Just Cause (video game series)
Just Cause is an action-adventure video game series created by Avalanche Studios, which was formerly owned by Eidos Interactive and after 2009 by Square Enix Europe. The series consists of "Just Cause", "Just Cause 2", "Just Cause 3", and "Just Cause 4". The games are open world and primarily take place in islands and archipelagos. Each game in the series tasks the player by giving them tools (such as the parachute, grappling hook and wingsuit) to overthrow a governing body in the game's setting. By June 2018, the series had shipped over 15  million copies worldwide. The series directly draws its name from the real-life United States invasion of Panama, code-named "Operation Just Cause". Overview. Each installment in the series takes place on a fictional island nation situated throughout the real world, where the player plays the character Rico Rodriguez, a secret agent who originally hails from the fictional nation of Medici (featured in the third game). On foot, Rico is capable of many actions. These include walking, swimming, jumping, as well as operating weapons. Players can also take control of vehicles found in the world and perform stunts while driving  them. Players can also utilize Rico's grappling hook, parachute, and wingsuit (from the third game onwards) to travel around the map. During the game, the player is given a story and side missions, where the player has to gain points with certain factions. When not playing story or side missions, the player can free-roam in the open world and create chaos. However, doing so will attract a "heat" level (similar to Grand Theft Auto's Wanted Level), which increases based on the resistance and the amount of enemies, who try to stop the player using fatal methods. The  player can also play several optional side missions, such as liberating a village or taking over a drug cartel's villa. In "Just Cause," these missions are repetitive but necessary to gain points with certain factions. In "Just Cause 2," the side missions became unique and more complex. Games. Section::::"Just Cause" (2006). The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, with a large open environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, swimming and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand-to-hand combat . Players can take control of a variety of vehicles, including cars, boats, airplanes, helicopters and motorcycles. Players can also perform stunts with their cars. Other key features of the game include parasailing (grappling onto a moving vehicle while utilizing a parachute) and skydiving. Just Cause is set off the island nation of San Esperito (inspired by the Caribbean). Section::::"Just Cause 2" (2010). "Just Cause 2" is an action-adventure game with one of the largest game maps ever. All gameplay is in an open world/sandbox and most missions can be done in various creative ways. The game is set  on the fictional country of Panau (which is off of Southeast Asia), an archipelago ruled by Pandak 'Baby' Panay. Originally set to be released in 2008, it was pushed back multiple times until it was released on March 23, 2010, in North America and March 26, 2010, in Europe. Section::::"Just Cause 3" (2015). "Just Cause 3" was released worldwide on December 1, 2015. The game is set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Medici, where it is run by dictator Di Ravello. Along with a larger map than "Just Cause 2", there is the added feature of a wingsuit to  be used by the main character, Rico Rodriguez. In comparison to Just Cause 2, the storyline is longer, but there are no faction side-missions. However, there are now Random Encounters (which can re-occur) and more types of races and other challenges. The game allows players to shoot their way through walls, and expanded destruction features. Section::::"Just Cause 4" (2018). "Just Cause 4" is the latest game in the Just Cause series, released on December 4, 2018 The game is set in the fictional South American country of Solís. The new dynamic weather systems expand upon the function of  the wingsuit introduced in "Just Cause 3" and are the focus of the storyline. In comparison to Just Cause 3, the map is much larger and more diverse, however, the removal of its liberation mechanic does reduce the need to visit large portions of the map. Section::::"Just Cause Mobile" (2022). "Just Cause Mobile" was officially announced by Square Enix during The Game Awards for iOS and Android mobile devices. It is a free-to-play action shooter game set in the "Just Cause" universe featuring single-player and multiplayer four player co-op and PvP gameplay for up to thirty  players. While the console and PC games are third-person affairs, the mobile take on the franchise will feature a top-down isometric perspective. The game is scheduled to globally release in 2022. Reception. The Just Cause series has received a mixed reception from critics, but audiences generally have given the series a positive reception. Critics and audiences alike praise the series for its innovative gameplay, open-world design, set-pieces and non-linear approach to mission structure, however it is generally criticised by critics and audiences for its generic storyline and cliché characters. Film adaptation. In 2010, it was  reported that a movie adaptation of "Just Cause", titled "Just Cause: Scorpion Rising", was in production, written by comic book writer Bryan Edward Hill. Nothing came of these plans, and Hill's "Just Cause: Scorpion Rising" was never produced. In 2015, Adrian Askarieh, producer of the "Hitman" films, stated that he hoped to oversee a shared universe of Square Enix films with "Just Cause", "Hitman", "Tomb Raider", "Deus Ex", and "Thief", but admitted that he does not have the rights to "Tomb Raider". He also stated, at that time, that the latest outlook for the "Just Cause" film was that  it would be based on the third release of the video game series. In May 2017, the Game Central reporters at Metro UK suggested that the shared universe was unlikely, pointing out that no progress had been made on any "Just Cause", "Deus Ex" nor "Thief" films. In March 2017, it was announced that Jason Momoa would play Rico Rodriguez and Brad Peyton would direct the movie. , Peyton admitted that no script existed yet, and that he and Momoa already had full schedules well into 2019. On May 21, 2019, it was announced that Derek Kolstad would write the film . On July 15, 2020, it was announced that Michael Dowse would direct the film, which is produced by Constantin Film and Askarieh's Prime Universe.