This game is shockingly good. No one saw this coming. I’m amazed at the scale of it all and the world building that was totally unexpected. They really did it, they bought the franchise back from the dead.
They really did, and while it might not be everybody's cup of tea they stayed true to their guns and made it a really unique Jagged Alliance experience. It is very impressive.
Agreed. As someone who played JA2 to death and back, I REALLY enjoy the experience and the nostalgia hitting. I can only hope that the humor and everything else will catch on with a new generation. Or that there are enough old gamers like me to at least make it worth the developers while.
I have been waiting for this game for an age, they did a great job... Honestly its interesting to watch the release of JA3 compared to Phonix point... this was a much cleaner release and the game is a lot less... confused about its identity.. also if you liked this check out Xenonaughts 2.. just released into Early Access and its a great tactical game but with more of an old school XCOM vibe rather than the newer remakes
This game is so refreshing. No hand holding, no censored humor, great world building, fantastic music and voice acting, pretty graphics. I really hope the developers got enough money from sales to continue support for this game. I‘d love to see more content and balance patches and of course a potential JA4.
I'd have preferred more hand holding at the start if I'm really honest, but with everything else you said, I I couldn't agree more! The graphics, music and world building just blew me away, and kept going and going, the scale is huge! But at the rate they've been going, I suspect JA4 might be planned for 2033 haha
I struggled mightily in my first playthrough, but once I understood the limitations of the enemy AI and how overpowered certain game mechanics could be (for example: Fox's unique perk effectively gives her a free turn at the start of combat, so she can solo half of the enemies on a given map with a suppressed sniper rifle), it became ludicrously easy. The biggest challenge in that first run was the fact that I had no idea how the game worked, and the game really does kind of a lousy job of teaching you. It took much trial & error and save scumming, but once I understood it, it became laughably easy to stealthily stalk enemies with sniper rifles and set up ambushes with MG's and grenades. I didn't have many problems with the lack of to-hit calculator, probably because of the thousands of hours I spent on JA2 - basically, unless I had a scoped rifle and a decent marksman, I always put at least two aim levels into a torso shot. On the other hand, all that time on JA2 left me ill-equipped for the many, many changes to the core mechanics (training >> field experience, how lethal melee could be, etc.).
I couldn't agree more with basically everything you said, but I didn't have much experience of JA2 to fall back on, more like Xcom which put me in a very different head space. I think a lot of players won't push through with a second run, meaning they'll only ever face the hard learning curve of the first run through, which is what I was trying to say in the video. Great comment though, sounds like our experiences were pretty aligned!
I found the game more challenging at the beginning. Once you have a sniper and someone with a machine gun, it becomes increasingly easier. Anyway, it's an awesome game.
I absolutely agree, that’s exactly what I was saying in the video. It gets easier as you progress - but at the start the difficulty seems to turn lots of players away. But the machine gun and good sniper does sort you out in the long run.
I used a MG in the more difficult fights at the first island only to discover that it eats through my ammo reserves like crazy and soon my snipers had no ammo to shoot their rifles :D
I would argue that it does not reinvent the wheel. Having played hundreds of hours on JA2, mechanics are completely familiar. 70% of the characters are a returning cast. This game is an absolute love letter to those of us that have considered JA2 the high bar of all turn based combat games. They even brought on Ian Currie, who go's back to the creation of the first game, to make sure they got the feel correct. I am in love with JA3. They really kind of nailed it for me. Great review, Like and sub.
I usually pride myself on having a strong background in gaming but unfortunately JA1 and JA2 was something I only experienced through friends. I was exposed to it, understood it and even played it, but I never had the luxury of getting absorbed into it like so many other titles. I suppose that particular phrase meant in comparison to other tactical shooters that are more mainstream and familiar to non-fans of the series, but thanks to this kind of feedback I've got an urge to go back and play JA2 now! It's amazing how much I learn in the comments section, thanks so much for the kind words too, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Never knew about this game but i gotta say it looks pretty interesting. I love the setting where the game takes place. Good point on the difficulty in games, kinda shocking how this game would seem to punish new players with impossible hit rates tho.
It’s not really that hard to be honest. It’s more about understanding game mechanics. People jump to conclusions too quickly. The hit chance mod for example is completely unnecessary.
Great review! I'm loving the game and on my second run now, mixing in a few melee specialists. I agree with pretty much all of your points, it is difficult and I don't know if I'd have done well without watching some youtubers who gave me good ideas. It's a very polished game but the 1990s level of hand-holding just doesn't work for most people today. I'm not used to stealth games, for example, and found stealth impossible until I saw someone explain the mechanics. Glad it's doing so well and hopefully, if nothing else, they take this feedback and apply it to JA4.
Thanks so much! I think my core issue was how little hand holding you get, and considering that many players won't push into a second run, the game's rep (might) take an unfair hit. That was my main goal, I hope I wasn't too harsh haha. I'm pushing for melee characters on my second run too, which comes with its own fresh learning curve!
I just found out about this game, it gave me nostalgia about when i played jagged alliance 2 a longgg time ago, it was so hard and i was so young it took me ages to complete the first few stages, hardest game i ever played, i loved the game, cant wait to play this now, happy they kept true to the original, always hoped they would make another one,
Thanks so much! I’d love to review more - are you talking about AA titles out of interest? Or tactical shooters? I appreciate the feedback 🙏 have an awesome day 😊
It's a funny tale: it took me a while to figure out that you could zoom in to improve the hit chance. Once you get some decent gear, your team is almost unbeatable, provided you get the chance to use the terrain. The most brutal battles are those where you can't maneuver, like the underground battles or the ones where you have to defend something or someone. I especially hated the scripted ambush in the refugee camp. I knew it was going to happen, so I only sent two of my team. You don't even get the chance to respond, you are just get shot at by a dozen or so heavily armed dudes. Later in the game, you get hold of grenade launchers and even mortars. I returned to that refugee camp scene with a mortar and bombarded the hell out of the army.
Damn you called me out - Pheonix Point, Miasma Chronicles and Xcom are some of my favourite games! Some really good advice there - I like to think you've saved several people several hours of pain! Colonel Faucheux haha probably not the most Scottish person in the game :P
I loved JA2 back in the day. The one thing that screws this up for me is that they changed the personality of some mercs, especially Magic whom I really liked.
It is awesome, isn't it. I know I was a little harsh, but ultimately my frustrations were outweighed by how impressed I was with the immersion in general. It really is a unique game. Sadly I still don't think it will reach the masses with mega big sales, but I hope it does.
As well as the previous Jagged Alliance games, it seems to take more inspiration from Commandos/Desperados 3 in terms of the stealth components, though the UI isn't as refined for this. As well as getting a good position for the whole squad, it's worth seeing if there are groups of 1 or 2 who can be taken out silently to thin the numbers. Stealth was the gamechanger for me. I always go for a suppressor where it's a weapon option, and tend to scrap anything that doesn't have this capability.
Train you soldier to be good in mele weapons, I smash 3 crocks at once with machete using Keith "Blood" Hanson. Take it from start, using his silent kill skill you save hell a lot of ammo. Use the perks that give additional stealth and AP after 1st kill and you are the mele boss.
@@CasualGamr Best one for mele will be Kyle "Shadow" Simmons but he is way more expensivier. Keith is good enough to easly go through game on every dificulty. PPL usualy complain about ammo, put in your squad 1 machette guy and you will never deplete your ammo.
Great review and I agree with a lot of what you said. I played JA2, Crossfire and Back in Action - still find the first few missions challenging as the weapons were ineffective. I didn't use the hit % MOD and find the guessing game quite enjoyable LOL Just when I thought it became easier after getting rifiles etc. some plot twists popped up and caught me off guard. I am cruising a bit now as am mainly doing side quests while prepare to close in on the main mission. I feel strongly that JA really needs to improve its tutorial. This problem existed since JA2 tbh 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪 and my friend was frustrated with the game despite my encouragement. I find EVERY beginning of JA quite offputting 🤭
Thanks so much, really appreciate that! It sounds like our experiences were almost completely aligned 😊 I think some of the more hardcore fans found it a lot easier, as per some of the other comments, but my frustrations still stand as I came at this game without that much adult experience on the previous entry. I did absolutely love it, but I found the learning curve a bit of a wall. That's super interesting to hear it was carried over from the previous entry... I guess in some ways, you could say good on them for catering to the fans?? And those plot twists! Loved them so much haha
Definitely not my style of game but these turn based games are looking more and more interesting as I get older, now 20. Baldurs Gate 3 looks pretty good and this game looks like it would be a lot of fun, especially with friends
Love it, close to ja2 we have. Need to add a few more features like a wider range of guns, be able to sell weapons, be able to change the skin of your characters based on your armour. I play on ps5, they have done a great job converting it to controller. Its not perfect but its pretty good once you get used to it.
