Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
GTA-like game about killing, sex, drugs, and profanity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Just Cause 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 33 parent reviews
Based on 112 kid reviews
Kids say that this game is primarily about fun and chaos, featuring lots of explosions and creative mechanics, although it does include some mild violence and language. Many reviewers believe it is appropriate for older children, particularly those aged 12 and up, stating that while there's a strip club and some blood, the content is not as graphic as other games and can be easily managed or avoided.
- fun gameplay
- mild violence
- avoidable content
- age-appropriate
- not too graphic
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
It might not have the marketing muscle as other recent games, like God of War III or Battlefield: Bad Company 2, but the sequel to 2006's Just Cause is generating a lot of buzz among action fans. In JUST CAUSE 2, you return as Rico Rodriguez, an undercover U.S. operative on the fictitious South East Asian island of Panau to track down a former friend and mentor turned rogue agent, who has disappeared with top-secret intel and millions in Agency money. The story also involves the island's oppressive dictator, Baby Panay, and the three rival gangs who are waging war in Panau. As with its predecessor, the game delivers a huge, open-ended "sandbox" in which to accomplish all your missions, which range from search and rescue to demolition to assassination.
Is It Any Good?
Yes, Just Cause 2 is a well -developed mature game. It delivers an exhilarating action experience because of its thrilling and varied missions, enormous island (more than 400 square miles of jungles, cities, mountains, and beaches), many dozens of vehicles you jump in and control (covering land, sea, and air) and clever use of the parachute and grappling hook to pull off fun stunts while fighting (or evading) baddies. For example, players can dive out of a helicopter (or base jump off a building) into a heated gunfight, or fire the grappling hook to stop a vehicle and then reel in an enemy, or become vertical in seconds by pairing the grappling hook with the parachute ("slingshoting"). There are some aiming issues, and a couple of graphical bugs in the game, but overall this surprise sequel delivers an explosive adventure for older players.
Platform Note: All three versions of the game look and play virtually the same.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether it's ok for a "good guy" to use violence to accomplish missions. Are we more forgiving of other secret agents in media -- such as James Bond -- or should it be ok in video game form, too? Is there a double standard here? If Rico is taking out thugs, who are murderers and drug dealers, does that make killing them more accpetable than innocent civilians? Or is taking someone's life wrong regardless of the victim?
Families can also talk about the impact of violence on players. Do you think you are unaffected by playing a game about shooting others?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Square Enix
- Release date : March 23, 2010
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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