Newcomer in Panau!

[JRD]

I finally took my time and decided to give JC2 a go. I know this is the right kind of game for me as it has all elements I like in a game: open world-ness, shooter (I don't mind 3rd person, I actually like it), plenty of vehicles, huge game world, sand box, great graphics, great pace and action...  8)

So far I only did a couple missions after the cassino burst and been fooling around with helos and jets. I'm not quite familiar with controls yet and it feels a bit bonky sometimes but the action is amazing. I still have to get acquainted with factions and story plot to be more fluid in the game world but what I saw so far is... wow  ??? ... massive is the word!  :-X

[PZ]

Glad that your first impressions are positive, JRD - I love the game and it is still on the top of my lists with FC2 and AC series.  :-X

You're going to have a great time - there are so many things to see and do, and the mission variety is for me quite varied.

[Art Blade]

You are right, JRD, the controls are wobbly and all that.. takes some getting used to. But then.. then, you'll have a LOT of fun mate  :-() :-X

Enjoy.. and keep us posted :)

[JRD]

I've done some more missions now and have missions from the three factions popping all over my map!  >:D

I spend lots of time just fooling around with the grappling hook, stealing helos and attacking military bases to hijack jets so I could fly over Panau "discovering" settlements like PZ suggested and creating havock here and there.  8) Man, there are so much to do and see in this game I don't think I'll ever get it 100%, even if I stick to this playthrough and really apply myself into that task!  ???

The grappling hook is an amazing feature... it is as if Spiderman and Rambo were merged to create Rico  ;D

They twisted physics to a ridiculous point and yet it doesn't seems bad. I mean, free falling from 3.000 meters and instead of opening your parachute you just grapple to any surface and you're good to go... that's insane... and yet funny as hell!!!  >:D

I must say that with all that playground to distract me I didn't get into the story. I keep hearing about a White Tiger and during some cutscenes I know Rico is after a bad, bad american, but that's just noise to me... I'm doing missions not to get the story going but to open up more possibilities for me to blow up stuff and create chaos. I don't think the plot is going to hold my attention but I'll keep going to see how the game ends!  8)

[Art Blade]

I enjoyed my first playthrough which took very long and discovering all areas and stuff like that was massively time-consuming. That's what kept me from starting a new playthrough. So I use savegames and on top I modded the game which allows me to move around without getting killed all the time. With the country at peace it is very nice to freely roam all those wonderful locations :)

[PZ]

Indeed - the PC allows modding the game, and JC2 is one of the most fun I've ever modded.  For instance, I have one mod in which the factions fly helicopters, and will actually come to your assistance.  You can even hitch a ride with them as they fly around (their helicopter color is the same as their ground vehicles.  Part of the mod actually lets the faction guys use the heavy armor that the cops often use.

[Art Blade]

One mod I use turns me into a Panau military guy. It even comes with the uniform to dress Rico with :) In general it means you're free to go anywhere without being attacked and it even allows you to drive with military vehicles while they're still in (basically like a taxi). Quite some fun :)

[PZ]

That sounds like a fun one I've not tried yet.  :-X

I actually started another play through (because I'd forgotten how to use the controls  :-()) and am having loads of fun - missed Panau and the huge open world I guess.  I was just 'chuting around near the twin hotel towers when I saw a faction helicopter coming toward me.  Naturally I grappled to, and hijacked the bird.  Now I was ready for action  >:D

I flew to the nearest military installation and began shooting - then the govmen called for air support.  It was really funny, the faction guy riding shotgun stuck his body out the door and began shooting at the opposing copter - I actually felt a sense of loss when the govmen shot the cute little guy.

Interesting thing is that the game was not designed to display visuals in this manner - the factions aren't supposed to fly helicopters, so it is fascinating that the detail is so high in what the factions guys do.  :-X

[JRD]

Man, this must be the most insane action/shooter game of all time. Just now I did a mission where I attacked a govmen base by silently sneaking to one SAM, then another and detonated both with triggered explosives. Before they could realise they were under attack I managed to steal the attack helo and blast the living hell out of them.  >:D  >:D

I had to go down a large shaft to hack a terminal and blow up some facility where they were doing some chemical stuff I guess so I had to disembark the helo and blast the remaining soldiers with my guns and grenades but it was pretty easy.

