Quick Look: Jagged Alliance: Back In Action

THEY SHOT A KID MAN

It really seemed like most of the pathfinding issues or ordering issues were Dave's fault, not the game's.

@lawl3rbawl3r said:

This reminds me of that turn based war game for genesis where you could have machine gunners, flamethrowers etc etc. Anyone remember the name of that game?

This?

Oh man, the one thing that bummed me out of the original was that it was turn-based. I am totally buying this game.

"I got an encounter over here..."

tell me more about your encounter...

@Morka: I had the same problem too, when your're in world map you have to send a squad to any of the shield emblems, there is no key to just jump to Tactical view.

If they could blend all the surroundings of this game (overworld, money, etc) with the combat system/controls of Frozen Synapse, I would be pretty into it.

@Vodun: "I must eat shit to know I don't want it."

Looks like Silent Storm was better than this.

@thebigJ_A said:

I don't mind the real-time with pause (being an avid fan of Paradox strategy games, I'm used to it), but why on earth did they think it was a good idea to get rid of fog of war?

Knowing exactly where your enemies are changes the game in a very big way. The tension of wondering what's around the corner, deciding who to send forward to scout, etc. is gone. Instead, it becomes a puzzle game. Yes, a puzzle game. All the obstacles are there in plain sight, and you just have to figure out where to move your guys to take them out. Which is fine, except it's not at all what JA was about.

Not to mention, seeing the AI at all times really shows off how dumb it is. I realize AI is never really very smart, but if I'm immersed in a game, I can trick myself. That guy was there because he'd flanked me, I might think, except if I've seen him wandering around aimlessly the whole time, I know he just happened to bump into me.

ho-hum.

In general I agree with you about Fog of War. It definitely turns everything into much more of a puzzle game (granted, a very fun puzzle game, but I think your point is sound). I think the real reason they removed it is because once they made the decision to go with a pause and go system it really hampered your ability to peek around corners and move through buildings vs. a TBS system. I can tell you right now the hardest enemies are those in buildings who are camping near doors. Since they can attack on sight, I'm screwed unless I can draw them out some way. Lots of times I have to set up two mercs in guard mode outside a door to set up a cone of fire and then use a third merc to lure the bad guy into it. If I was walking through buildings not knowing those dudes were there, the game would be extremely difficult.

That to me is the only real negative in the combat at the moment. They basically made these changes for faster gameplay and from an audience perspective that is also a valid necessity. I'd also argue that the real time nature of Back in Action really forces you to set mercs with cover-fire strategies more than the TBS style. Say what you will about the benefits of TBS, the I-go-you-go nature of the game means that you can effectively cheese the game when you need to as long as you have full AP in your turn.

In the end, Back in Action is simply a different style of game. It's honestly much closer to something like Icewind Dale than JA2. Preferences aside, I'm having a really good time with it, and the pause-and-go stuff isn't as annoying as I thought it would be. Since this is essentially a remake, those who enjoy the old-style still have that option and luckily, JA2 remains an extremely playable game these days. You're really only losing out on 3D and better graphics by going with Back in Action.

I'd echo the other commenters here that I'd enjoy seeing a Frozen Synapse style same-round TBS system in place. That would be pretty rad. I would also adore seeing destructive environments ala Silent Storm.

@snide: can i buy a digital copy of silent storm anywhere? steam and GoG don't seem to cary it

Dave and Vinny doing Quick Looks should be amended into the Constitution. That said, I wouldn't prosecute if Ryan and Jeff snuck one out from time-to-time, just don't go overdoing it.

I think i'd be way better at this game than dave, i was shouting at each of his mistakes.
 
Definately going to check this out at some point, way too many games right now.

@sear: What are you, a child? That has no relevance. A more apt simile is that you're like a 6 year old who is adamant he doesn't like broccoli even if he hasn't tried it.

I love these kind of games! I am unreasonably glad that this is out. Come on payday!

Reminds me of Swat 1 and Rainbow Six but strategy... Good old days of pc gaming.

Ive been play the game the last few days and it is really addicting and fun. You just dont get this kindof game very often and people should embrace it even with its faults to hopefully get more in the future. The game is very well done in comparison to alot of recent releases.

This is the sort of game that with a series of good patches, added features and a kick arse expansion will be a game that people play for a long time.

Wolf is flat like beaver.

@sear: That might be the dumbest thing I've ever read.

@Alexandruxx said:

@TwoLines said:

This looks worse than JA2. Woo-hoo.

To whoever's interested, I'd say you're better off buying JA2 at GOG than playing this.

Oh, fuck off.

JA2 is a classic, it still plays great, and has some neat graphics. I've played this, it has some good ideas, like the command system which is similar to that of Frozen Synapse. Unfortunately though it has a lot of bugs, it's pretty darn ugly, and (and this is my opinion) I like turn based combat more than real time combat, and this blend does nothing for me (as did the combat in the Baldur's Gate series).