Recommendation - do NOT use the Chance to Hit mod. Use the DESCRIPTIVE Chance to Hit mod. It is a very happy middle term, not "puzzle"-like (to quote the devs) numeric chances, but based on how the merc itself finds it likely or not that they would land that shot.
Cool - I didn’t see that one, sadly it wasn’t suggested to me and I wasn’t really looking to mod the game as much as understand the maths so I headed straight to the initial recommendation. I’m going to take a look at that, thanks for the suggestion!
Agreed - this is the one I use and seeing the "Average" or "Highly Likely" gives me the information I need for good tactical decisions without having the actual numbers that can screw with my perception of the action.
The game is great. I play a lot of strategy games and I am on a second playthrough. I didn’t find it to be too hard outside of a few pivotal fights but there are definitely some fights that really test you.
To me, this is an even better version of Xcom 2, except getting enough ammo is a royal pain in the arse. Entire weekends would fly by just playing this, which is totally destructive to my postgraduate studies. And... is it just me or does that epic title music sound like it came from The Last Samurai?
That's awesome that you prefer it - I'm in half minds. I do prefer the puzzle-type combat of Xcom, but I just feel everything else is a clear evolution of the game. The exploring and chatting, and getting to know the characters in the game world. Haha I didn't pick up on The Last Samurai, but I did hear a few chords that reminded me of Robocop!! I suspect the music is as tribute-driven as the gameplay. It's such an impressive game, lots of hidden stuff like that I think.
A very imformative review, personally I did not have to much trouble with the game on my first run, but save scuming was a very key part. Although normally I would restart the entire fight rather than just go back a turn. It seems you have not played Battletech, or reviewed it. I would love to see it, as it is my fav turn based squad tactics game. Which is what I have started calling games like this or xcom.
That's so nice to hear, I was honest as a non die-hard fan of the original, but all these comments that support the series and think back to the first and second makes me super nostalgic. Hopefully this game is popular enough with the fans that it prompts them to consider another down the line.
Wasn’t aware of this game before. Looks intriguing though! The setting and some of the themes makes me a bit nostalgic for Far Cry 2. Loved the inclusion of the angry Kingpin clip, got a good wee chuckle out of it 😄
I played solo Merc, Ironman on Mission Impossible with Deadly weapons and Dead is Dead..... Captured most of the mainland but ended up running around the map retraining militia that was getting whittled down from hit squads sent by outposts. Eventually died taking one of those outposts. The most frustrating thing is the enemy AI knew where I was even after only 'finding a body' after a stealth kill and would head straight for my position. Meaning I had to either repostion or retreat out of the map and come in again from a different quadrant.
Damn, you're a braver man than me! I would love to pour that much time into it, but Baldur's Gate 3 is knocking at my door... that's interesting to hear those frustrations though, although I guess if you're that good at the game, and the game still wants to take you out... they have to find a way to dial up the difficulty somehow 😂
Imho, the recipe for Lone Wolf - Iron Man - Mission Impossible is: 1) Use a Hand-To-Hand melee merc (e.g. Nails), or melee Ivan, because of his talent. It allows you to theoretically kill an infinite amount of enemies in a single turn and generate grit while doing so. You can still use stealth, rifles and explosives with a full melee build. But melee makes everything easier, when you're cornered. 2) Don't bother training militia except in a few key locations. Focus on capturing outposts quickly.instead. No enemy outposts, no patrols attacking you. Only train militia in those central outposts where patrols have to pass through. 3) Progress quickly and only take fights, that you want to take, especially after the mid-game event. You can cross the whole map safely in just a few days, if you just sneak past enemies and exit without even fighting them.
As someone who has played JA2 when it came out and also XCom I find your splashscreen pretty bold... :p JA3 is a great throwback to JA2 and XCom can't measure up in my opinion. It is a fun game, sure, but JA3 is, if anything, the new JA2 which XCom maybe wanted to be. That said, I agree with your points... the game pulls no punches and is oodles of fun. Have an upvote :)
A huge plus that mods seem to be supported. I don't have the game yet, just going off of what I see available and the in-game mod menu. Modding should help with the early difficulty if a person wants to go that route. I see a simple space bar live action pause mod.
Good review, even if I disagreed with most of it lol - I think a gritty tone would have taken away a lot of the charm. War-torn settings like this are often done very poorly, and even if I don't think the humor always works, it avoids a worse cliche. - The aim system works well. It avoids feeling like a math problem where you're optimizing your AP, and forces you to go with your gut. Over-analysis of the numbers is a huge problem with XCOM. I also think it's pretty clear about what factors go into your shot, and you get a good feel for who can make what shots on your team. Like the UI is pretty clear about stuff like pistol range. - The difficulty has a few weird spikes during the mid-game set pieces, but beyond that isn't too hard. It is balanced for reloading when there's a catastrophe, and I think pushing experienced players toward the "no saves during combat" option would give them room. I also think that, yeah, if you come from any XCOM style game where snipers are OP, you'll have a different experience. That's kind of life though. Your 5th soulsbourne is never as hard as your first.
Haven't played Jagged Alliance 3 yet but I'm looking forward to it. I actually detest level scaling in most games. You get stronger, so enemies get stronger, so nothing really changes... no clue why anyone thought that was a good idea. Just relegating any sense of progression to purely cosmetic. I mean, sure throw in a tough opponent here and there, and setup some challenging situations, maybe occasionally put the player up against overwhelming numbers of weaker opponents, but just making the mobs tougher to match the player becoming tougher, is just lazy, senseless, and utterly ill-conceived. I still remember shadowrun on sega genesis had some corporate hit squad that would show up occasionally, and all you could hope to do was escape with your life, if only you ran like hell. You simply stood no chance against them. You'd level up, get better gear, become confident against many adversaries, and eventually that hit squad would show up again, and still be utterly overpowering, so all you could do was desperately flee. Eventually though, after you got dermal plating, vibro claws or a smart gun, high end cybernetics, significantly improved skills and attributes... then when that corporate hit squad showed up again, when you could turn around and face them, still outnumbered, but now highly capable with cutting edge gear. Taking out that hit squad, decisively, was just so damned bad ass. Some games nail character progression really nicely... never by just scaling mob toughness and damage though. I prefer games that get easier as your character develops, with occasional exceptions of heightened challenge, ideally worked into well-crafted pacing. Bosses are okay, but it's better when developers come up with more engaging challenges then just tough bosses.
I hope a mod comes out that improves the brain dead AI. Enemies just run into your soldiers and stand in the open. It really hurts the game experience.
I can't imagine how easy difficulty can be hard. You have absolutely imbalance IMP merc, Barry, Fox, Livewire right on start. It's dirt cheap, high wisdom, and have powerful abilities. May be without them hardest difficulty actually be hard.
Well, you're beginning with a knowledge head start. You know, that those are the best starting mercs and how to build a good IMP. Just imagine someone starting with Grizzly, MD, Steroid and an automatically generated IMP. None of these mercs is necessarily bad, but due to low agility, any mistake in positioning or taking bad shots will be punished _hard_ .
Haha you are literally describing how I headed into the game, plus that girl with the hoodie. The second and third attempts were a lot cleaner, for sure. No matter how much flack I got, I stand by what I said - lots of people found it challanging and those that didn't aren't being entirely honest with themsevles about their pre-existing skillset...
@@CasualGamr It's not really about being "honest". They're just not aware of their pre-existing skillset. But figuring out the whole JA3 puzzle is part of the fun. So, if easy is a bit of a challenge for some, great! The game is supposed to be a bit of a puzzle. The only mechanic that could be explained better is stealth, imho.
