Jagged Alliance 2 Review

With the exception of the X-Com series, turn-based games must form one of the least popular of the genres. Obviously there are supporters, but they are few and with games such as the critically acclaimed Commandos being released, many would be forgiven for thinking that the turn-based genre was dead and buried. But here to disprove this theory is a little known game called Jagged Alliance 2 which will go a long way to showing these people that this isn’t the case.<p>Despite the obvious turn-based influences from games like X-Com 3, other genres are included as well, most importantly being the role playing elements but along with this are strategy and resource management. The player’s task is to hand pick up to three squads consisting of six mercenaries before embarking on the adventure. The whole game revolves around the player’s laptop computer that allows the player to hire mercenaries, buy weapons and a whole host of other options. It is here where JA2 demonstrates its incredible depth. Every mercenary has a history, and a list of personal statistics, which for once make a huge difference as to how they perform on the battlefield.<p>The mock up laptop control interface is really a joy to use. Even the turn-based battle sections prove to be immensely enjoyable, what it all comes down to is that JA2 is just so accessible. When asking your squad to enter a building, instead of blindly barging into one and other, they work around the problem and figure out different ways of entering the building. Coupled with this is the ease in which the characters can perform their various actions, involving simple clicks and movements of the mouse.<p>Graphically the game is shoddy and wouldn’t have looked out of place 4 years ago. However, despite the very dated isometric graphics, the animation is top notch and really for a game of this sort any other graphical style would have complicated this gloriously simple game.<p>The plot is plausible (more than can be said for some games) and provides a very involving adventure, even if the dialogue and accents can sometimes descend to the hilariously bad. The non-linear approach makes unravelling continually progressive plot all that more exciting.<p>The dated graphics and the turn-based nature of JA2 will people deter many, but they will be missing out on what is an instantly accessible and incredibly involving gaming experience.