Deal | Only $1.50 in Steam sale: This bonkers open-world shooter is pure chaos
Just Cause 2 is an open-world shooter developed by Avalanche Studios and released by Square Enix in 2010. Though it’s nearing retro status, it still holds plenty of appeal for fans of the genre. Players step into the boots of elite operative Rico Rodriguez, an agent of the fictional U.S. organization known as The Agency. This time, he’s dispatched to the vast island nation of Panau in Southeast Asia. After the mysterious disappearance of a fellow agent and the rise of a new dictator, Baby Panay, Rico is sent in to exploit the chaos. His mission: stir up unrest, play three rival factions against each other and bring down the regime from within.
Just Cause 2 is, above all, an open-world game designed to give players the freedom to unleash destruction however they choose. The sprawling island of Panau – with its jungles, deserts, mountains, and coastal towns – is fully explorable on foot or in a wide range of vehicles, including planes, boats, motorcycles and fighter jets. Rico’s signature tool is his grappling hook, which lets him scale buildings, tether enemies to vehicles or attach explosive barrels to helicopters. Paired with a parachute, it enables a unique vertical playstyle that lets you glide across the world like a one-man wrecking crew.
Another highlight of the game is its impressive variety of vehicles. Whether you're speeding down highways in a sports car, taking out a dam with a helicopter or storming a military base on a jet ski – every vehicle is yours to use, or hijack in style with the grappling hook. Combat combines fast-paced third-person shooting with an automatic cover system, realistic ballistic physics and plenty of explosive action. Chaos is the name of the game: the more you destroy – military outposts, radio towers, fuel depots – the more missions and faction support you unlock. And thanks to its flexible structure, you can put the main story on hold and dive straight into the mayhem.
Reviews: Over-the-top action, underwhelming story
The German gaming magazine GameStar highlighted several strengths of Just Cause 2, including its expansive open world, the wild action enabled by the grappling hook and parachute, and the creatively designed missions. Visually, the game made a strong impression at launch and still holds up thanks to its sweeping vistas and atmospheric environments. However, the review also noted that the world can feel empty despite its size. There’s a lack of interactive elements, no wildlife and limited dynamic behavior from NPCs. Mini-games and spontaneous side activities are missing and the AI offers little depth. Progression relies heavily on collecting “chaos points” which can make the destruction feel repetitive over time.
The testers also noted that the controls, particularly for jets and stationary weapons, can feel imprecise at times. The story is another weak point, serving more as a loose framework for the explosive gameplay than offering any real narrative depth. Despite these flaws, GameStar awarded Just Cause 2 a solid 80 out of 100. On Steam, the game has received around 40,000 user reviews, with 90% of them being positive. Over on Metacritic, it holds a Metascore of 84 and a user score of 7.7.
90% discount on Steam
Just Cause 2 usually sells for around $15 on Steam, but until May 28, it's available for just $1.50 thanks to a 90% discount. According to SteamDB, discounts like this aren't unusual – a similar deal was last seen during the Spring Sale in March – but the game has never been offered at a lower price.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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