Despite some framerate issues and repetitive gameplay, "Just Cause 3" is a fun open-world action title. Filled with plenty of big explosions and over-the-top stunts, it is the video game equivalent of Vin Diesel's "XXX" movies. In this third installment, series protagonist Rico Rodriguez returns to his homeland only to discover that it has fallen under the rule of a brutal dictator. Seeking to restore freedom to his people, Rico attempts to overthrow the authoritarian rule with the help of his old friend Mario, the leader of an underground resistance movement. The scenario is straight out of "Far Cry 4", but the gameplay is heavily reminiscent of Pandemic's "Mercenaries". As Rico, players can use multiple weapons and vehicles (including jets, boats and helicopters) to reek massive destruction on the enemy in order to liberate the land.
Like in the Batman Arkham games, Rico can glide through the skies with the combination of a parachute, wingsuit and a grappling hook. As you free the country from enemy propaganda and complete story missions as well as side-quests, you'll be awarded with upgrades and new skills. The action gameplay is a lot of fun, especially when you get the tether which can be use to tie up people and things. But it also can get repetitive fast since you're required to liberate many areas on the map before a new story mission becomes available. On the technical side, the ragdoll physics and gigantic explosions are quite impressive. But unfortunately, the framerate takes a major hit every time major havoc occurs on-screen. The lack of cooperative play is also a major blunder since many games of this nature (Far Cry 4, Saints Row, Mercenaries 2) do include it.
But despite its shortcomings, "Just Cause 3" is a real blast to play for those that enjoy single player action games. If you ever wanted to dual-wield pistols, drive a tank, fly a fighter jet and fire a rocket launcher while on a parachute in one game, this is for you. The story missions are cookie cutter, but the side-missions and optional objectives allow players to go wild with their imagination. You can even use your tether to create all sorts of hilarious situations. I'd rank JC 3 with an 8 out of 10.