Jagged Alliance 2

Users of linux or bsd, check out the ja2-stracciatella project! It is a port of the original with a bunch of bugfixes and runs natively. So it is also suggested for windows users if they don't plan on using the 1.13 mods.

Best Game ever!

Jagged Alliance 2 is one of the greatest games ever made. Ever, no joke. It's a complex turn-based tactical squad game, with incredible depth, _hundreds_ of memorable characters, and a plethora of items and weapons to suit whatever playstyle you choose. If you like strategy games and have not played Jagged Alliance 2, your have a hole in your education a mile wide. Now get the latest v1.13 patch, and multiply all that by a million.

The game does work when you install Stracciatella or some other mods. Hence only three stars. The game is a classic and I bought it out of nostalgia. It still has good tactical depths, however it's an extreme grind. If you thought, X COM has an annoying accuracy calculator, play JA2. Don't get me wrong: the game is 23 years old and still fun but it can be extremly frustrating, ie when you need 12 shots at an enemy, despite very high marksmanship and despite the enemy being in range. that really kills the fun. A challange is nice but needing 15 minuets and an enourmous amount of turns to hit an enemy that is not covered just does not live up to todates standard of a game anymore.

What can be said that haven't been said about this game? Personally, if I'd have to make a toplist about the best games I've ever played - eventhough there were a lot of great games - this would probably come out as top 1. The atmosphere, the countless options, the difficulty, the combat, the music, the characters: everything add up a fantastic experience. I've finished this games at least 10 times, increasing difficulty and/or detail each time. I've spent countless hours training my troops before invading Deidranna's fort as a final mission, just to make sure that everyone has the best stats. Hired merc soldiers, threw a grenade among them, and practiced medical skill by stitching the poor bastards into one piece again :) Ordered every kind of damaged weaponry from Bobby Rays and spent hours reparing to make sure my soldiers are the best mechanics in Arulco. Made, armed and disarmed TNTs to gain wisdom (?! :D), trained in the swamps with 3 mortars on my soldiers back to improve their health, strenght. Beat the living s*** out of those poor cows on the farmlands to improve dexterity and strenght. And having a lot of fun at the same time! This game is like no other, the community is great and made a lot of stuff (like X-COM Long War patch) that makes the vanilla 'expert' difficulty look like a walk in the park. You want 6 IMP characters: you can get it by using mods. Countless hours of oldschool fun that never gets old. Lots of content, great humor, fun, difficulty, options and nice atmosphere. Definately a must have/try, even if you haven't tried it out yet! Don't let the old looks discourage you: the core/heart of this game is as rewarding and as fresh as it was 17 (holy cow!!!) years ago! For me, it's a love that never dies. Love you, Jagged Allience 2!