Just Cause 3 Hands-On Review: 7 Key Impressions It's Made

2. The AI Ain't So Smart

Driving my bullet-riddled miltary truck through a provincial Medician town, I spotted the imposing statue of General Di Ravello standing proudly in the town square. I attached one end of the grappling hook to the statue, the other to the truck, then get into the truck and step on the gas. My first attempt failed, and upon stretching the grappling hook to its limit, the truck lifted into the air like a cat trying to break free when you first walk it on a lead (an experience no cat should have to go through). Eventually though, the statue gave way, and crumbled pretty much at the feet of a military guard, barely falling short of crushing him to death. Sitting there amidst the rubble in my military truck - which was still painted with the blood spatters of military guards - I thought this guy would at least call his buddies and say that there's been a bit of an incident. But instead he completely ignored me, and clearly decided in his vacant AI mind that nothing was out of the ordinary. Getting agitated at the lack of attention my destructive endeavours were getting, I decided to push things further. First, I nearly ran him over, which caused him to back away and raise his gun at me, but after a few seconds he settled down. Next step, I got out of my car and pointed a gun at his face, but still he ignored me. "Ok, what's the next step?" I thought. "Maybe he'll react if I shoot him in the face...". Oh, no, that didn't work. That just kills him. Not only are the guards oblivious in sensing trouble, but once you kick them into action, they're equally hapless - happy to stand in the middle of the street and exchange fire with bullet-sponge Rico rather than get behind cover. In order for the guards to give up chasing you, it's usually enough to just kill all the guards in an area (not a hard task), rather than ever having to make a desperate getaway.