of elements of decor and high definition textures, excessive aliasing, constant flickering, etc ... confirm a notable lack of finishes. On PlayStation 4 as on Xbox One, the “clipping” is really accentuated. Hovering above the surroundings, the vegetation blooms a few meters from Rico Rodriguez. However, the fluidity is there. No drop in framerate was noted during our trip to Solis Island. Fluidity at the expense of aesthetics. Within the framework of Just Cause 4, this decision could not be more logical even if we would have liked not to have to undergo this choice.
The notes
+ Positive points
An uninhibited scenario paying homage to 90's action films ...
Freedom to progress in the adventure
The diversity of the environments visited
Explosive and intense gunfights
The feeling of freedom in movement
Grapple modifications and creativity
The front line system
-Negative points
… But anecdotal
Visuals saturated by too bright light
The absence of life in the decorations
A repetitive adventure
Lack of variety of missions
A sawtooth technique (clipping, aliasing, crashes…)
Just Cause 4 is the worthy heir to a saga that began in 2006. It emanates from this open world TPS a feeling of freedom intoxicating specific to the series. The Avalanche Studios title retains all of the franchise's strengths, and some of its weaknesses, but improves its sandbox formula. The clashes gain in intensity while the map plays a central role in the progression. However, weather changes have had little impact on an otherwise repetitive experience. And if the island of Solis is indeed a source of scenery, it suffers from a technique tossed by the weather which does not do justice to this uninhibited and libertarian epic embodied by Rico Rodriguez.
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