Just Cause 3: Watch the first hour of gameplay

Square Enix and Avalanche Studios has released footage of the first hour of their upcoming sandbox destruct-em-up Just Cause 3 ahead of its launch on 1 December. The gameplay includes the first handful of missions that show players the basics and re-introduce protagonist Rico Rodriguez to his homeland.

The sets players the task of fighting a revolution on the fictional Mediterranean island of Medici, which is under the control of cartoonish, super-villain dictator General Di Ravello. You can watch the new footage below.

The video's description reads: "Obviously with a game as vast, varied and as open as Medici with its 400 square miles of beautiful beaches, towering mountain peaks and Mediterranean inspired towns your first hour of play might be different to ours. But we thought we'd focus on some of the early missions and content to whet your appetite ahead of next week's launch. Enjoy."

Just Cause 3 arrives five years after the previous game, which endured as a cult classic on consoles and PC, where a devoted mod scene kept interest alive. The new game keeps fun and freedom at the forefront of its design, disregarding the laws of physics whenever they might hinder the fun.

Avalanche's sequel promises chaos and big action thrills but we were left a little sceptical over its depth after a recent preview event. Regardless, Just Cause 3 is right at the top of a lot of Christmas lists. You will find out what we thought when our review is published next week.

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