Although I think Baldur's Gate 3 is the greatest video game ever created, it is not my favorite. How is that possible? I love turn based tactics games. Baldur's Gate 3 is indeed such a game... part of the time. But there is a very long and intricate story that you must go through on your way to those turn based battles. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the deep story when I played through the game, I probably can't do it again. That is why the title of my favorite video game goes to X-COM 2. It is simply the greatest turn based tactics game ever made.
If you need evidence of the fact that X-COM 2 is the pinnacle of the genre, simply check out every single review of every turn based tactics game that has been released since X-COM debuted back in 2016. All of those reviews consistently mention the new game in relation to X-COM2. X-COM 2 has simply become the measuring stick to which all other turn based tactics games are measured.
One of these is Jagged Alliance 3. I played the first in the series 30 years ago. I did not get jagged Alliance 3 when it first came out in 2023 because I was busy with other games and I prefer to wait for big discounts on games. All of the reviews said it did a nice job of scratching the X-COM 3 itch. But this one has another surprise. The game is styled like an old school game from the 90s. It actually reminds me a lot of one of my original favorites Commandos.
The game play and strategy are great. I personally don't love a lot of stealth missions. I prefer to shoot it out with my enemies rather than sneak in and out unscathed. Jagged Alliance 3 allows me to do just that. Although I still need to use a little caution and skill to set up my initial attacks, once they begin it is an all out battle for survival.
Like all of the games from this genre that I love, you can gain experience and upgrade all of your characters. One of the most satisfying things for me in video games is reaching the next level and choosing new skills for my game characters. Jagged Alliance does a great job with this kind of advancement. Of course this also works with the weapons that you can continuously trade up and modify to make the perfect one.
One of the only things I don't like about these games is when there is too much stuff to do at the bases in between battles. X-COM 2 is basically just beyond my limit for these. Even in that game I sometimes wish I could turn the base stuff on automatic so I can just focus on battles. I do not like to micromanage the details... I just want to fight!
Unfortunately there is even more of this type of management in Jagged Alliance 3. in the game world, you are the head of a mercenary team that yo constantly have to monitor, pay and add on to. When you take over land, you have to place new mercenaries in order to protect that land. You can also train villagers to be militia but that is more micromanagement. I bet for most people, they would like more of that type of management but I actually want less.
Luckily, the game play and the battles are so fun for me that it is worth getting through some of the tedious stuff. I have played it every day for the past two weeks so obviously I like it quite a bit. Actually, I think I am going to go get back to it right now...
Any other fans out there? Any tricks I should know?