Just Cause 2 is all about making Just Cause bigger, badder, and more entertaining, and we think it’s just that. Just Cause 2 is Rico’s story after being sent back into action (forcibly) to hunt down an ex-agency member, who is located in Panau.

The real question is where to start. First, Panau is a giant island, over 400 square miles in-game. When originally shown the map, we thought it was fairly large, with at least 20 objectives available in that area. Then the developer panned back to reveal that what we saw at first was only a tiny portion of the whole map, featuring hundreds of available objectives. It’s so big, that different sections of the island have different weather patterns and climates.

In Just Cause 2, things can blow up anywhere at anytime...		...like here

Moving around this giant map means Rico will need more than just his wits. The first tool in his arsenal is his reusable parachute, which can be deployed at any time and automatically packs itself. Besides being extremely accessible and flexible, it can be used with another of Rico’s tools, his grappling hook. The grappling hook works on any surface, including small objects and people. It gives joy to all who use it properly.

For example, Rico can shoot the hook at an enemy and then shoot the other end at a tree, hanging that enemy from the tree. Or players can grapple a far off wall, and mid-way through open their parachute to get massive air. There are seemingly no limitations to what can be done.

...here...		...and in a second, here!

The missions we saw had Rico attack a refinery of sorts. First, he had to get there, in this case starting atop a high cliff and jumping down several hundred feet, then parachuting into the target area. After taking down a few of the enemies from the rooftops, the rest were alerted and it got too hot, so Rico grappled to the other side, took out a sniper, and from his stationary holding-onto-a-window-sill position took out a few more enemies. He then grappled and parachuted to another rooftop and found a rocket launcher, then jumped off the building, parachuted around the refinery and used the rocket launcher to level it.

Because of the amount of “Chaos” that was accomplished during the mission, another mission became available. The more damage players cause, the more points they get and the more opportunity they have to make more chaos, and undoubtedly the more fun you have.

Just Cause 2 is set for a 2010 release.