Jagged Alliance 3 XSX Review 9/10 "A Modern Turn-Based Classic" 💥 @THQNordic

A series of turn-based games that have roots going way back to 1994, Jagged Alliance has always enjoyed critical success – and yet it’s a series of games I’ve only touched upon briefly since its inception in the mid-’90s. I recall having some friends who were hips deep, thinking very highly of the franchise, and so when the opportunity came up to cover the third major entry, I was keen to have a goosey.

Set in the fictional country of Grand Chien, the president has been kidnapped and the unseen player (part of the Adonis Corporation) has been hired by the president’s daughter in order to rescue her pops. You do this by hiring from a plethora of mercenaries, gearing them up – and sending them through various missions, incrementally improving your position in ultimately saving the president from the nefarious ‘Major’.

There really is a lot to love here, even as I initially selected my first merc team,  working out the best balance between cost, skills and equipment, each mercenary would chime in with sound bites of who they refuse to work with and who they’d like you to hire alongside them. It instantly creates a sense of lived-in camaraderie and history.

Upon finally selecting your team(s), it’s time to dive into the game, and it’s very clear that there are a lot of options at your disposal, so much so, that it can initially be overwhelming – but developers Haemimont Games have expertly woven in tutorials and guides that reveal the full arsenal of choice and possibilities at your disposal in such a way that doesn’t feel invasive.

The early missions along the coastline see you getting used to the basic – and satisfying – mechanics of moving, planning, and shooting – but the real joy comes from later missions such as when one of your characters is pinned down in a crumbling church and you must take down the approaching enemy soldiers whilst covering your own behind, all under torrential rain and approaching fog, every single movement and decision feels vital, and cinematic.

The scale of the locations that you must clear – and the designs therein – are also highlights, through incredible detailed visuals you’ll find yourself assaulting outposts, snaking your way through mountain paths, gingerly exploring ruins and mines, making your way through fishing villages and cities – all of which pose their own mysteries and threats.

You’ll find yourself getting attached to your squad, and as they bicker, celebrate, gain experience, or sadly perish, they become so much more than portraits on a page, especially when one you’ve invested significant time and money into, steps on a hidden landmine, takes a sniper’s bullet whilst crossing open ground, or gets heroically  mown down in a hail of enemy fire. The music plays a huge part in this, as you weigh up the myriad tactics at hand, the music effortlessly raises the stakes, moving from almost incidental atmospherics to tension-laden theatrics as the end of the stage – whatever that may bring - draws near.

SUMMARY

Jagged Alliance 3 is an incredibly rich and detailed turn-based strategy title that comes with a dollop of humour in the stew of a deceivingly complex title with enough accessibility tweaking available in the options to suit all skill levels and play-styles whilst always posing a fair challenge.

It feels almost Cannon Fodder-esque in how it maintains the delicate balance of a satisfying core gameplay loop and lightness of touch, whilst also driving home the personal cost of war - a classic.