Jagged Alliance 2

Reviewing games like Jagged Alliance 2 is both difficult and exciting at the same time, it is an honour and a challenge because this title is unique on so many levels, describing every aspect and every strong side in one short review is impossible! To start, this game hits the nostalgia spot almost like no other old game that I've played (and I've played many!) I first played JA2 as a 10 year old kid somewhere around 2000-2001 and instantly fell in love with this TBT, every little detail of the game just resonated with me (the Sir-Tec Laptop with the cool music, the way you could hire all kinds of unique mercenaries, the E-Mails you would receive from various senders, etc) and relatively quickly,I learned how to actually deploy the mercs onto the field. The combat elements in the game were just as well made as the OST and UI, and i was excited to see the HUGE variety of the guns that the game offered - I still remember the thrill of finding some kind of a new, unknown rifle or an odd item. But despite all these things, as a child, i didn't grasp the economical/strategic aspect of the game and have eventually abandoned it for a few years. Later, I would play and beat JA2 and UB on Normal Difficulty. But now when I have just replayed and finished the game on Expert Mode with Iron Man being selected, all can say is - JA2 is amazing this day still, the replayability value is insane and I recommend playing this game on Expert & Iron Man mode to see the game in all its beauty. JA2 has so many hidden sidequests, unique NPC's, different approaches to major challenges (You can outright exterminate the Crepitus with sheer firepower or use stealth, or even assemble a freaking mini-robot) and finishing the game in one take is essentially impossible - you will find yourself coming back to this game, almost like you re-read a favourite book once in a decade again. Despite 22 years (!) later, no-one was able to make anything close to JA2 - This is a legendary game like no other!

Thinking about what i could write as a review then the nostalgia hit me. I remember seeing the game box at a store for software i guess soon after the initial release. Being underage i think you could buy this game at 16 or 18 years of age in Germany. I was like 12 or 13 years old and i had to convince my mom to buy this game and the box art didn't really help me to convince her. But somehow, I got her to buy me the game. I don't even know how i convinced her. The game is great and really unmatched in athmosphere, jokes and characters that really was only possible in the 90's. Thanks mom

This is simply a must have for any fan of tactical combat games.

This game is one of those that you cant stop playing once you start. Tons of options for your characters as you go through the non-linear story line. This is $$ Well spent you cant go wrong with this game. Also there is a great mod out for it called the v1.13 mod that really makes this game complete.

If you haven't played it, get it now. God, I miss this game. I've played it so often now a new playthrough has nothing to offer, to the point I remember where the cover spots and loot items are, not to mention the "recruit for a day for the kit" tricks and character synergies/conflicts. Or how to answer each starting quiz question to get the exact custom merc I want. Someone really needs to make another one of these - but the IP seems to have had a rocky ride. Hopefully this version is compatible with the great community mods that are still out there, which adds replay value