Now though, CIA black ops agent Rico Rodriguez is back in Just Cause 2. Several years on from events in the first game, Rico is on hiatus, soaking up the sun and sea in South America. His vacation's cut short though when old partner Maria Kane calls for Rico's assistance in tracking down and killing his friend and mentor Tom Sheldon, gone rogue and in hiding on the island of Panau, located in the Malay Archipelago.

Just Cause 2 promises to offer more than a simple story update though, with developer Avalanche Studios intent on creating a sequel to please fans and detractors alike. The original game's healthy does of humour and daredevil escapades make a welcome return, but part two also seeks to address common complaints of Rico's first outing. Most notably, Avalanche is concentrating its efforts on improving combat and enemy AI, offering a much bigger dose of meaningful, rewarding content, plus integrating those all-important insane stunts more tightly with Rico's basic skill set.

Now, for instance, enemies are much more than simple cannon fodder. Avalanche has incorporated a sophisticated planning system, enabling intelligent responses from opponents to your own actions. Dynamically adapting, your pursuers can use their surroundings more tactically, taking cover, corner-flanking and commandeering vehicles. What's more, enemies can communicate with one another, gathering squads, organising guards for tactically significant installations or even calling for reinforcements, whether that be parachute units or helicopter attacks.

With more challenging opponents on hand, Avalanche is also overhauling Just Cause's combat engine, its Hybrid Locking System with independent aiming reticule enables the targeting of specific limbs on your foes. What's more, Rico has a whole new arsenal at his disposal this time around. Alongside laser-controlled rockets, Just Cause 2 features a one-handed grenade launcher, detachable mounted mini-gun and sticky remote-triggered C4 – the last of which can even be deployed while in the air, ideal for impromptu parachute-bound bomb runs. Even better, both weapons and vehicles are now full-upgradeable, with over 2,000 parts at your disposal.