I think if you ever played JA2 the aiming ring might be easier to grasp. I don't have an issue with it because it seems to cleave pretty close to JA2, but I can definitely see how players used to seeing a numerical chance to hit would have trouble with it. It really exceeded my expectations after a number of abortive attempts to reimagine the franchise over the past 24 years.
I love JA2 and the 1.13 mod so much putting faith in my merc's ability to hit their shots, and not just a number on screen makes me feel a lot better when they hit their shots for some reason
Doesn't 1.13 have such option (new aiming system or something it's called). Anyway, game is far better then all other attempts at JA3 put together. One trouble I have with it, apart form mechanics that is different, is that the inventory is weird. What is group inventory, or whatever it is called? Also, where are clips, magazines, belts, drums, etc.? Why all ammo comes in out of factory boxes?
Watching a big, fat "accuracy" tab smack dab in the middle of the screen with green +'s and red -'s all over it while hearing "I have no idea what would influence my hitting-chances" was a bit surreal O_o
And yet. Although the game is several steps above the ones that came before, it is only 1/3 as good as Jagged Alliance 2, that is not to condemn the game but to give it fair and cold criticism, I can do that as a fan and a veteran of JA2 for 23 years, that is an accomplishment for this game all because JA2 is perfection and the best in the genre, and that's without the mods that make JA2 unreachable for others. for a casual gamer that's a pretty good review.
Thanks! It does seem like this is a solid tribute, but falls way short of the genre defining popularity of JA2. Back then smaller teams with more license to be innotaive gave us some of the best games we would ever play (for the time). It's just a different age for gaming now I think!
@@CasualGamr It sure does on both things you said, but i still don't dismiss it, it still has a strong post release support, so i'm bidding time until i see something amazing, either from devs or fan mods. that said, did you thought about making a review on JA2 ?
Haha yeah I feel this is one of those games that gets more and more fun, the more you play it. Sadly I just don't have the time to dump 100+ hours into it otherwise I would, and would keep playing it for years I expect. When I retured to it after I did the review I found it a lot easier the second time around.
Battle is really good, the setting and rpg elements are more "meh". Didn't really catch me. But I loved the combat and wish there were more games like this. Loved to always seek out the advantage in combat and be really tactical.
I've enjoyed Jagged Alliance so far, but I do have to say, losing mercs is *way* too easy. As you mentioned, games like Bloodborne and Hollow Knight can be really challenging, but there's a huge difference in losing there, compared to JA3. In Bloodborne, you can die 50 times to a boss and you lose nothing. Souls, at most. Jagged Alliance 3? Bye bye, favourite merc. Forever. 20 hours into the game. It's really damn punishing and, while I don't generally mind that, I hate permanently losing characters like this. Especially when they can get downed and then just die the next turn instantly, even though their chance of dying is "low". I get some people might really enjoy that aspect, and maybe that's why it should have been a toggleable option to make them a little more durable while downed.
There an option in the game to deactivate difficulty. If you're more into reading a brezzehome sort of novel, that is: option menu is here for you. Also, please try to never have to describe your way of playing games again, that's worthy of charges, that sort of thing. Please don't add a single word about that, you ridiculous millenial prospect, you. Damn! Now I feel like comiting suicide every single time my knight mare get to dye in Diablo. That's horrible. Thanks for nothing, young padawan weakling.
Yeah, I totally hear you. As is always the case, when I went back and played it more, I found it easier, as with most games. But I'm not a huge fan of having to play a second time to really enjoy it, hence why I gave a bit of a harsh critique on the difficulty. As I can tell from the comments, not everybody agrees, but life would be boring if we were all the same!! All things told, though, it's a kick ass game and I suspect the modding community will work wonders with it, some of which might get integrated into further version updates 🤷
i downloaded the expanded loadout mod, then give assault gun like aug and mgs, kevlar armor set to MD and kamila and hire them from the start, and use close combat specs to my main merc. its easier.
Mmmh still on the starter island...got 5 mercs inc my imp and 40k on the bank. About to attack the outpost, my mercs are mostly geared with protective clothes, 3 ak's and 2 gewehr. With explosives on Barry it really becomes a breeze. First blood difficulty isn't really that hard. I would like to have a pause button though, to give commands when out of combat to streamline the setup.
The lack of the pause button was one of a number of things I felt were missing, but having said that I think they were going for a hectic scrable approach, rather than the slow-but-steady puzzle-like progression of Xcom. With all the copycats out there, I can't slate them for trying to be different!
@@CasualGamr Could def be the reason, otherwise the gameplay would become very repetative. You could take time to setup the perfect killzone and draw them in, all the time.
I like the game but not nearly as much as 2. I basically always play 2 with the tons of guns option active (I think in my well over a dozen runs I tried non-tons of guns mode one run) so the much smaller selection of weapons disappoints me. Also the lack of variety in weapons Mercs start with . Most gun types there is only one weapon a Merc can start with. if they start with a Pistol its the same one as every other Merc that starts with one. unless I'm remembering wrong ditto for Shotguns, one hand Submachine Guns/Machine Pistols, Revolvers, Sniper Rifles, and two hand Submachine Guns. And I find it odd that even though this is set in 2001 the weapons selection is older then the games set in the 80s and 90s with many weapons dating back to World War II, or even weapons that first entered production in the 19th century. And I'm a fan of Shotguns in game but prefer if they hold at least four shells. The starter Shotgun in this only holds two. I actually experimented with it and found having to reload after every other shot in this even more annoying then in first person and third person shooters. Also there are far fewer recruitable mercs then in 2 or even 1 and Deadly games. Plus in 2 the in game AIM website included a section listing what happened to the mercs from 1 and Deadly games who were no longer recruitable but 3 lacks that feature. Also for some reason the in-game online gun and supply store from 2 is missing, and the selections at the in settlements markets are limited to put it nicely. Finally the diamond mines run out absurdly fast in this. I rarely install mods on games but I was so frustrated by the last issue I installed one to stop them from emptying because as short as this game is the odds on one of the nations diamond mines running out is IMO slim,. The odds on more then one running out are so unlikely its almost unbelievable. Despite the flaws I like this but not nearly as much as 2, and I'm not sure if I prefer it or Flashback.
That's really interesting, I can't say I had the in depth knowledge required to compare it to JA2 like you, that would have been very useful for the video. But back in 1999 I relied on whatever games came my way and sadly at that time, I'd never heard of it! Maybe in time they'll use mods and patches to enhance JA3 and cater to some of the fan feedback like yours? They've already released some of their own mods, so anything is possible 🤷 Regarding the weaponary, I think the WW2 hardware is supposed to be because it's a poor region and they use anything from modern tech to hand me downs, but I do agree that at first glance it seems unlikely that that many MP40s would still be in working condition, although as I understand it, that weapon in particular was produced into the 70s for armies like Norway before being replaced by the MP5, and as a result it's seen use in civil wars such as in Libya and Syria until recently. So maybe not so crazy after all for a turn of the millenium game? I really did enjoy the old school feel, it's a nice contrast to all the silly space age machine guns you see in "futuristic" games these days.
The MP40s maybe but the intro sniper rifle is a World War I era Combat Rifle, which predated the war by well over a decade which sems very odd to me. And I wouldn't mind some older guns it just seems unusual how many there are when the earlier games usually have a mix of a few older and primarily Cold War Era designs. As someone whose played every game in the series and the standalone expansions (There are far more spinoff games then numbered entries). that feels off. Not to mention why would so many of the Mercs being using since old weaponry. Plus they get into weird things like including the AK-74 but having it fire the same bullets as the AK-47 which makes no sense to me. Especially since by the time the game took place there were more modern Assault Rifles that actually did use the same ammo as the 47s
@@roguerifter9724 Good point, I hadn’t picked up that the AK74 isn’t firing 5.45mm! I was, on the other hand, generally impressed by the range of ammo available for the roster of weapons which is very often overlooked in gaming. Drives me nuts when everything from Colt 1911s to Beretta 92Fs are firing generic “pistol” rounds and so on. Anyway I absolutely see what you’re saying about some of the WW1 era weaponry, does seem odd. But then again, so does a mercenary turning up to war with a single pistol and one magazine of ammo 🤦♂️ I wonder why they settled on some of the more unusual choices, and to what extent they employed expert input. Might be worth reaching out to them and asking what drove those decisions! Thanks for the comments, those are some really insightful thoughts 👍🏼
@@CasualGamr Yeah and that's another odd thing. This is the first Jagged Alliance game I recall without a Colt .45. In fact from what I've seen there are no .45 guns at all. It seems odd to use so many older weapons but leave out some of the iconic weapons of those eras that were in older games.
