Jagged Alliance 2

The term "classic" gets bandied about far too often these days, but Jagged Alliance 2 is one game that absolutely deserves that label. Why? Because nearly 25 years after it's release it is still one of the best games, if not *the* best, in it's genre. This is turn-based gameplay done right, as JA2 manages to blend a number of elements together into one coherent mix. It has an interesting setting, a good feeling of progression, RPG-lite character building, full strategic control over where you go, what you do, who does it and what with, and of course the meat of the game, the excellent turn-based battles. It even manages to combine it's somewhat serious nature, a brutal civil war, with liberal doses of humour, usually provided by it's eclectic mix of characters. All of the above makes JA2 an must for any TBS fan, but there's more. Even after two decades, this game still has an active modding community! The most well known mod is called "v1.13", which started out as an unofficial patch. (The last official patch was v1.12.) Since then it has grown into a huge modification which not only fixes countless issues, but also introduces numerous new features and gameplay additions. For example, it adds a new equipment-based inventory system, an overhaul to the combat system, a disguise and spying system, and much, much more such as thousands of new weapons and items to play with. What's more, all of the features it adds are completely optional, you can turn them on and off at will to tailor the game exactly as you want it. The only thing that really "dates" JA2 is it's graphics, but that only matters to the console kiddies. Those who put gameplay before pixel-crack won't worry about it, and today's over-reliance on graphics over substance is one of the primary reasons we won't see a game like JA2 again anytime soon. TLDR; If you're a fan of turn-based combat then you owe it to yourself to give Jagged Alliance 2 a try. You will not be disappointed!

wife left. was fired from all jobs. still playing JA 1,2, mods over 10 years. folder containing 1.13 just named "The Game"

It was about my 3rd restart when I finally saw that you can order weapons and equipment online. There is a 'Links' button on the A.I..M. page that takes you there, but there is absolutely nothing that indicates that such an important thing is, in fact, an important thing. The whole game is like that. Everything is funky. On my 2nd try, I saw that you can train your guys during their downtime. I was like, 'Wow! You can do that?' It was in a submenu, and it changed the way I looked at the game. Anyway, I ordered some ammo online, but when It showed up (in a crate, you'll never know where it is until suddenly, you decide to look inside the crate), some of it was missing... Everything is funky. Nothing is clear. How to do stuff is not explained. No hand holding, hell, there's not even a hand to hold. You're on your own. But when you figure it out, you're just that much more impressed with the depth. 3 more things: 1. One of the rare games, like Civilization and Diablo, that you can reinstall and play a year later and be totally in love with it again. It's the gift that keeps on giving, it never gets stale. 2. Any game that can make you say out loud, "Way to go, Ira! Great shot!" is a damm good game. 3. Get the 1.13 unofficial patch. You need it, if only to shut Skyrider up. A must play, must have game.

This game is tactics fan dream come true, with TONS of missions, sidequests, strategy and most importantly - awesome combat. With this game released X-COM finally got a rightful heir to the throne. PS: Patch 1.13 is a must! It adds so much awesome stuff (like fighting during lightning storm) that you HAVE TO install it.

JA2 is in my top 5 computer games of all time. Most games loose their luster as graphics advance and genres refine, but this game is as good today as on the day it was released. JA2 is primarily a turn-based tactical combat game, set in the modern era. The tactical combat engine is wrapped around an extraordinarily open-ended strategy layer. You to recruit mercenaries, fight battles, buy equipment, train militia, and direct your team or teams all over a huge map. Here's an small example of the emergent gameplay in the strategy layer alone: I've just taken the last sector of the town of Drassen with my five mercenary team. I'm low on cash, have three injured mercs, my best gun is low on ammo, and enemy troops will likely attack withinn the next 24-48 hours. My guys probably won't survive in this state. I'll start my doctor healing the wounded.My main repair guy is one of the wounded, so while he's being tended tot, I'll have my uninjured second best repair guy fix that old Thompson SMG and that shotgun I just found. I'll spend some money having another merc train up the local militia. Do I use what's left of my funds to buy new equipment and some SMG ammo, which won't arrive for days? Or do I hire a few throwaway mercs from the company that doesn't require cash up front? Or do I spend it all on the best merc I can afford, maybe even foregoing buying his or her standard equipment, just giving him stuff I've salvaged? But waiting for that new merc to arrive would take time. Instead, I could heal up one or two guys, and come nightfall, use my team to attack the smallest of the enemy patrols outside of town. If I'd win, I'd eliminate a big chunk of the threat, and would likely gain new ammo and equipment that would make a defensive battle easier. But I'm also low on medical kits, so if I take too many hits my team could end up more vulnerable than they are now. And I haven't even touched on the tactical combat engine, which is by far the best I've ever played, or on how fun it is to eqip each merc with just the right gear for their talents, or on the over-the-top personalities of the mercs, or on the 1.13 mod and the HAM mod . . .