I'm probably in the minority here when I say I enjoyed Just Cause. I'd even go so far as to say I'd pick it any day over the GTA (not counting IV since it's not out yet) series. Sure, GTA is cool but it will probably never top the crazy nature of Just Cause. Hijacking a chopper with a grappling gun, using it for a bombing run on a drug lord's villa then jumping out of it to hitch a ride on a flying jet and using it to climb into the heavens before bailing out and skydiving (as well as racing the falling jet to the ground) to land on a boat? Come on! It can't get much better than that!

Of course, Just Cause wasn't perfect. The gunplay and animation sucked and there wasn't much to do anyways but it's nice to see that the game's not a lost cause. Ok, we knew a ways back it wasn't a lost cause when a sequel was announced...we just didn't know when it's coming. News out today confirms that Just Cause II will be hitting the PC, PS3 and 360 (no Wii love! Sorry Wii-only owners) this year. Just Cause II will be set in South East Asia (probably not in a real country though...maybe Madripoor then?) and contain all the lovely goodness that made the original fun minus(or so the devs say) the bad parts (lame side-missions, questionable visuals, tons of annoying glitches).

Will they come through on the promises? No idea...but hell, Just Cause pretty much was crap to the majority of gamers anyways so even if they do bomb with the sequel it's not as if a lot of gamers will care .

What we should be asking though is the release date realistic? The recent delays with big name titles (the english version of Brawl, Alone In the Dark...possibly Mercenaries 2 as well) is giving me the impression that developers think it's fashionable to not meet your release dates...

- Sal