If there was ever a franchise defined by instilling its core gameplay mechanics with a tangible sense of fun, it’s Square Enix’s Just Cause series. Though it first debuted back in 2006 with little-to-no fanfare, the action franchise has quietly grown in prominence, and the direct sequel remains a favorite among genre fans even to this day. So, it’s with great excitement that we bring you the maiden gameplay trailer for this year’s Just Cause 3, and boy, is it spectacular.
Following up on last week’s box art reveal, the clip clocks in at just over 1 minute in length; however, the developers have crammed enough explosions into the trailer’s minute running time to sink a ship. Moreover, according to Square Enix, the footage above doesn’t contain any scripted sequences to speak of, instead offering up an untainted, unedited look at what the upcoming sequel will be like. A refreshing approach, considering the growing tendency to unveil a vertical slice of an unreleased title that bears little semblance to the final product – we’re looking at you, Watch Dogs.
Here’s the official word from the Japanese publisher:
“This footage is all actual gameplay. It was captured in-game using cinematic camera angles. It contains no cut scenes. Nothing was staged or scripted.”
Featuring skydiving, plane hijacking, and an eye-watering amount of explosions, Just Cause 3 is already delivering on what fans of the series crave. If today’s teaser has won you over, Square Enix has noted that those who pre-order the title ahead of time will gain access to the Weaponized Vehicles pack, taking the action that one step further by giving players increased firepower to ward off the island’s goons.
Rico Rodriquez will return for another bombastic adventure, hoping to prove that the action franchise does indeed go to 11, when Avalanche’s Just Cause 3 launches across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC at some point in the holiday season. We’ll likely learn much more about the threequel during the course of E3 in June, but for now, tell us, does this first gameplay clip have you excited for JC‘s release later in the year?