Just Cause 3

The story of Just Cause 3 has received mixed reviews from critics. Some positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the game's ability to provide a backdrop for the chaotic gameplay and action sequences. GameCrate appreciates how the game features a familiar storyline of overthrowing a dictator but compensates with inventiveness. PCWorld notes that the story's tonal consistency adds to the overall chaotic gameplay experience, enhancing the player's immersion in the world of Medici. On the negative side, several critics point out that the story in Just Cause 3 lacks depth and fails to engage players on a meaningful level. Dealspwn describes the story as mere window dressing to the carnage, with Rico being more of a walking accent than a well-developed character. Metro GameCentral criticizes the story for being uninteresting and lacking depth, with a weak protagonist and uninspired plot. Forbes goes as far as mentioning that the story missions can be skipped almost entirely, indicating a lack of compelling narrative content. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the story in Just Cause 3 is not a strong point of the game. While some appreciate its role in setting the stage for the explosive gameplay, many find it lacking in depth and character development. Critics like Game Informer and TrueAchievements acknowledge the minimalistic approach to storytelling, with the focus primarily on action and destruction. The general sentiment is that the story serves as a backdrop for the mayhem and chaos that players can unleash in the game world, rather than being a central element that drives player engagement. The varying opinions on the story reflect a divided view on its importance in a game that prioritizes open-world exploration and creative destruction over narrative depth.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Just Cause 3 are overwhelmingly positive. Many reviewers praise the game for its emphasis on creative destruction and chaos, with a wide array of tools and mechanics to approach objectives in unique ways. Critics like Dealspwn and Gaming Age highlight the variety of destructive options available, including grappling hooks, parachutes, wingsuits, and various vehicles, which encourage different approaches to keep the gameplay feeling fresh. The ability to liberate locations through satisfying destruction, as mentioned by The Digital Fix and God is a Geek, adds to the enjoyment of the gameplay experience. The freedom to blow things up in creative ways, as emphasized by TrueAchievements and Gameplanet, is a key aspect that resonates positively with many critics. On the downside, some critics point out issues with the gameplay of Just Cause 3. Arcade Sushi and Metro GameCentral criticize the repetitive and boring missions that detract from the overall experience. IGN Italia mentions that the main activities of liberating provinces by destroying structures can become repetitive over time. IGN, in both the Xbox One and PS4 reviews, highlights frame rate drops below 30 frames per second, impacting vehicle control and wingsuit usage. The Jimquisition also notes that the gameplay can consist of repetitive tasks and destruction, which may become tiring for some players. Additionally, some critics like games(TM) and Slant Magazine mention that the gameplay can lack depth and become repetitive after extended playtime. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Just Cause 3 excels in providing players with a sandbox of fun and chaos, offering a plethora of tools and mechanics to unleash creative destruction. The game's emphasis on freedom, variety, and player agency is widely appreciated, as seen in the positive remarks from critics like Game Rant, Push Square, and Twinfinite. While there are criticisms regarding repetitive missions and occasional technical issues, the overall sentiment leans towards the game's strengths in delivering an entertaining and explosive gameplay experience that allows players to wreak havoc in a dynamic and engaging open-world environment.

In terms of positives, several critics praised the Graphics and Visual Design of Just Cause 3. EGM highlighted the richly detailed island nation of Medici with its Mediterranean-inspired design, expansive vistas, and destructible environments contributing to the visual spectacle. TrueAchievements and Gameplanet also commended the game for its impressive explosions, destruction, and physics, with vast open worlds featuring a variety of vehicles and environments. The Digital Fix and DarkZero lauded the large and beautiful world of Medici, featuring gorgeous landscapes and explosive visuals, while Digital Spy and Gameplanet appreciated the vivid Mediterranean landscape and colorful vibrant locations. These critics collectively acknowledged the beauty and scale of the game's visuals, especially during chaotic moments like explosions, and the detailed environments that added to the immersive experience. On the other hand, several critics pointed out various negatives regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Just Cause 3. Dealspwn and Metro GameCentral criticized the game for experiencing sluggish frame rates, particularly in built-up areas and during explosions, leading to technical performance issues and disappointing experiences. IGN and TheSixthAxis highlighted occasional frame rate issues, texture pop-in, and low-frame rate motion blur that smeared the otherwise attractive visuals. Softpedia and GameSpot mentioned widespread problems affecting the game on all platforms, such as frame rate drops, optimization issues, technical glitches, and rough edges that detracted from the overall visual spectacle. These critics expressed concerns about the performance issues and lack of polish that hindered the game's graphical presentation and overall enjoyment. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Just Cause 3 is mixed. While the game received praise for its beautiful landscapes, explosive visuals, destructible environments, and vibrant locations from critics like EGM, TrueAchievements, and Gameplanet, it also faced criticism for technical issues, frame rate drops, optimization problems, and occasional performance issues as highlighted by Dealspwn, IGN, and Softpedia. The contrasting opinions reflect a divide between the stunning visual aspects of the game and the hindrances caused by technical shortcomings, leading to a somewhat polarizing reception among reviewers. Despite the impressive world design and detailed environments, the presence of frame rate issues and technical glitches served as a significant drawback for some critics, impacting the overall experience of exploring the vast open world of Medici in Just Cause 3.

