If you've ever seen the films "The Dogs of War" or "The Wild Geese" you already know what Jagged Alliance 2 is all about. You are a mercenary commander with a contract to free the tropical state of Arulco from the tyranny of a brutal dictator. To that end, you are given a sum of starting money, access to soldiers for hire, and an online (virtual) equipment store. The rest is up to you. The game is played on two levels. On the strategic level, you move your units on the map of Arulco, which is divided into numerous sectors, some of which contain valuable assets such as towns, airports and mines. At any time you can switch to the tactical level. Here you are confined to the sector your mercenaries are currently located in. If enemies are present, the game switches to turn-based mode, and this is where this game truly shines. Here you battle your enemies turn by turn in detailed combat. Everything influences the success of your mercenaries, from their abilities to the condition of their weapons to their stance and the time of day. But the game doesn't stop there. It als contains a deep role-playing game aspect that has your mercenaries gain experience and level up. You can train local militias to aid you in the defense of your conquered sectors. You can seize vehicles to travel around the country quicker. You can repair your equipment or built new gadgets. etc. etc. Jagged Alliance is one of the most ingenious game designs ever devised, the this second installment represents the very best the entire genre of turn-based tactis has to offer. A timeless classic that has not in 13 years been met, much less surpassed.