I may have came off as a hipsterish asshole, but the quality and polish of the older JA shine like a golden nugget in comparison to this muddy mediocre product. Seriously, if you hadn't played the ol' JA2, I'd say pick the oldie instead. The interface is as bad as here, but everything else is way better.

MUST. FIND. FALLOUT. TACTICS. Great quick look guys...each and every day I think I should go Premium for more of the GiantBomb gang.

@oasisbeyond said:

Reminds me of Swat 1 and Rainbow Six but strategy... Good old days of pc gaming.

SWAT 1 was the FMV game Giant Bomb did a RPCG of a few months ago, you're thinking of SWAT 2.

I would have bought this game by now the darn vocal's weren't such a joke. Guess I'm going to wait for a STEAM sale :-(

@Xeirus: yes you are right sir. thank you

Being a hardcore fan of the original JA2 game, I really tried to get into it, but after a couple of hours of gameplay I've come to the conclusion that it isn't possible. It's just an awful game... It'd be an average game if it didn't wear the Jagged Alliance name in its title, but it does and they should have expected people to have high expectations about it just because it was using the name of this great legacy.

What this abomination has done though was to re-install the original Jagged Alliance 2 game and get myself the latest 1.13 patch. Much much more fun to be had right there. I will wait and see if people will mod the Back in Action game and might go back if they fix and add stuff that the devs didn't include even though vanilla JA2 had it.

So, is it just me or is the demo level for this WAY FUCKING HARDER than what is shown here? I am enjoying the gameplay of it, but it is vein-popping hard. Only one or two camps where you can fight only 3 - 5 enemies at a time, then there's two huge camps that seem like if you shoot anyone at them, all 10 - 20 enemies aggro to you and straight up murder you. I kind of want to buy this, but not if that is how difficult most of the game will be. (Or maybe I'm playing the demo level really, really wrong.

Voice acting; pretty poor.

Music; Greattttt!

Dave: "I've got it set up so it automatically pause"

Then the video died on me that very second. Pretty funny stuff.

I want a new Valkyria Chronicles. A PS3 one - a REAL one. Not those jokey PSP ones. That's what this reminded me of.

Maybe XCOM Enemy Unknown will get me back into strategy

Vinny: Do you get a penalty if you shoot a kid?

Dave: ...

@xobballox said:

So, is it just me or is the demo level for this WAY FUCKING HARDER than what is shown here? I am enjoying the gameplay of it, but it is vein-popping hard. Only one or two camps where you can fight only 3 - 5 enemies at a time, then there's two huge camps that seem like if you shoot anyone at them, all 10 - 20 enemies aggro to you and straight up murder you. I kind of want to buy this, but not if that is how difficult most of the game will be. (Or maybe I'm playing the demo level really, really wrong.

It's not you, the demo is really hard.

Vinny's Deckard Cain was pretty spot on.

This has been mentioned already but it's worth repeating, anyone with an interest in this game: go buy JA2 instead and get the v1.13 patch. It's cheap and available on many sites and it's much better than Back in Action. If you insist on getting a realtime tactical game, there's better options too (like X-Com: Apocalypse or Frozen Synapse, although the latter isn't pure realtime).

@xite said:

@xobballox said:

So, is it just me or is the demo level for this WAY FUCKING HARDER than what is shown here? I am enjoying the gameplay of it, but it is vein-popping hard. Only one or two camps where you can fight only 3 - 5 enemies at a time, then there's two huge camps that seem like if you shoot anyone at them, all 10 - 20 enemies aggro to you and straight up murder you. I kind of want to buy this, but not if that is how difficult most of the game will be. (Or maybe I'm playing the demo level really, really wrong.

It's not you, the demo is really hard.

Alright, thanks.

Why can't strategy games stop making the units talk whenever you click on them? After hearing the same voice clips over and over again it gets really grating.

Every time Dave says "Machine gun" instead of Assault Rifle I died a little :( Good quick look though and definitely a more positive impression than the demo.

Nothing against Dave, I love him, but is it just me, or did anyone else hate the way he maneuvered?

@JDillinger: With all due respect, I have to ask, why is it dumb to build an informed opinion about a product from secondary sources, especially when the alternative is to spend my money on something I may not enjoy? You're visiting this site so I assume you approve of the practice, but what's different in this case? Yes, it was a crass way of putting it, but I kind of hoped being blunt would get the point across. Apparently not.

@Chazzi27: It's worth it

Watching Dave play this game was like pulling teeth. Felt like he was hesitating before every command click. GAH

Wow, the medic's voice is awful. Did they tell her this was a japanese dating sim or something?