You're describing actually a smart decision by the devs. You got to keep in mind, that we're all used to JA2 1.13, which adds years of mod development onto a full-fledged game that already received an expansion. JA3 is out since weeks and the official modding tools are out since about a week. Give the modding community some time or begin creating a mod yourself. The devs focused on polishing the game and atmosphere and characters. The community will create tons of weapons and loadout mods anyway. Going overboard on weapon choices would've honestly been a waste of development time.
What was alway a problem with the JA series is that the (wonderful!) graphics weren't quite to scale. So the hit ranges dropping off so much with distance feels extra absurd because the distances you're visually seeing don't match the 10m per square (or whatever) the game was balancing its fire around. I mean it's all arbitrary anyway but in JA2 it felt a little better when you realized that guy who looked 15m away was actually supposed to be 60m or 75m out. Ironically the better the graphics get the worse this problem can become.
I don't want first person shooters, aliens, dragons, virtue signaling, politics, or monetization schemes masquerading as video games. I do want tactical/strategic turn based combat grounded in reality. Jagged Alliance 3 gives me everything I do want, and nothing I don't want. If you like this game, if you want more games like this, say nice things about it.
I hear you! I'm glad you found a game that meets your specifics, it's amazing how much positivity the "perfect" game can bring to your life on a personal level, which of course is very subjective to the player. If anybody knocked my favourite games in the same way, or dicesected them and focused too much on the negatives, I would probably feel the same way. Nevertheless, I would have to say that I don't want more games like this, I would like more games similar to this. The humour and the lack of Xcom-styed puzzle approach to combar wasn't for me, which is what I wanted to put forward in my video. For me, the perfect version of JA3 would be one where those frustrations were attended to. But it would be a boring world if we all loved the exact same games!
@@CasualGamr I am not excoriating your critique, I enjoyed it. I am not offended by other's opinions, nor do I wish to impose my tastes on others. These are my tastes, I found the humor hilarious, actually laugh out loud funny. I prefer simple visual novel style interactions over extravagant cutscenes. I enjoyed the Lovecraftian overtones without actually fighting Cthulhu. I am simply practicing what I preach, spreading the good word. The most valid criticisms I have seen among those who are on the fence can and will be addressed with modding. Customization of gameplay is also something I highly value.
10:45 my brother you are literally looking at a screen that shows what is effecting accuracy..... negatives (-) for behind cover and aiming for the head and positives(+) for marksmanship and aiming. And as you aim you get more + It's not supposed to tell you a hit chance. Not in JA1 not in JA2.
I hear you, I've learned a lot from recent feedback - I suppose that was my initial reaction and I was commenting on it accordingly, but players of this game fall into two catragories I think: those who played JA2 (and maybe 1), and those that didn't. I would love to be in the former camp, but this is one title that I never owned and it sounds like my life was worse off for it! I think I might go back and play JA2 when I get the chance, although it doesn't sound like it's a game you can experience properly if you just dip into it...
People are always pruned about the comedy of the games and it really just tells me they never played the previous games, what did gus making jokes about Pina colada and Prozac while giving a mission to kill commies in 1 and 2 had Xenomorph and pretty much a 3 stooges routine with the antagonists? The comedy is more subdued here Also... Honestly I don't get why people say this game is hellish with difficulty just don't have them all close to each other and have good positioning
I guess I just didn't find the specific writing all that funny, like only a couple of the characters ammused me, most just seemed so contrived that it spoiled the immersion of an otherwise really well built world. The satire was more clear in JA2. But I do appreciate that it was always going to have humour as it is a JA game after all 🤷
I am dissapointed from JA3. Combat is no challennge at all. First playthrough on impossible mission and Ai sucks. I shoot a guy without a silencer and the other one who is some tiles far not react at all. All i have to do is go with my squad in front of two guys they just take position and then i execute them. Main startegy three snipers in sneak mode pick the isolated guys and small groups from distance some ambushes with MG's and you are done. No challenge at all especially after you build a good squad...
I hear you, and glad you’re enjoying it and smashing it, but having been exposed to a lot of different feedback from many different gamers, I get the feeling that most people do find it challenging. But hey, took me aaages to beat Dark Souls, and I swear some people blaze through it like it’s Stardew Valley or something! Some people are just more patient with tactical shooters than others I guess?
@@CasualGamr this is designed with purpouse, like in old days. Games like XCom, JA2, Fallout 2 or Fallout: Tactics. On very 1st day we get our arses kicked on easy mode. The Game is about learning. You learn and you are the boss. The only Problem I see with JA3 is that the highest dificulty isn't really hard when you learn moste things. Second is that when you combine perks smart your soldiers became super heroes. But in general in 3 weeks I made nearly 200hrs because it's absolutely masterpiece for me.
Nah man you’re entitled to your opinion - gamers all come at this from different angles but by the end of the game, I found it very difficult to complete without losing my mercs and without saving/loading mod battle. That was just my experience, I still encourage everybody to play it and draw their own conclusions!
@@CasualGamr I played a lot of JA2 before so I started at Commando difficulty. I've cleared half the map and so far got only in two very difficult battles where I was loosing my soldiers and had to reload and delay these battles for another better time. One way to make these plot battles easier was to train some militia in the sector beforehand. Those native fighters make your life much more comfortable when they join the party!
the humour part of this game is so cringy and sweaty it made me quit a few times. it also makes every merc feel the same. no character no personalities only "witty" comments and whining.
![Jagged Alliance 3 [from the perspective of a series veteran]](/img/n.gif)
This game is shockingly good. No one saw this coming. I’m amazed at the scale of it all and the world building that was totally unexpected. They really did it, they bought the franchise back from the dead.
They really did, and while it might not be everybody's cup of tea they stayed true to their guns and made it a really unique Jagged Alliance experience. It is very impressive.
Agreed. As someone who played JA2 to death and back, I REALLY enjoy the experience and the nostalgia hitting. I can only hope that the humor and everything else will catch on with a new generation. Or that there are enough old gamers like me to at least make it worth the developers while.
I have been waiting for this game for an age, they did a great job... Honestly its interesting to watch the release of JA3 compared to Phonix point... this was a much cleaner release and the game is a lot less... confused about its identity.. also if you liked this check out Xenonaughts 2.. just released into Early Access and its a great tactical game but with more of an old school XCOM vibe rather than the newer remakes
what’s your opinion on classified france 44 (but those graphics look bad). but company of hero’s 3 as well or paradise zombie edition
You have never played Jagged Alliance 2, right?
This game is so refreshing. No hand holding, no censored humor, great world building, fantastic music and voice acting, pretty graphics.
I really hope the developers got enough money from sales to continue support for this game.
I‘d love to see more content and balance patches and of course a potential JA4.
I'd have preferred more hand holding at the start if I'm really honest, but with everything else you said, I I couldn't agree more! The graphics, music and world building just blew me away, and kept going and going, the scale is huge! But at the rate they've been going, I suspect JA4 might be planned for 2033 haha
I struggled mightily in my first playthrough, but once I understood the limitations of the enemy AI and how overpowered certain game mechanics could be (for example: Fox's unique perk effectively gives her a free turn at the start of combat, so she can solo half of the enemies on a given map with a suppressed sniper rifle), it became ludicrously easy. The biggest challenge in that first run was the fact that I had no idea how the game worked, and the game really does kind of a lousy job of teaching you. It took much trial & error and save scumming, but once I understood it, it became laughably easy to stealthily stalk enemies with sniper rifles and set up ambushes with MG's and grenades.
