Out of the 30 odd games I've played this year, Just Cause 2 is the stand out. If you like sandbox games, exploration and blowing stuff up, then this is the game for you. 200+ unique vehicles, 40+ square miles to explore and my personal favourite, over 1000 fuel tanks to blow up.
The combat is fairly simplistic, with auto aim doing a lot of the work for you. For a console shooter, that suits me fine. Reasonably limited array of weapons. They are all upgradeable, affecting their performance but they are still the same 10 weapons.
The driving model is pretty average, still fun to be had with the handbrake though. The best part is the range of vehicles – taxis, sedans, tuk tuks, scooters, road bikes, sports cars, cigar boats, barges, scout helicopers, gunships, fighter jets. Pretty much all you'll ever need.
Player movement is the best I've seen, the grappling hook and parachute mean you won't waste time walking around. Base jumps, skydives, HALOs – it's all good fun.
Graphics are fantastic, sounds are above average. Replay value is huge, much better than RDD or Crackdown 2. I've played 65 odd hours for about 60% completion and still go back for more.
If you like Just Cause, or you think this game sounds like fun, then do yourself a solid and buy it!!