Jagged Alliance: Back in Action Reviews
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Category: News ArchiveHits: 1989
GameSpot gives it a 5.5/10:
Over time all of the niggling little problems build into a bigger headache, making this remake a disappointing, often irritating excursion at best. For every design decision that enhances gameplay there's one that sets it back. A good stiff challenge is one thing, but so many aspects of Back in Action's design actively work against you. That's unfortunate, because there are stretches where the core game is really enjoyable--just not enough to keep all but the most diehard players from packing it in.
Game Over gives it a 75%:
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is one of those games that I enjoy despite itself. It has an almost unlimited number of flaws, and yet, I can't help booting it back up over and over. It's fun to gradually capture town after town and steadily grow your army. Unfortunately, it's hard to play in anything other than small doses because before long, it once again starts feeling like a job. Similar to how the old Sim Tower really should have been named Sim Elevators, Jagged Alliance should have been named U-Haul Alliance.
The Digital Fix gives it a 7/10:
Overall Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is good game that will entertain those people that enjoy the tactical elements of turn-based strategy games, even though it isn't truly turn-based, and it is easy to become attached to the individual mercs treating them as valuable team members rather than charging them in to combat in a ramboesque all guns blazing style. There are also many different ways to approach each combat situation so this will lead to a good level of replayability for those players who want to do the best job possible for each scenario, and the later missions are difficult enough to challenge the more experienced tactical game players.
New Gamer Nation gives it a 7.5/10:
A flawed gem. A lot of great qualities that make the gameplay solid and fun. There are also quite a few annoying design decisions that slow down the pace. Definitely worth a look if you really like tactical action strategies, a genre that doesn't see much love these days.
Brash Games gives it a 6/10:
One nice aspect of the game is the fact that there are a number of unique individuals with differing talents and RPG-style stats. These operatives can be hired to form your squad. But if they ever die on a mission, without being saved by a medic, then their death is permanent, and they will stay dead for the rest of the game. The whole perma-death idea does always add that element of tension to a game. Unless of course you can circumvent their death by reloading a save game from 30 seconds before, and replay an action. Perma-death is also a little vexing when a highly valuable trained operative is chopped into little pieces because they refuse to fire their weapon at an axeman, because he is '˜too close'.
And IRB Gamer gives it a 4/5:
Overall Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is a great real time strategy shooter that will have the player re-thinking their normal First Person Shooter playstyle. While there may be a few flaws, for those who wouldnt describle themselves as Avid Jagged Alliance players they are miniscule and will in no way affect the overall play through of the game. While the graphics arent the best in the world, looking back at the original they are a huge improvement. Jagged Alliance Back in Action is now available on Steam for only $39.99 and would be great for those who are fans of the older games and even those who want something new, challenging them differently than their favorite shooters that are currently on the market.
