Being able to commandeer an enemy helicopter and blow your attackers to kingdom come also helps stem the frustration. This was also an issue in previous entries, but the gunplay has improved even the most bullet-spongy enemy can be downed with a few headshots, and generous checkpoints ensure steady progress through even the most difficult missions. Just Cause 4 occasionally gets too difficult for its own good, bombarding you with swarms of enemies that have no qualms about taking potshots from afar. All in all, Just Cause 4вЂ™s missions offer up plenty of manic fun, even if I was ready to never flip another circuit breaker once the final pocket of Solis was liberated. The main story missions provide further variety, and are also broken down into several chains based on biome-specific weather storms that have Rico chasing tornados and wingsuiting his way through sandstorms, blizzards, and deadly lightning storms (not recommended, by the way). These liberation missions become repetitive, but are augmented by three different chains of missions that feed your grappler upgrades.

Instead of just blowing up everything thatвЂ™s painted red (which youвЂ™re still encouraged to do), Rico undergoes discrete missions to soften up each district before advancing the frontlines of the war, which is represented by endless clashes between the Black Hand and RicoвЂ™s Army of Chaos. Liberating Solis is slightly more involved than previous entries.

Sticking a squad of enemy soldiers with airlifters and inflating them into the stratosphere isnвЂ™t the smartest way to win a ground conflict, but it sure is entertaining. RicoвЂ™s grappling hook, parachute, and wingsuit also turn him into a veritable superhero, and make zipping around the island a breeze.

The handy arm cannon allows you to flex your destructive creativity by suspending objects via giant balloons, tethering them together with cables, or turning pretty much anything into an improvised missile with rocket boosters. While players can find an arsenal of satisfyingly overpowered weapons strewn about every enemy stronghold, your most invaluable tool remains RicoвЂ™s grappler. Even when I was laying siege to the Black HandвЂ™s most fortified strongholds, ziplining between attack helicopters and showering the battlefield with the debris of every radar dish, propane tank, and enemy vehicle I could set my sights on, the frame rate held up, and the visuals continued to dazzle. One of the biggest criticisms lodged at Just Cause 3 was its stuttering and inconsistent framerate, and AvalancheвЂ™s number-one priority here was clearly the gameplay. Those doubts didnвЂ™t last long once I began exploring Just Cause 4вЂ™s diverse and beautiful open world. Add in some confusing progression and customization menus that take a while to wrap your head around, and I had some serious doubts if Just Cause 4 would live up to my previous enjoyment of the series. The story those scenes convey also isnвЂ™t anything to write home about Rico Rodriguez finds himself on yet another island that needs liberating from the Black Hand mercenary group, which has served as the antagonizing force in most of the previous entries. The main menu screen requires a hefty load time, and many cutscenes suffer from stuttering framerates and perplexingly low-res textures. When I first started Just Cause 4, it didnвЂ™t make a great first impression.

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