Developer: Avalanche Studios
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform Reviewed: Playstation 4
Release Date: June 3, 2016 with Season Pass, June 10, 2016 with single DLC purchase
Acquired via: Playstation Store
Avalanche’s Just Cause 3 is a game I enjoyed playing through. While the story was a bit weak towards the end, I never got enough of the thrill of flying via wingsuit, dropping into a heavily armed base, and wreaking unholy destruction on it. Those base takeovers really tided me over when the story would grind to a halt.
With Just Cause 3’s second DLC in their Air, Land and Sea Season Pass, Mech Land Assault, I think I’ve had my fill.
On the surface, this DLC is similar in plot to the previous DLC, Sky Fortress. A new menace, the Black Hand, has appeared. Their base of operations is in Lacrima, an island off the coast of Medici. Rico Rodriguez, of course, is tasked with putting them out of business.
First off, I think these DLCs are taking their toll on the game itself. The base game did not start up quickly before, but with both DLCs installed, I initially thought the game had crashed. Good grief, this game took forever to start up!
Early on in this task, Rico comes across the most glorious thing to ever cross his gaze: a mech! The Black Hand utilizes them for their own nefarious purposes, so Rico decides to use them in order to take them out. The mechs – there are two, one with an autocannon as its primary weapon, one with a Bavarium Splitter instead – are a blast to pilot. Their firepower also makes short work of most enemies.
In addition to the primary weapon, the mechs are equipped with JEDI POWERS!!! Ok, they are not technically Jedi Powers, but…I mean, come on! You can use the mech’s left arm perform a force pulse (IT’S ACTUALLY CALLED A FORCE PULSE) to fling enemies away or grab enemies or objects to shoot off like a physics gun. The only things missing are a lightsaber and a pretentious attitude!
With mech in tow, I figured the game would be tons more fun to play. And initially, I was giggling like a toddler while piloting the mech. Sadly, however, the fun didn’t last.
The new missions don’t add anything new. You are basically reduced to the same tasks as with the base game: liberate provinces until you are allowed to start the final mission. There are two mech challenges to test your skills with if you are done with the campaign. Everything can be finished in about four hours. Yes, using the mech is fun, but all you end up doing is mostly killing the same baddies with a new toy.
If you purchased the Season Pass for Just Cause 3, playing this DLC will at least be a minor diversion. Personally, I couldn’t justify paying $11.99 standalone for such little content.
I hope that the Sea portion of the Air, Land and Sea Season Pass mixes things up some more. Mechs and Force Powers can only take you so far.