After finishin g the mission I returned to the helo and flew to a nearby radar station to create some chaos. Of course they fought back and destroyed my helo before I could clear the whole area from the SAMs... next thing I know is I'm free falling back to the base I just attacked, being chased by another helo while the destroyed helo I was in went down too.... I almost managed to get rid of the other helo but as my HEAT was too high the base  were again filled with govmen coming from all hole plus the machingun fire from their helo! Wow... what a death!  8)

[PZ]

Sounds like you're deep into it JRD - I think that mission was called "Fly me to the moon", or something like that, and occurs at Cape Carnival?  :-X

I always appreciated the open world feel, and actually created a game save with all of the bases, cities, towns exposed, but with none of the missions done.  This allows me to fast travel anywhere to recapture some of my most favorite missions.

[JRD]

I can't remember the mission I just played but this is not the one you are thinking of. The mission you are talking about is called Fry me to the moon, and is the one you are supposed to destroy 3 satellites before they are sent to orbit and in the end you find out there's a fourth one already launched. You then steal a fighter and blow up the rocket in mid air in one fantastic, over the top sequence  8)

Missions are very well designed and pretty diverse in this game. And as I know it's a pretty long game, the fun should last for months in a row!!  >:D

[PZ]

... Fry me to the moon...

Yes, i remember than name now - those govmen transpost rs for ls - like "Frank him!"

[JRD]

"Frank him!"

The Panauan accent is great...  8)

They really worked on the details of this game. It reminds me the GTA series (on steroids) a lot. Driving, flying, sailing, shooting, tanks, factions..... GTA only miss a grappling hook and a parachute but the living world is just as much well polished!

[PZ]

I managed to become quite proficient with the grapple hook on the console, and it turned out to be almost as fast as flying the slow plane.  On the PC I installed a modded hook that has a far reach  :-()

[JRD]

After a while fooling around doing faction missions I'll have to change my strategy. My idea was to do as many faction missions as possible before advancing in the story by doing agancy missions. It pays off as I have more items unlocked in the black market and after harvesting lots of ammo and vehicle parts, those unlocked items are also quite upgraded. I also have several strongholds taken all over Panau so it's always a relief to spawn quite close to my missions and also a great way of escaping an air chase as I usually leave the SAM untouched.  ;)

On the other hand, creating so much chaos raised the security level of the military forces in Panau so even an innocent sabotage (blowing up Baby's statues or propaganda traillers) can lead to a chopper chase with boats and dozens of soldiers after me.....  :-(

I did only the first two agency mission: Welcome to Panau and The Casino Burst, which you can not skip. Next one is The White Tiger and I should move on asap nowif I want to progress in the game on a "normal" way.

[Art Blade]

Oh man, telling us those stories brings back memories :) I remember blowing up random statues but also some "statue missions" -- some were really challenging, particularly one that involved ripping off and carrying around a head of a statue and deliver it to someone. :) It is a great game, enjoy, keep having fun :)

[PZ]

Indeed - many good memories.  I almost fired up the game the other day just to see my faction buddies hanging out of the helicopters when we raid the military bases.  :-()

[B33 ENN]

Missions are very well designed and pretty diverse in this game. And as I know it's a pretty long game, the fun should last for months in a row!!  >:D

Have to agree with this observation. The missions are very imaginative compared to so many games out there. That's saying something given the amount of games we've all played. Even though the base mechanics are all the same in any game - go here, fetch/kill/deliver item/person X - this one keeps me interested and excited to keep going and take on all the missions available.

That's not to mention the amount of free roam things there are to do... I just spent hours looking for the highest place to base jump from LOL.

[PZ]

"Imaginative" is a good descriptor.  Not only are they varied in content the environment can be anything from snowy mountains to desert to sea and many more.

[Art Blade]

one of the best games I have ever played.

[JRD]

one of the best games I have ever played.

A long lasting game.... I got so sidetracked I haven't played the main missions yet!  ::)

[PZ]

There is almost unlimited fun in this game.  I still have not been to all corners of Panau

[Art Blade]

even if you get slightly bored having completed the game, there are still plenty of mods to spice things up to your likings  :)