EGX 2015: Just Cause 3 Hands-On Preview

By Fraser G. | Oct 4, 2015

GameSided Staff Writer Fraser G. recently attended EGX 2015 in the UK, gaining access to hands-on previews of some of the hottest upcoming AAA titles and indie games. Our EGX roundup series has now concluded, but you can find links to all of our features below.

#1 Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Hands-On Preview
#2 Soul Axiom Interview
#3 Star Wars Battlefront Hands-On Preview
#4 Aaero Interview
#5 Rise Of The Tomb Raider Hands-On Preview
#6 Indie Showcase – Fire Fu
#7 Just Cause 3 Hands-On Preview
#8 Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Hands-On Preview
#9 Indie Showcase – Just Shapes and Beats
#10 HTC Vive Hands-On Preview

I have to admit that I had never played a Just Cause game before my brief introduction to the third iteration in the series at EGX, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Sure, I knew that I was about to play a game that’s centered around sandbox destruction, but I didn’t know how well that idea would translate in-game.

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I’m going to spare you the musings of a first-time Just Cause player. I will, however, discuss two of the biggest new features in this year’s game. The first of these is the brand-new wingsuit, which allows Rico Rodriguez to traverse the city by air. Activating the wingsuit is easy to accomplish, but piloting it is a trickier task than it may seem at first.

You need to grapple different objects to keep your momentum going while you’re in the air, and that’s easier said than done when bumping into poles and buildings while trying to keep your balance at the same time. Once you’ve mastered it, the wingsuit is the most effective way of getting around the city quickly, and it’s also the most stylish.

The other big addition this year is that the grappling hook can now be attached to multiple objects. For example, you could attach a grappling hook from a helicopter to a building, or a set of explosives to a moving truck, and the resulting conclusion will normally result in carnage.

Once you’ve mastered it, the wingsuit is the most effective way of getting around the city quickly

This addition has vastly expanded the amount of possibilities in Just Cause 3’s gameplay. Interacting with the environment and trying to cause as much damage as possible with this new feature was more exciting than using any other weapons in my arsenal.

I didn’t get a chance to explore all of Just Cause 3’s map in the short time I had with the game, but there was a lot of variety in what I saw. Buildings, statues, roads, forests, and beach areas were all on display, and the majority of the environment is destructible. There’s no greater feeling in Just Cause 3 than unleashing destructive mayhem on large structures, although the frame rate dropped during some periods of heavy demolition.

Utilizing Rico’s vast range of weaponry was a little tricky to get used to, although operating vehicles felt natural. The parachute is back too, including the ability to shoot in mid-air.

the addition of the wingsuit and improved grappling hook features are huge game changers

Just Cause 3 never amazed me in the graphics department, but its visuals are still fairly impressive. Rico Rodriguez’ character looks good, and the game’s wide variety of environments are dynamic and varied. I never had a chance to explore the game’s story mode in the twenty minutes that I spent with the game, focusing my efforts on navigating the game’s sandbox features instead.

Just Cause 3 gives you a variety of destructive tools and lets your imagination do the rest, and the addition of the wingsuit and improved grappling hook features are huge game changers that will alter the way in which you approach the game. Whether you’re new to the series or a Just Cause veteran, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Just Cause 3.

Just Cause 3 will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on December 1, 2015.

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