I didn't have many problems with the lack of to-hit calculator, probably because of the thousands of hours I spent on JA2 - basically, unless I had a scoped rifle and a decent marksman, I always put at least two aim levels into a torso shot. On the other hand, all that time on JA2 left me ill-equipped for the many, many changes to the core mechanics (training >> field experience, how lethal melee could be, etc.).
I couldn't agree more with basically everything you said, but I didn't have much experience of JA2 to fall back on, more like Xcom which put me in a very different head space. I think a lot of players won't push through with a second run, meaning they'll only ever face the hard learning curve of the first run through, which is what I was trying to say in the video. Great comment though, sounds like our experiences were pretty aligned!
JA2 1.13 4LIFE
I found the game more challenging at the beginning. Once you have a sniper and someone with a machine gun, it becomes increasingly easier. Anyway, it's an awesome game.
I absolutely agree, that’s exactly what I was saying in the video. It gets easier as you progress - but at the start the difficulty seems to turn lots of players away. But the machine gun and good sniper does sort you out in the long run.
I used a MG in the more difficult fights at the first island only to discover that it eats through my ammo reserves like crazy and soon my snipers had no ammo to shoot their rifles :D
I would argue that it does not reinvent the wheel. Having played hundreds of hours on JA2, mechanics are completely familiar. 70% of the characters are a returning cast.
This game is an absolute love letter to those of us that have considered JA2 the high bar of all turn based combat games. They even brought on Ian Currie, who go's back to the creation of the first game, to make sure they got the feel correct.
I am in love with JA3. They really kind of nailed it for me.
Great review, Like and sub.
I usually pride myself on having a strong background in gaming but unfortunately JA1 and JA2 was something I only experienced through friends. I was exposed to it, understood it and even played it, but I never had the luxury of getting absorbed into it like so many other titles. I suppose that particular phrase meant in comparison to other tactical shooters that are more mainstream and familiar to non-fans of the series, but thanks to this kind of feedback I've got an urge to go back and play JA2 now! It's amazing how much I learn in the comments section, thanks so much for the kind words too, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Same here))
By the way JA2 was an absolute hit among Russian gaming community.
Same! I just miss Danny :/ Other than that, fantastic game, happy to buy it
The game is not hard if you don't trigger the "midgame" crisis too early.
I definitely triggered that badboy early haha
Never knew about this game but i gotta say it looks pretty interesting. I love the setting where the game takes place. Good point on the difficulty in games, kinda shocking how this game would seem to punish new players with impossible hit rates tho.
It’s not really that hard to be honest. It’s more about understanding game mechanics. People jump to conclusions too quickly. The hit chance mod for example is completely unnecessary.
This and BG3 are my main timewasters at the moment.
I hear you! This was my main time waster. Now BG3 has taken over!
Great review! I'm loving the game and on my second run now, mixing in a few melee specialists. I agree with pretty much all of your points, it is difficult and I don't know if I'd have done well without watching some youtubers who gave me good ideas. It's a very polished game but the 1990s level of hand-holding just doesn't work for most people today. I'm not used to stealth games, for example, and found stealth impossible until I saw someone explain the mechanics. Glad it's doing so well and hopefully, if nothing else, they take this feedback and apply it to JA4.
Thanks so much! I think my core issue was how little hand holding you get, and considering that many players won't push into a second run, the game's rep (might) take an unfair hit. That was my main goal, I hope I wasn't too harsh haha. I'm pushing for melee characters on my second run too, which comes with its own fresh learning curve!
I just found out about this game, it gave me nostalgia about when i played jagged alliance 2 a longgg time ago, it was so hard and i was so young it took me ages to complete the first few stages, hardest game i ever played, i loved the game, cant wait to play this now, happy they kept true to the original, always hoped they would make another one,
Excellent review. I'd love to watch more videos of you covering these types of games.
Thanks so much! I’d love to review more - are you talking about AA titles out of interest? Or tactical shooters? I appreciate the feedback 🙏 have an awesome day 😊
@@CasualGamr tactical strategy-based shooters.
You can change the difficulty settings to make it pretty easy. Unless you want to do some kind of weird "pistols only" run or whatever.
It's a funny tale: it took me a while to figure out that you could zoom in to improve the hit chance. Once you get some decent gear, your team is almost unbeatable, provided you get the chance to use the terrain. The most brutal battles are those where you can't maneuver, like the underground battles or the ones where you have to defend something or someone. I especially hated the scripted ambush in the refugee camp. I knew it was going to happen, so I only sent two of my team. You don't even get the chance to respond, you are just get shot at by a dozen or so heavily armed dudes. Later in the game, you get hold of grenade launchers and even mortars. I returned to that refugee camp scene with a mortar and bombarded the hell out of the army.
Damn you called me out - Pheonix Point, Miasma Chronicles and Xcom are some of my favourite games!
Some really good advice there - I like to think you've saved several people several hours of pain!
Colonel Faucheux haha probably not the most Scottish person in the game :P
The iron man perma death settings are BRUTAL
I dipped my toe in and realised I needed a few more weeks of playing before I'd survive more than ten minutes haha
@@CasualGamr I’ve lost so many people that no one else is gonna join up with me 😆 gotta try and finish it with who I’ve got left
I loved JA2 back in the day. The one thing that screws this up for me is that they changed the personality of some mercs, especially Magic whom I really liked.
Any chance that was to be less controversial? JA2 was made in the 90's... it was a different time man... a different time 🤷
@@CasualGamr Good point, also maybe to accomodate for the new style of humor.. which wasn't really present in JA2 as far as I remember
my favourite game of the year so far :)
It is awesome, isn't it. I know I was a little harsh, but ultimately my frustrations were outweighed by how impressed I was with the immersion in general. It really is a unique game. Sadly I still don't think it will reach the masses with mega big sales, but I hope it does.
Same for me. By the way the second best game this year in my opinion was made by the same developer studio. It is called Stranded: Alien Dawn.
As well as the previous Jagged Alliance games, it seems to take more inspiration from Commandos/Desperados 3 in terms of the stealth components, though the UI isn't as refined for this. As well as getting a good position for the whole squad, it's worth seeing if there are groups of 1 or 2 who can be taken out silently to thin the numbers. Stealth was the gamechanger for me. I always go for a suppressor where it's a weapon option, and tend to scrap anything that doesn't have this capability.
Nice review! Have never heard of this series but looks really cool. Love the design
Good review!
Yeah I gotta say, I HATE those crocs.
If you haven't gone in with Barry and his shaped charges, you haven't lived.
Train you soldier to be good in mele weapons, I smash 3 crocks at once with machete using Keith "Blood" Hanson. Take it from start, using his silent kill skill you save hell a lot of ammo. Use the perks that give additional stealth and AP after 1st kill and you are the mele boss.
Thanks so much 🙏 Haha it’s so true - I talked about the Scot, what I didn’t mention is that he was armed to the teeth with Barry’s shaped charges 😄
@@CasualGamr Best one for mele will be Kyle "Shadow" Simmons but he is way more expensivier. Keith is good enough to easly go through game on every dificulty. PPL usualy complain about ammo, put in your squad 1 machette guy and you will never deplete your ammo.
Good to know, thanks!@@kriscrx8313
Pro tip: throwing knives negate armor.
Loving it. Very tactical, good humor and challenging.
Ok you got me, I will try this eventually.
Big JA2 fan here.
Great review and I agree with a lot of what you said. I played JA2, Crossfire and Back in Action - still find the first few missions challenging as the weapons were ineffective.
I didn't use the hit % MOD and find the guessing game quite enjoyable LOL Just when I thought it became easier after getting rifiles etc. some plot twists popped up and caught me off guard. I am cruising a bit now as am mainly doing side quests while prepare to close in on the main mission.
I feel strongly that JA really needs to improve its tutorial. This problem existed since JA2 tbh 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪 and my friend was frustrated with the game despite my encouragement. I find EVERY beginning of JA quite offputting 🤭
Thanks so much, really appreciate that! It sounds like our experiences were almost completely aligned 😊 I think some of the more hardcore fans found it a lot easier, as per some of the other comments, but my frustrations still stand as I came at this game without that much adult experience on the previous entry. I did absolutely love it, but I found the learning curve a bit of a wall. That's super interesting to hear it was carried over from the previous entry... I guess in some ways, you could say good on them for catering to the fans?? And those plot twists! Loved them so much haha
Definitely not my style of game but these turn based games are looking more and more interesting as I get older, now 20. Baldurs Gate 3 looks pretty good and this game looks like it would be a lot of fun, especially with friends
Ah man, Baldur’s Gate 3!! I just downloaded it and am preparing to lose the next two weeks of my life haha.
