Just Cause 2 Steps Out of the Box

via IGN


New details have emerged about fresh-faced Swedish developer Avalanche's Just Cause 2, the follow-up to the well-received sandbox game that earnt itself an 8.8 score from our reviewers last year.

In an interview with PSW magazine, the game's lead designer Peter Johansson stated: "We identified the key areas we wanted to improve for Just Cause 2. We wanted to make better use of our huge game world, enhance the stunts, improve the combat and reward exploration more." What's more, the original's setting on the island San Esperitio has been ditched in favour of a tropical paradise in South East Asia, but retains its charismatic lead Rico Rodriguez.

Of particular interest is the bold move to ditch the peripheral activities that often form the backbone of the majority of sandbox games, with Johansson claiming: "We've ditched the concept of side-missions." A brave move, but maybe one that's necessary to differentiate the title in an already over-crowded market.

The game will be fully next-gen - unlike the last entry which straddled the generational divide - and is expected on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.