The sound design and music of Just Cause 3 have received mixed reviews from critics. Game Rant and The Digital Fix praised the sound design for its impressive gun and explosion sounds, describing it as loud, bombastic, and fitting for the over-the-top action of the game. Additionally, Impulsegamer highlighted David Tennant's voice acting as a standout element, adding to the entertainment value of the game. NZGamer also commended the cinematic soundtrack, noting its ability to complement the summer blockbuster set pieces effectively. On the other hand, some critics had reservations about the sound design and music of Just Cause 3. Xbox Achievements found the soundtrack to be nice but not particularly outstanding, while Softpedia expressed disappointment in the voice acting and soundtrack, suggesting that players may prefer to play their own music to enhance the experience. Slant Magazine mentioned some impressive moments in terms of sound design but did not provide further details. Overall, the opinions on the sound design and music of Just Cause 3 are varied. While some critics appreciated specific aspects such as the impactful audio effects, impressive explosions, and standout voice acting, others felt that the soundtrack and voice performances were lacking. The consensus among critics seems to be that while Just Cause 3 excels in certain areas of sound design and music, there are also areas where it falls short of expectations. Critics like GameCrate and PSX Extreme highlighted both positive and negative aspects, indicating a balanced view of the game's audio elements.

The voice acting in Just Cause 3 received a mix of positive feedback from critics. GameCrate and Xbox Achievements both praised the voicework, with GameCrate specifically highlighting Mario's character as memorable. Washington Post also commended the voice actors for delivering their lines with enthusiasm, adding depth to the characters. Additionally, Impulsegamer appreciated the entertaining and cleverly written interactions of the minor characters, with David Tennant's performance standing out. These positive aspects indicate that the voice acting succeeded in bringing the characters to life and enhancing the overall experience for some reviewers. On the other hand, there were criticisms regarding the voice acting in Just Cause 3. DarkZero pointed out that the dialogue and cutscenes felt disjointed and did not work well, potentially detracting from the immersion of the game. Softpedia was unimpressed by the voice acting, suggesting that it did not positively contribute to the overall experience. PSX Extreme also noted that while the voice performances were solid overall, the protagonist Rico was not well-received by the reviewer. These negative opinions highlight areas where the voice acting may have fallen short in terms of consistency, believability, or character portrayal. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in Just Cause 3 is somewhat divided. While some reviewers appreciated the efforts put into the performances and the entertainment value they added to the game, others found issues with the execution and impact of the voice acting on the overall experience. Push Square's observation that the voice acting had improved compared to the previous game suggests that there may have been efforts to address some of the shortcomings. In conclusion, while the voice acting in Just Cause 3 had its strengths in bringing characters to life and providing entertainment, there were also criticisms regarding coherence and impact, resulting in a mixed reception among critics.

In terms of positives for the Xbox One version of Just Cause 3, some critics like Xbox Achievements appreciate the scale of the open world, which helps mitigate issues like glitches and physics problems. Additionally, some reviewers like EGM mention that while there are occasional framerate issues and long loading times during intense action sequences, these issues are considered minor and do not significantly detract from the overall experience. On the flip side, the Xbox One version of Just Cause 3 received significant criticism for its technical performance. Critics like Gaming Age and Game Rant highlight significant performance hiccups, including long load times, framerate drops, and game-breaking glitches that negatively affect the gameplay experience. The Digital Fix and TheSixthAxis also mention issues such as severe frame-rate drops, gameplay glitches, and long loading times that hamper the overall experience. These technical issues like crashes, long loading times, and frame rate drops were consistent complaints across multiple reviews, indicating a lack of polish and stability on the Xbox One platform. Overall, the consensus among critics for Just Cause 3's technical performance across all platforms is predominantly negative. While some platforms like PC had specific issues such as inconsistent frame rates and poor optimization, the general sentiment was that the game suffered from technical problems like long loading times, frequent crashes, frame rate drops, and gameplay glitches. Critics like GameSpot and The Jimquisition highlight issues with bugs, bad AI, inconsistent behavior, and technical issues such as missing gun sounds and freezes. The general consensus is that Just Cause 3's technical performance fell short of expectations, impacting the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game for players on all platforms.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Replay Value of Just Cause 3 are varied, with many highlighting several positive aspects. Critics like EGM, GameCrate, and TrueAchievements commend the game for offering a wide array of challenges, collectibles, and upgrades that keep players engaged for extended periods. Game Rant and Xbox Achievements also appreciate the motivation provided by the challenges and side activities in the game. Additionally, TheSixthAxis and We Got This Covered mention the presence of additional challenges, gear mods, and unlockable content that contribute to the replay value of Just Cause 3. On the other hand, some critics express concerns about the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which can impact the overall replay value of the game. Metro GameCentral and IGN Italia note the repetitive missions and lack of variety in gameplay activities as potential drawbacks that may limit the game's lasting appeal. Critics like Kill Screen and Slant Magazine emphasize the tedious and monotonous aspects of the challenges, which could lead to diminishing enjoyment over time. Furthermore, critics such as Gameplanet and PlayStation LifeStyle highlight the potential tedium that may arise from the repetitive missions and intense moments in the game, affecting its replayability. Overall, while Just Cause 3 offers a plethora of content and challenges that contribute to its replay value, the game's repetitive nature and lack of variety in missions and activities are recurring concerns among critics. Despite some mixed opinions on the game's lasting appeal, the addictive gameplay loop, fun sandbox experience, and the freedom to approach missions in various ways are aspects that critics like ZTGD and Twinfinite appreciate, enhancing the overall replay value for players seeking creative destruction and chaos. The inclusion of challenges, gear mods, and unlockable content also adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience, making Just Cause 3 a title that can provide hours of entertainment for those who enjoy exploring its open-world environment and experimenting with its mechanics.