Just Cause 2 Demo Impressions

Over the weekend I ran through the Just Cause 2 demo about 3 times. Here's what I picked up.

Things I liked:

• The 'toys'. The two gimmicks that sell the game, the parachute and the grappling hook/cable. Firing the cable at gas tanks/people/vehicles is very cool. Zipping over distances reminds me of Spiderman and Zelda. Using the parachute in tandem with jumping from cars/base jumping is also very cool, although it takes a while to get the controls down.
• The action movie moments. Dropping onto the roof of a generals palace. Engaging in a firefight with him and his guards. He hides behind an explosive barrell. I blow it up, so he retreats next to a crate, but in line with a propane tank. Shoot the tank, which hits the crate and kills the General. Grappel to the roof, jump in a helicopter. Gain as much altitude as possible, only to be fired on by two other helicopters. Mine bursts into flames, so I jump ship and grappel to the underneath of one of the attacking choppers. I shoot out the passenger and pilot and jump in, unfortunately by now this chopper is almost dead as well. I grappel to the last helicopter and just stay beneath it as it flys around. I let go and float down to the nearest town. The helicopter persues, but stops once I cable it to a statue. Very cool.
• The car controls. Comparing this to the last 3rd person game I played (The Saboter), it was so nice to have cars that turned when you wanted them to. It makes such a difference.
  

Things I Didn't:

• The pea shooter. Either the guns you are given shoot spit wads, or every soldier is wearing seven layers of kevlar, even over thier head, since it takes a solid amount of shots, even to the head (Sometimes a headshot will kill them) to bring someone down.
• The voice acting. The voices sound horrible. They sound exactly like a south park episode where someone does the most stereotypical asian voice. Awful and border line insulting.

Things I need the full game to really judge:

• The land. I realise that there is a large area for you to zip around, parachuting and hooking your way to crazy adventure, and that there was only a small area shown in the demo, however from the look of things it looks like the island(s) are kind of deserted. There are a few towns, but no real metropolitan area. I realise this could be a design choice, done to reflect the economic situation of the setting, but just one city would change things up enough to keep it fresh.
• The gameplay. Sure its fun grappeling from one area to the next, jumping on top of cars, etc. But what makes up the rest of the game. If it just destroying the little towns then I might give it a miss. I just finished The Saboteur, I think one game of endless destruction per six months is enough.