Just Cause 4
Rico Rodríguez takes on the Black Hand in the nation of Solís.
Just Cause 4 is an action-adventure game from 2018, developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix. It is the fourth installment in the Just Cause series, following 2015's Just Cause 3, and launched on 4 December 2018 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Players control series protagonist Rico Rodríguez as he arrives in the fictional nation of Solís to dismantle The Black Hand, the world's largest private military force. The game runs on a new version of Avalanche's Apex engine, which enables diverse and extreme weather effects such as blizzards, sandstorms, and tornadoes. Square Enix External Studios collaborated with Avalanche on development.
The game received mixed reviews at release. Critics faulted its story, mission design, cutscenes, and voice acting, but praised the graphics, sound design, controls, and open-world mechanics. It also failed to meet Square Enix's sales expectations.
**Gameplay** Just Cause 4 is a third-person action-adventure game. The player assumes the role of Rico Rodríguez in the large open world of Solís, which features biomes like snowy mountains and deserts. Rico navigates using a wingsuit and grappling hook, which now can attach hot air balloons and rocket boosters to objects. A new wind and particle system affects wingsuit traversal, and the weather system includes environmental hazards like tornadoes and thunderstorms.
The game offers a wide variety of vehicles and firearms, including exotic weapons like the Wind Gun and Lightning Gun, each with an alternate firing mode. Players can call for supply drops at any time. During combat, AI-controlled allies can assist Rico. A frontline system lets rebel forces fight the Black Hand army at territory borders, and Rico can join these battles whenever he chooses.
**Plot** *Characters and setting* The story takes place in Solís, a fictional South American country with extreme weather. Rico takes on the Black Hand, the world's most powerful private army, led by new character Gabriela Morales. The Black Hand previously served dictators Salvador Mendoza (from the first *Just Cause*) and Sebastiano Di Ravello (from *Just Cause 3*). After being shown evidence that his late father worked with the Black Hand, Rico travels to Solís, the Black Hand's homeland, seeking answers.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Just Cause 4
- Developer
- Avalanche Studios
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Director
- Francesco Antolini
- Engine
- APEX
- Writer
- Omar Shakir
- Designer
- Joe Ishikura
- Composer
- Zach Abramson
- Series
- Just Cause
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One
- Released
- 4 December 2018
- Genre
- Action-adventure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Just Cause 4 is set in the fictional South American country of Solís, home to extreme weather conditions. The player assumes the role of series protagonist Rico Rodríguez, who arrives in Solís to take down The Black Hand, the world's biggest private military. The game uses a new version of Avalanche's Apex game engine, which allows for diverse and extreme weather effects including blizzards, sandstorms, and tornadoes. Square Enix External Studios worked with Avalanche for the development.
The plot follows Rico after the events of Just Cause 3. He is approached by Mira Morales, who reveals that Rico's father, Miguel Rodríguez, was working on the Illapa Project, a weather weapon used by Oscar Espinosa to control the people of Solís. Rico forms an army called the 'Army of Chaos' to take down Project Illapa and end Espinosa's regime. Along the way, he encounters allies including Luis 'Sargento', Izzy, Garland King, Javi Huerta, Lanza Morales, César Pedrone, and Tom Sheldon. The story culminates in a confrontation with Espinosa and Gabriela Morales, leader of the Black Hand, who ultimately turns against Espinosa.
Reader's Guide
Just Cause 4 received mixed reviews upon release. Critics praised the graphics, sound design, controls, and open world mechanics, while criticisms were directed towards its story, mission design, cutscenes, and voice acting. The game also failed to meet the sales expectations of Square Enix. Users noted a regression in graphics quality relative to past installments, particularly simplified water effects and flat-looking vegetation, leading Square Enix to develop a patch with partial success.
The game features a large open world with different biomes including snowy mountains and deserts. Rico can traverse using a wingsuit and grappling hook, with expanded functions allowing attachment of hot air balloons and rocket boosters. A new wind and particle system affects wingsuit traversal. The weather system includes environmental hazards such as tornados and thunderstorms. The game includes a frontline system where rebel forces fight the Black Hand army at territory borders. Three downloadable content packs were released: Dare Devils of Destruction (30 April 2019), Los Demonios (3 July 2019), and Danger Rising (5 September 2019). An Easter egg sequence replicates the viral platformer Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, a collaboration with developer Bennett Foddy.
Did You Know?
- The game includes an Easter egg gameplay sequence replicating the viral platformer Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy.
- The Black Hand previously served as a mercenary group to dictators Salvador Mendoza and Sebastiano Di Ravello.
- The game's new wind and particle system affects Rico's traversal with his wingsuit.
- Three DLC packs were released: Dare Devils of Destruction, Los Demonios, and Danger Rising.
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