Love it, close to ja2 we have. Need to add a few more features like a wider range of guns, be able to sell weapons, be able to change the skin of your characters based on your armour.
I play on ps5, they have done a great job converting it to controller. Its not perfect but its pretty good once you get used to it.
Recommendation - do NOT use the Chance to Hit mod. Use the DESCRIPTIVE Chance to Hit mod. It is a very happy middle term, not "puzzle"-like (to quote the devs) numeric chances, but based on how the merc itself finds it likely or not that they would land that shot.
Cool - I didn’t see that one, sadly it wasn’t suggested to me and I wasn’t really looking to mod the game as much as understand the maths so I headed straight to the initial recommendation. I’m going to take a look at that, thanks for the suggestion!
Agreed - this is the one I use and seeing the "Average" or "Highly Likely" gives me the information I need for good tactical decisions without having the actual numbers that can screw with my perception of the action.
The game is great. I play a lot of strategy games and I am on a second playthrough. I didn’t find it to be too hard outside of a few pivotal fights but there are definitely some fights that really test you.
nice, always love a game that gives me an edge
To me, this is an even better version of Xcom 2, except getting enough ammo is a royal pain in the arse. Entire weekends would fly by just playing this, which is totally destructive to my postgraduate studies. And... is it just me or does that epic title music sound like it came from The Last Samurai?
That's awesome that you prefer it - I'm in half minds. I do prefer the puzzle-type combat of Xcom, but I just feel everything else is a clear evolution of the game. The exploring and chatting, and getting to know the characters in the game world. Haha I didn't pick up on The Last Samurai, but I did hear a few chords that reminded me of Robocop!! I suspect the music is as tribute-driven as the gameplay. It's such an impressive game, lots of hidden stuff like that I think.
A very imformative review, personally I did not have to much trouble with the game on my first run, but save scuming was a very key part. Although normally I would restart the entire fight rather than just go back a turn. It seems you have not played Battletech, or reviewed it. I would love to see it, as it is my fav turn based squad tactics game. Which is what I have started calling games like this or xcom.
It's a game made with love
Love to the fans,new old ones like me,I remember playing the Frist one long long long time
It's a f epic game
That's so nice to hear, I was honest as a non die-hard fan of the original, but all these comments that support the series and think back to the first and second makes me super nostalgic. Hopefully this game is popular enough with the fans that it prompts them to consider another down the line.
Wasn’t aware of this game before. Looks intriguing though! The setting and some of the themes makes me a bit nostalgic for Far Cry 2.
Loved the inclusion of the angry Kingpin clip, got a good wee chuckle out of it 😄
I played solo Merc, Ironman on Mission Impossible with Deadly weapons and Dead is Dead..... Captured most of the mainland but ended up running around the map retraining militia that was getting whittled down from hit squads sent by outposts. Eventually died taking one of those outposts.
The most frustrating thing is the enemy AI knew where I was even after only 'finding a body' after a stealth kill and would head straight for my position. Meaning I had to either repostion or retreat out of the map and come in again from a different quadrant.
Damn, you're a braver man than me! I would love to pour that much time into it, but Baldur's Gate 3 is knocking at my door... that's interesting to hear those frustrations though, although I guess if you're that good at the game, and the game still wants to take you out... they have to find a way to dial up the difficulty somehow 😂
Imho, the recipe for Lone Wolf - Iron Man - Mission Impossible is: 1) Use a Hand-To-Hand melee merc (e.g. Nails), or melee Ivan, because of his talent. It allows you to theoretically kill an infinite amount of enemies in a single turn and generate grit while doing so. You can still use stealth, rifles and explosives with a full melee build. But melee makes everything easier, when you're cornered. 2) Don't bother training militia except in a few key locations. Focus on capturing outposts quickly.instead. No enemy outposts, no patrols attacking you. Only train militia in those central outposts where patrols have to pass through. 3) Progress quickly and only take fights, that you want to take, especially after the mid-game event. You can cross the whole map safely in just a few days, if you just sneak past enemies and exit without even fighting them.
As someone who has played JA2 when it came out and also XCom I find your splashscreen pretty bold... :p
JA3 is a great throwback to JA2 and XCom can't measure up in my opinion.
It is a fun game, sure, but JA3 is, if anything, the new JA2 which XCom maybe wanted to be.
That said, I agree with your points... the game pulls no punches and is oodles of fun.
Have an upvote :)
A huge plus that mods seem to be supported. I don't have the game yet, just going off of what I see available and the in-game mod menu. Modding should help with the early difficulty if a person wants to go that route. I see a simple space bar live action pause mod.
Good review, even if I disagreed with most of it lol
- I think a gritty tone would have taken away a lot of the charm. War-torn settings like this are often done very poorly, and even if I don't think the humor always works, it avoids a worse cliche.
- The aim system works well. It avoids feeling like a math problem where you're optimizing your AP, and forces you to go with your gut. Over-analysis of the numbers is a huge problem with XCOM. I also think it's pretty clear about what factors go into your shot, and you get a good feel for who can make what shots on your team. Like the UI is pretty clear about stuff like pistol range.
- The difficulty has a few weird spikes during the mid-game set pieces, but beyond that isn't too hard. It is balanced for reloading when there's a catastrophe, and I think pushing experienced players toward the "no saves during combat" option would give them room. I also think that, yeah, if you come from any XCOM style game where snipers are OP, you'll have a different experience. That's kind of life though. Your 5th soulsbourne is never as hard as your first.
My favourite is the 'Legion go Home' Easteregg to 'Life of Brian'
Too much to pack in to the video, but for sure, that gem is worth two Easter Eggs ;)
Why noone talks about how they nerf the LMG, now LMG is a big joke!
Haven't played Jagged Alliance 3 yet but I'm looking forward to it.
I actually detest level scaling in most games. You get stronger, so enemies get stronger, so nothing really changes... no clue why anyone thought that was a good idea. Just relegating any sense of progression to purely cosmetic. I mean, sure throw in a tough opponent here and there, and setup some challenging situations, maybe occasionally put the player up against overwhelming numbers of weaker opponents, but just making the mobs tougher to match the player becoming tougher, is just lazy, senseless, and utterly ill-conceived.
I still remember shadowrun on sega genesis had some corporate hit squad that would show up occasionally, and all you could hope to do was escape with your life, if only you ran like hell. You simply stood no chance against them. You'd level up, get better gear, become confident against many adversaries, and eventually that hit squad would show up again, and still be utterly overpowering, so all you could do was desperately flee. Eventually though, after you got dermal plating, vibro claws or a smart gun, high end cybernetics, significantly improved skills and attributes... then when that corporate hit squad showed up again, when you could turn around and face them, still outnumbered, but now highly capable with cutting edge gear. Taking out that hit squad, decisively, was just so damned bad ass.
Some games nail character progression really nicely... never by just scaling mob toughness and damage though. I prefer games that get easier as your character develops, with occasional exceptions of heightened challenge, ideally worked into well-crafted pacing. Bosses are okay, but it's better when developers come up with more engaging challenges then just tough bosses.
I love this game, it's so good. Some nice mods slapped on it and it's a really nice game. I really recommend it if you like TBS.
Couldn’t agree more - love that mods are good to go so early in it’s life! I imagine it’s got a pretty cool future ahead of it.
What is TBS
@@gazell3s Turn based strategy.
I hope a mod comes out that improves the brain dead AI. Enemies just run into your soldiers and stand in the open. It really hurts the game experience.
I can't imagine how easy difficulty can be hard. You have absolutely imbalance IMP merc, Barry, Fox, Livewire right on start. It's dirt cheap, high wisdom, and have powerful abilities. May be without them hardest difficulty actually be hard.
