Jagged Alliance: Flashback is about 20 hours of enjoyable tactical combat. The quest system, UI, dialogues, shops, are merely at prop state and not on par with anything JA2 wise. Combat, armor and weapon on the other hand are right there at the top.
Do not be fooled by the apparent lack of AI tactics you might encounter during your first fights. As its predecessor, JA:F has at leastJagged Alliance: Flashback is about 20 hours of enjoyable tactical combat. The quest system, UI, dialogues, shops, are merely at prop state and not on par with anything JA2 wise. Combat, armor and weapon on the other hand are right there at the top.
Do not be fooled by the apparent lack of AI tactics you might encounter during your first fights. As its predecessor, JA:F has at least three groups of enemy, with different tactics and gear. Sometimes those groups can be mixed together, so yes, one "Ellliot" might run with his bare chest towards your guns, but he's just the village idiot sent to scout for the elites hiding behind. And those elites will try to outflank your cover. And rush you out of any comfortable defences you may think you've found. Just because they don't wear yellow, red and black shirts doesn't mean all of Prince's soldiers are retards. You've been warned.
Another amazing layer of this game is the weapon simulation. Albeit still lacking attachments (expected in first free expansion), the weapons are better than in any JA2 game. Maybe not perfectly balanced yet, but including an essential "Holy Grail" element that eluded all developers, including the original JA crew. Full Control managed to code in attributes that control the ENTIRE range of bonuses and penalties a weapon should have.
No longer you are going to throw away your Colt or your MP5 when you get your first AK or your first Dragunov. Nope, you're going to hold on to them and give them names and hold them dear. Because while those cool sniper rifles might give you a lot of fun doing headshots and massive criticals, your humble backup weapon is the one who will save your pretty face from being shot up badly. How so? Full Control coded in an elegant solution that gives high power rifles a nasty close range penalty. So you managed a headshot 10 tiles away with an AWP? Good for you, try that from 1 tile away if you dare. You'll shoot for the moon and be left standing with no action points while the AI laughs and puts 3-4 bullets in your silly head. With his pew pew Smith & Wesson.
And wait, it's not over yet. Weapons now have actual muzzle velocity and damage drop-off factors. Meaning you can actually simulate the difference between a 5.56×45mmNATO bullet and and a 7.62x39mm bullet like never before. Yes, your M16 will be more accurate over longer ranges than your AK-47. But your AK-47 will still smash through the enemy body armor and do massive damage, while that tiny 5.56 might not.
And finally, the cherry on the top. Burst fire and full-auto fire. Yes, the devs are yet to finely tune these modes, but boy... they're fun as they are. Because this is a 3d environment. And there are material resistances simulated. And yes, a bullet can fly through 2-3 enemies if coming from a high power rifles or close enough range. Ever heard about Spray-and-Pray? Well, now you'll feel like those prayers are finally heard. Just wait for that ideal clump of enemies trying to rush on you. And let it rip from your RPK machine gun... You never witnessed the power of a LMG like you're about to see in JA:F.
And again, if they catch you at close range and you're 1 vs 4, that LMG won't save you. You will cry if you threw away your trusty Uzi or MP5, that sweet, lower damage and such low AP backup weapon.
So you see, this is what Full Control delivered. And this is where those KS funds went into. It was clear they won't have the funds to make ALL dreams come true. And they had to make a choice. Do we release the game with pretty UI graphics, nice RPG stuff and stupid combat? Or viceversa? I for one I am glad they took combat first.
That doesn't mean better graphics, nicer UI and more JA2 features won't come. They will. For the patient. If played JA2 for eye candy and because you liked to explore and role play, do not buy JA:F yet. Give it a few months until it's ready for you.
If you played JA2 because it was the best squad based TBS ever made, you're very close to getting the best game in this franchise. For you, Full Control is working full steam (no pun intended) to add the finishing touches to an already solid experience: attachments, AP/HE ammo, proper shotguns, overall fine-tuning of the weapons and final bugfixing of stealth systems. When the later part is ready, you will see why JA:F has view cones, night/dusk/dawn LoS penalties and an integrated hearing system. Ironman mode, M5P with silencer, anyone?
I'd give JA:F 7.5 now just because they brought combat in the JA franchise to a whole new level. The day they finish adding all the promised features, this game won't need my review anyway, it will be a straight 10 on everyone 's mind.… Expand
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