By virtue of its location alone, I still regard Just Cause 3 as the finest in its series, above its successor and currently the latest, fourth entry launched in 2018. JC3 had some pretty large shoes to fill in after the massively successful Just Cause 2 and its huge map.

Given its story and gameplay formula, the Just Cause series managed to wrench itself away from the "GTA clone" moniker and those efforts haven't gone unnoticed by yours truly. The fortunes and talents of a Swedish developer have gifted us with Just Cause, a franchise that just turned 16 years recently.

Avalanche Studios started work on their magnum opus from the ground up, proprietary graphics engine included. JC2 was released in 2010 while the title I shall review today has graced us with its inspiring presence since 2015. It has come a long way and it's here to stay.

Some historical context first. Operation Just Cause is a three decades old mission that "uninstalled Old Pineapple Face", Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Essentially a black ops which deposed some guy that no longer "picked up the phone" when Uncle Sam gave him a call.

Served as inpiration for the first Just Cause game which used the same motivation for its narrative drive. Somebody has to take out the trash, even if you're replacing an evil entity with a lesser one that's temporarily more obedient. Geopolitics in a nutshell. Hard to digest, I know.

Rico Rodriguez, the JC series' protagonist is a very well trained individual working for a well-funded Agency hinting at the CIA without explicitly saying so. Rebel leaders and various factions of dubious morality are set to inherit the war torn, tropical regions of choice.

Our hero's specialty is "regime change" in the certain (fictional) nations which USA desires more favorable relations with. Satire is not misplaced here, as the games do approach this rather grim topic with black humor, if nothing else.

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It now brings us to Just Cause 3 which portrays a fictional Mediterranean archipelago ruled with an iron fist by yet another tyrant on his way out. A popular uprising has to be supported with firepower and more subtle elements, as well.

This is where Rico comes in, though I'm not sure how blowing up almost everything in his path could count as "finesse". Explosions play such a vital part in Just Case titles, that you'd think they're paying homage to Michael Bay.

The Avalanche Engine (also called Apex) is bringing to life some pretty convincing open world mayhem. It never ceases to appease the eye of the beholder, even as the gameplay formula itself might become stale after you've sunk far too many hours.

Performance issues don't linger far from JCs initial release window. As of this writing, Just Cause 3 shouldn't give you any sort of headaches in regards to its frame rate. No crashes or game breaking bugs either.

It still looks great and it runs just as smoothly. Aging like fine wine, personal bias or not. The HUD can be disabled in-game without a hassle, so I was free to take over 100 proper screenshots to my heart's content.

Most cinematics are done in-engine, but the DLCs take a more cartoonish approach and I really appreciated those stylistic changes. Seemlessly integrated in both the story and gameplay, they didn't feel like last minute additions.

Voice acting can be a hit or miss, for the most part it manages a balancing act between parody and more serious tones. It should be noted that JC as a series tries to bring plenty of comic relief to the table of its inner conflicts which escalate faster than a summertime wildfire.

You're not treated with the sort of patriotic propaganda like in a Call of Duty entry, that's for certain. A note of distinction is the soundtrack which always feels underwhelming when compared to similar open world competitors.

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Don't expect memorable radio stations or songs that specifically play out during key missions. Sounds are adequate, but nothing really stands out in the end. Eye candy's the king here. All that digital destruction pairs well with my classic rock playlist though.

Surprisingly straightforward gameplay, yet it doesn't become repetitive as fast as you'd expect, given the freedom of choice in how you approach the objectives. Invariably, you have to blow up some structures or take out a certain number of enemy troops and vehicles.

The manner in which you can wreak havoc though, is Just Cause 3's forte. Verticality is the keyword to this franchise, as it kept improving its focus on airborne attacks and fast travel alike. If JC 1 and 2 relied on a parachute, the third entry dispenses with that in favor of a "wingsuit" that has since become ubiquitous for open worlds in recent years.

It's never been easier to take flight in a Just Cause title without the aid of an aircraft and its main disadvantages regarding the landing options. Even a helicopter can sometimes prove troublesome, yet the wingsuit will accomplish the desired results without painting a huge target on your back.

Cars are still fun to cruise around and there are plenty of in-game challenges and activities that shall test your racing capabilities. Of particular note to me, was the "soap box car". It's esentially a wooden kart without any form of self-propulsion.

How do you explore in a vehicle without an engine? By cleverly using slopes and hills, of course! Such distractions provide Just Cause 3 with well-deserved moments of respite between civil war conquests, one settlement at a time.

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It feels rather easy on the standard difficulty, so you'd best bump towards the top tiers that no longer resemble God Mode. You'll still be overpowered if you play your cards right. The lack of a cover system means that hit-n-run tactics will have to be employed instead.

Guerilla warfare at its finest, if you ask me. Use the enemy arsenal against them as often as you can. Slow and methodical or fast-paced and unpredictable. Play it how you see fit, that's one of the main attractions in this franchise.

Driving, flying, sailing, blowing things up. Or just chilling and taking in the sights, once you pacified the islands. Perhaps going on a collectible hunt? Lots of options and no time constraints. The golden standard for a successful open world design.

Just Cause 3 didn't reinvent the wheel for its genre, it just made sure the ride is as fun and smoothly as possible. Make sure to pick it up as soon as you can. The story DLCs are equally recommended, though not crucial. Come for the mayhem, stay for the (eventual) tranquility of Medici.

+ Immense gameplay diversity.
+ Beautiful graphics and sounds.
+ Replay value through collectibles.
+ Steam Trading Cards & Achievements.

- Might become repetitive sooner or later.
- Placeholder storyline.

This article was submitted for Imperial Reviews. Following my Curator Page, will help me keep publishing new reviews as soon as I can. Thank you for your support!