Just Cause 4 has been leaked, and it's thanks to Steam of all places. It's definitely coming then, and will almost certainly be revealed at E3 - either at a Microsoft or Sony conference or Square Enix's own event.
The Just Cause series is fun, but we're concerned that with both Rage 2 and Generation Zero coming from Avalanche they might be over-stretched. So, we're here to offer suggestions! Here's 5 Things We Want To See In Just Cause 4!
5. Just Cause 4 - Destruction, Wingsuit, Ridiculousness, Everything That Works
The main thing we want to want to see in Just Cause 4 is Avalanche not messing with anything that actually makes us want to play Just Cause in the first place. This sounds obvious, but sequels - in both movies and games - have a habit of over-stuffing themselves with new features or ideas that take away from the very things we liked about the original. Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a good recent example.
For Just Cause, that means keeping the same wonderful balance between wingsuit, grapple and parachute, the destruction of environments, and the almost Saints Row-level ridiculousness of the whole situation. If Avalanche wants to up environment destruction or make Just Cause even more over-the-top, we whole-heartedly support it, but don't add superpowers or anything.
4. Just Cause 4 - More Easter Eggs and Secrets
Sort of falls into the first point but we're giving this its own. Apart from generally messing around, the most fun thing to do - or find - in a Just Cause game is all the easter eggs and secrets that Avalanche leave in there. Bored of blowing up things? Then go on a search for Thor's Hammer, Snowmen, or explore the island from Lost!
Avalanche always leave loads of these fun things in there, like driveable rubber ducks or King Kong's Skull Island, and we're happy for them to take this to the max. Seriously, if you guys want to have alien invasions or make the entire world shaped like Dopefish, be our guest.
3. Just Cause 4 - Co-op and Multiplayer
We've perhaps got this in mind because Avalanche just announced their own open-world co-op shooter Generation Zero, but it wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that Just Cause 4 could do with the same treatment. The free multiplayer add-on for Just Cause 2 rejuvenated it to such a degree the studio gave it it's own Steam listing - go on, check your library if you own Just Cause 2, it'll be there.
Which makes it all the more bizarre that Just Cause 3 didn't get official multiplayer treatment. The insanity of the series is lots of fun in single-player, but the best thing about Just Cause is ignoring everything and just screwing around - which is always far more fun when you have a partner. Something to consider, Avalanche.
2. Just Cause 4 - Better Mission Variety
We just mentioned all the best things about previous Just Cause games, but something no one ever talks about are missions. That's because they suck. Go here, destroy that thing, kill that person... no. Not in this day and age. Just Cause deserves better. Avalanche, you make great open-world games, but you're not so good at giving specific things to do in them. Look at The Witcher 3, GTA 5, or Saint's Row 3 for how to create more interesting missions.
With the toys at Avalanche's disposal, the missions in Just Cause should be fantastic. Instead they were dreary and monotonous. Clearly they were low priority in Just Cause 3. In Just Cause 4, they need to be far higher priority, especially if there's still no goddamn co-op.
1. Just Cause 4 - Polished and Bug-Free
Why does everyone love Just Cause 2 but no one really talks about Just Cause 3? Because when it launched, Just Cause 3 was one of the most buggy and underpolished games of its generation. Bugs, performance issues, framerate fluctuations, the game was infamous for having all of them in spades. Even after patching people are still giving the game bad reviews because it plays so bad.
This is not only a request, but a requirement - players are going to be a lot more wary this time. If Just Cause 4 is to be a success, it has to be the most polished open-world game of all time. We're not kidding. It can have funny glitches that make cool videos, but framerate issues or memory leaks that make the game laggy to play? That'll kill the game fast if it happens again.
Don't rush it, Avalanche and Square Enix. Finish Just Cause 4 before you release it.