Well, you're beginning with a knowledge head start. You know, that those are the best starting mercs and how to build a good IMP. Just imagine someone starting with Grizzly, MD, Steroid and an automatically generated IMP. None of these mercs is necessarily bad, but due to low agility, any mistake in positioning or taking bad shots will be punished _hard_ .
Haha you are literally describing how I headed into the game, plus that girl with the hoodie. The second and third attempts were a lot cleaner, for sure. No matter how much flack I got, I stand by what I said - lots of people found it challanging and those that didn't aren't being entirely honest with themsevles about their pre-existing skillset...
@@CasualGamr It's not really about being "honest". They're just not aware of their pre-existing skillset. But figuring out the whole JA3 puzzle is part of the fun. So, if easy is a bit of a challenge for some, great! The game is supposed to be a bit of a puzzle. The only mechanic that could be explained better is stealth, imho.
I think if you ever played JA2 the aiming ring might be easier to grasp. I don't have an issue with it because it seems to cleave pretty close to JA2, but I can definitely see how players used to seeing a numerical chance to hit would have trouble with it.
It really exceeded my expectations after a number of abortive attempts to reimagine the franchise over the past 24 years.
I love JA2 and the 1.13 mod so much
putting faith in my merc's ability to hit their shots, and not just a number on screen makes me feel a lot better when they hit their shots for some reason
I guess it's because you nailed the shot based on intuition, and not maths?
Doesn't 1.13 have such option (new aiming system or something it's called). Anyway, game is far better then all other attempts at JA3 put together. One trouble I have with it, apart form mechanics that is different, is that the inventory is weird. What is group inventory, or whatever it is called? Also, where are clips, magazines, belts, drums, etc.? Why all ammo comes in out of factory boxes?
Watching a big, fat "accuracy" tab smack dab in the middle of the screen with green +'s and red -'s all over it while hearing "I have no idea what would influence my hitting-chances" was a bit surreal O_o
Surreal? I’ll take that… in the eternal battle of phantasmagorical vs surrealist, I’ll take the former every time 😎
I got 3 sniper rifles and one machine gun for overwatch + someone with grenades = GG
The hidden hit chance is the best, no more cries about 95% miss.
Hahaha well for sure, there is always that. Nothing like missing on a 95% hit chance in Xcom either.
And yet.
Although the game is several steps above the ones that came before, it is only 1/3 as good as Jagged Alliance 2, that is not to condemn the game but to give it fair and cold criticism, I can do that as a fan and a veteran of JA2 for 23 years, that is an accomplishment for this game all because JA2 is perfection and the best in the genre, and that's without the mods that make JA2 unreachable for others.
for a casual gamer that's a pretty good review.
forgot to mention that JA2 has its 90% mechanics hidden until you stumble them yourself while playing.
Thanks! It does seem like this is a solid tribute, but falls way short of the genre defining popularity of JA2. Back then smaller teams with more license to be innotaive gave us some of the best games we would ever play (for the time). It's just a different age for gaming now I think!
@@CasualGamr It sure does on both things you said, but i still don't dismiss it, it still has a strong post release support, so i'm bidding time until i see something amazing, either from devs or fan mods.
that said, did you thought about making a review on JA2 ?
Though learnin curve here is steep, it still more friendly than High Fleet or MechWarriorOnline. But random loot can really take a toll on you.
Haha yeah I feel this is one of those games that gets more and more fun, the more you play it. Sadly I just don't have the time to dump 100+ hours into it otherwise I would, and would keep playing it for years I expect. When I retured to it after I did the review I found it a lot easier the second time around.
Battle is really good, the setting and rpg elements are more "meh".
Didn't really catch me. But I loved the combat and wish there were more games like this. Loved to always seek out the advantage in combat and be really tactical.
I've enjoyed Jagged Alliance so far, but I do have to say, losing mercs is *way* too easy.
As you mentioned, games like Bloodborne and Hollow Knight can be really challenging, but there's a huge difference in losing there, compared to JA3. In Bloodborne, you can die 50 times to a boss and you lose nothing. Souls, at most. Jagged Alliance 3? Bye bye, favourite merc. Forever. 20 hours into the game.
It's really damn punishing and, while I don't generally mind that, I hate permanently losing characters like this. Especially when they can get downed and then just die the next turn instantly, even though their chance of dying is "low".
I get some people might really enjoy that aspect, and maybe that's why it should have been a toggleable option to make them a little more durable while downed.
There an option in the game to deactivate difficulty. If you're more into reading a brezzehome sort of novel, that is: option menu is here for you.
Also, please try to never have to describe your way of playing games again, that's worthy of charges, that sort of thing. Please don't add a single word about that, you ridiculous millenial prospect, you.
Damn! Now I feel like comiting suicide every single time my knight mare get to dye in Diablo. That's horrible. Thanks for nothing, young padawan weakling.
nobody forces you to play ironman mode
just quickload
Yeah, I totally hear you. As is always the case, when I went back and played it more, I found it easier, as with most games. But I'm not a huge fan of having to play a second time to really enjoy it, hence why I gave a bit of a harsh critique on the difficulty. As I can tell from the comments, not everybody agrees, but life would be boring if we were all the same!! All things told, though, it's a kick ass game and I suspect the modding community will work wonders with it, some of which might get integrated into further version updates 🤷
I love that game ! And really not that hard once you know what you're doing, played 20hrs "normal" now finishing a "hard" (commando) campaign
Did you manage to complete the first run in 20 hours?? I'm sure it took me over 40, but I was being a bit of a completionist...
i downloaded the expanded loadout mod, then give assault gun like aug and mgs, kevlar armor set to MD and kamila and hire them from the start, and use close combat specs to my main merc. its easier.
Mmmh still on the starter island...got 5 mercs inc my imp and 40k on the bank. About to attack the outpost, my mercs are mostly geared with protective clothes, 3 ak's and 2 gewehr. With explosives on Barry it really becomes a breeze. First blood difficulty isn't really that hard. I would like to have a pause button though, to give commands when out of combat to streamline the setup.
The lack of the pause button was one of a number of things I felt were missing, but having said that I think they were going for a hectic scrable approach, rather than the slow-but-steady puzzle-like progression of Xcom. With all the copycats out there, I can't slate them for trying to be different!
@@CasualGamr Could def be the reason, otherwise the gameplay would become very repetative. You could take time to setup the perfect killzone and draw them in, all the time.
Pause button was a mod previously, but now is a part of the original game.
I like the game but not nearly as much as 2. I basically always play 2 with the tons of guns option active (I think in my well over a dozen runs I tried non-tons of guns mode one run) so the much smaller selection of weapons disappoints me. Also the lack of variety in weapons Mercs start with . Most gun types there is only one weapon a Merc can start with. if they start with a Pistol its the same one as every other Merc that starts with one. unless I'm remembering wrong ditto for Shotguns, one hand Submachine Guns/Machine Pistols, Revolvers, Sniper Rifles, and two hand Submachine Guns.
And I find it odd that even though this is set in 2001 the weapons selection is older then the games set in the 80s and 90s with many weapons dating back to World War II, or even weapons that first entered production in the 19th century. And I'm a fan of Shotguns in game but prefer if they hold at least four shells. The starter Shotgun in this only holds two. I actually experimented with it and found having to reload after every other shot in this even more annoying then in first person and third person shooters.
Also there are far fewer recruitable mercs then in 2 or even 1 and Deadly games. Plus in 2 the in game AIM website included a section listing what happened to the mercs from 1 and Deadly games who were no longer recruitable but 3 lacks that feature.
Also for some reason the in-game online gun and supply store from 2 is missing, and the selections at the in settlements markets are limited to put it nicely. Finally the diamond mines run out absurdly fast in this. I rarely install mods on games but I was so frustrated by the last issue I installed one to stop them from emptying because as short as this game is the odds on one of the nations diamond mines running out is IMO slim,. The odds on more then one running out are so unlikely its almost unbelievable.
Despite the flaws I like this but not nearly as much as 2, and I'm not sure if I prefer it or Flashback.
That's really interesting, I can't say I had the in depth knowledge required to compare it to JA2 like you, that would have been very useful for the video. But back in 1999 I relied on whatever games came my way and sadly at that time, I'd never heard of it! Maybe in time they'll use mods and patches to enhance JA3 and cater to some of the fan feedback like yours? They've already released some of their own mods, so anything is possible 🤷
Regarding the weaponary, I think the WW2 hardware is supposed to be because it's a poor region and they use anything from modern tech to hand me downs, but I do agree that at first glance it seems unlikely that that many MP40s would still be in working condition, although as I understand it, that weapon in particular was produced into the 70s for armies like Norway before being replaced by the MP5, and as a result it's seen use in civil wars such as in Libya and Syria until recently. So maybe not so crazy after all for a turn of the millenium game? I really did enjoy the old school feel, it's a nice contrast to all the silly space age machine guns you see in "futuristic" games these days.
The MP40s maybe but the intro sniper rifle is a World War I era Combat Rifle, which predated the war by well over a decade which sems very odd to me. And I wouldn't mind some older guns it just seems unusual how many there are when the earlier games usually have a mix of a few older and primarily Cold War Era designs. As someone whose played every game in the series and the standalone expansions (There are far more spinoff games then numbered entries). that feels off. Not to mention why would so many of the Mercs being using since old weaponry.
Plus they get into weird things like including the AK-74 but having it fire the same bullets as the AK-47 which makes no sense to me. Especially since by the time the game took place there were more modern Assault Rifles that actually did use the same ammo as the 47s
@@roguerifter9724 Good point, I hadn’t picked up that the AK74 isn’t firing 5.45mm! I was, on the other hand, generally impressed by the range of ammo available for the roster of weapons which is very often overlooked in gaming. Drives me nuts when everything from Colt 1911s to Beretta 92Fs are firing generic “pistol” rounds and so on. Anyway I absolutely see what you’re saying about some of the WW1 era weaponry, does seem odd. But then again, so does a mercenary turning up to war with a single pistol and one magazine of ammo 🤦♂️
I wonder why they settled on some of the more unusual choices, and to what extent they employed expert input. Might be worth reaching out to them and asking what drove those decisions! Thanks for the comments, those are some really insightful thoughts 👍🏼
@@CasualGamr Yeah and that's another odd thing. This is the first Jagged Alliance game I recall without a Colt .45. In fact from what I've seen there are no .45 guns at all. It seems odd to use so many older weapons but leave out some of the iconic weapons of those eras that were in older games.
You're describing actually a smart decision by the devs. You got to keep in mind, that we're all used to JA2 1.13, which adds years of mod development onto a full-fledged game that already received an expansion. JA3 is out since weeks and the official modding tools are out since about a week. Give the modding community some time or begin creating a mod yourself. The devs focused on polishing the game and atmosphere and characters. The community will create tons of weapons and loadout mods anyway. Going overboard on weapon choices would've honestly been a waste of development time.
What was alway a problem with the JA series is that the (wonderful!) graphics weren't quite to scale. So the hit ranges dropping off so much with distance feels extra absurd because the distances you're visually seeing don't match the 10m per square (or whatever) the game was balancing its fire around. I mean it's all arbitrary anyway but in JA2 it felt a little better when you realized that guy who looked 15m away was actually supposed to be 60m or 75m out. Ironically the better the graphics get the worse this problem can become.
I don't want first person shooters, aliens, dragons, virtue signaling, politics, or monetization schemes masquerading as video games.
I do want tactical/strategic turn based combat grounded in reality.
Jagged Alliance 3 gives me everything I do want, and nothing I don't want.
If you like this game, if you want more games like this, say nice things about it.
I hear you! I'm glad you found a game that meets your specifics, it's amazing how much positivity the "perfect" game can bring to your life on a personal level, which of course is very subjective to the player. If anybody knocked my favourite games in the same way, or dicesected them and focused too much on the negatives, I would probably feel the same way. Nevertheless, I would have to say that I don't want more games like this, I would like more games similar to this. The humour and the lack of Xcom-styed puzzle approach to combar wasn't for me, which is what I wanted to put forward in my video. For me, the perfect version of JA3 would be one where those frustrations were attended to. But it would be a boring world if we all loved the exact same games!
@@CasualGamr I am not excoriating your critique, I enjoyed it. I am not offended by other's opinions, nor do I wish to impose my tastes on others.
These are my tastes, I found the humor hilarious, actually laugh out loud funny. I prefer simple visual novel style interactions over extravagant cutscenes. I enjoyed the Lovecraftian overtones without actually fighting Cthulhu.
I am simply practicing what I preach, spreading the good word.
The most valid criticisms I have seen among those who are on the fence can and will be addressed with modding. Customization of gameplay is also something I highly value.
10:45 my brother you are literally looking at a screen that shows what is effecting accuracy..... negatives (-) for behind cover and aiming for the head and positives(+) for marksmanship and aiming. And as you aim you get more +
It's not supposed to tell you a hit chance. Not in JA1 not in JA2.
I hear you, I've learned a lot from recent feedback - I suppose that was my initial reaction and I was commenting on it accordingly, but players of this game fall into two catragories I think: those who played JA2 (and maybe 1), and those that didn't. I would love to be in the former camp, but this is one title that I never owned and it sounds like my life was worse off for it! I think I might go back and play JA2 when I get the chance, although it doesn't sound like it's a game you can experience properly if you just dip into it...
People are always pruned about the comedy of the games and it really just tells me they never played the previous games, what did gus making jokes about Pina colada and Prozac while giving a mission to kill commies in 1 and 2 had Xenomorph and pretty much a 3 stooges routine with the antagonists?
The comedy is more subdued here
Also... Honestly I don't get why people say this game is hellish with difficulty just don't have them all close to each other and have good positioning
I guess I just didn't find the specific writing all that funny, like only a couple of the characters ammused me, most just seemed so contrived that it spoiled the immersion of an otherwise really well built world. The satire was more clear in JA2. But I do appreciate that it was always going to have humour as it is a JA game after all 🤷
It is not XCOM, it is Operation Silent Storm
I am dissapointed from JA3.
Combat is no challennge at all.
First playthrough on impossible mission and Ai sucks.
I shoot a guy without a silencer and the other one who is some tiles far not react at all.
All i have to do is go with my squad in front of two guys they just take position and then i execute them.
Main startegy three snipers in sneak mode pick the isolated guys and small groups from distance some ambushes with MG's and you are done.
No challenge at all especially after you build a good squad...
Game is hard? Are you joking me? No it isn't.
I hear you, and glad you’re enjoying it and smashing it, but having been exposed to a lot of different feedback from many different gamers, I get the feeling that most people do find it challenging. But hey, took me aaages to beat Dark Souls, and I swear some people blaze through it like it’s Stardew Valley or something! Some people are just more patient with tactical shooters than others I guess?
@@CasualGamr this is designed with purpouse, like in old days. Games like XCom, JA2, Fallout 2 or Fallout: Tactics. On very 1st day we get our arses kicked on easy mode. The Game is about learning. You learn and you are the boss. The only Problem I see with JA3 is that the highest dificulty isn't really hard when you learn moste things. Second is that when you combine perks smart your soldiers became super heroes. But in general in 3 weeks I made nearly 200hrs because it's absolutely masterpiece for me.
I dont want to sound like an asshole but the game truely is not as difficult as you say it is
Nah man you’re entitled to your opinion - gamers all come at this from different angles but by the end of the game, I found it very difficult to complete without losing my mercs and without saving/loading mod battle. That was just my experience, I still encourage everybody to play it and draw their own conclusions!
@@CasualGamr I played a lot of JA2 before so I started at Commando difficulty. I've cleared half the map and so far got only in two very difficult battles where I was loosing my soldiers and had to reload and delay these battles for another better time. One way to make these plot battles easier was to train some militia in the sector beforehand. Those native fighters make your life much more comfortable when they join the party!
Callin this the new xcom is wilding disrespectful
If you meant wildly, then I would agree, which is why I didn’t 🤷♂️
No, not X-COM, no. More like Wasteland.
I'd say Wasteland is a bit closer to Xcom, no?
@@CasualGamr No. Not at all. Wasteland is an RPG, like Jagged Alliance.
@@messire9837 Got you 👍 might have to check it out - thanks!
the humour part of this game is so cringy and sweaty it made me quit a few times. it also makes every merc feel the same. no character no personalities only "witty" comments and whining.