Multiplatform Jagged Alliance 3 - more realistic XCOM

[GtehMVP]

Was checking out a few video-reviews for this, and something hit me.

X-Com2 came out in 2016, and a sequel hasn't even been announced for beginning development.

It had several problems at launch that are still there today, and its poorly optimized on PC & consoles. If they're ever going to make X-Com3, they're going to have to step their game up. Not just because such bugs & issues would be far less forgivable but because several of X-Com2's best features have been copy&pasted into overall better games like Wasteland3 & Jagged Alliance 3.

I'd love a new X-com. I always look for these type of isometric strategy games (or RPG's) to have the same kinds of dynamic camera angles the Firaxis X-Com games brought in. It's not a deal breaker if they don't have them, but they just immerse you into the world far more. It made even the dullest Final Fantasy 7 battles more exciting.

I'm so glad to see that this game has them, gonna have to buy! The fact mods are coming too...

edit, well shit, there's already workshop support on Steam!

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I'd love a new X-com. I always look for these type of isometric strategy games (or RPG's) to have the same kinds of dynamic camera angles the Firaxis X-Com games brought in. It's not a deal breaker if they don't have them, but they just immerse you into the world far more. It made even the dullest Final Fantasy 7 battles more exciting.

That reminds me... have you played Gears (of War) Tactics? It had many concepts that'd advance CRPGs into modern gaming.

*No grid-maps (always seemed limiting).
*3 action points rather than 2.
*Well Optimized Engine - 120FPS/1440p.
*Very interesting upgrade trees for every class.

Very unique how you only get enough points to fill up two of the 'branches' of the tree.

This is a significant upgrade over X-Com2's.

That said, its expansion improved it significantly.

 

[Blayt7hh]

Damn this games getting great reviews. I saw that it was being made a while back but didn’t follow it- I thought it was just going to be an average indie game. Looks like I was wrong. I might have to pick it up tonight

 

[Gandzooka]

Update 1.3 is here and it has brought the most requested feature since the launch:

It unlocks a couple of days after capturing the town on the first island or loading an existing save game, just click a link in your ingame email to access it.

You even have armor and utility items (including meds & parts) available:

I ran couple of times into a situation where I didn't have locksmith's kit available due to rng nature of the game so this should really help. Of course, they only deliver to the western part of the map so you still need someone to pick them up. Items appear in sector inventory automatically.

The ammo economy has favored sniper rifles until now but this should make machine guns more viable choices.

 

[tehdude]

Is there a scifi option? I remember you can fight aliens in 2 with the scifi option.
Can you still punch cows to gain strength?

 

[Mack Yancy]

X-Com2 came out in 2016, and a sequel hasn't even been announced for beginning development.

It's because they made Marvel Midnight Suns.

The game bombed horribly, but I still applaud them for trying something very different then just another soulless capeshit cashgrab like Marvel Avengers or Gotham Knights. It was a very interesting Visual Novel/Roguelike/Turn-Based Strategy mashup that I think deserves a look.

X-Com 3 will sell just because it's X-com regardless of quality.

 

[Mack Yancy]

Update 1.3 is here and it has brought the most requested feature since the launch:

It unlocks a couple of days after capturing the town on the first island or loading an existing save game, just click a link in your ingame email to access it.

You even have armor and utility items (including meds & parts) available:

I ran couple of times into a situation where I didn't have locksmith's kit available due to rng nature of the game so this should really help. Of course, they only deliver to the western part of the map so you still need someone to pick them up. Items appear in sector inventory automatically.

The ammo economy has favored sniper rifles until now but this should make machine guns more viable choices.

Might have to reinstall this.

 

[Bob Gray]

It's because they made Marvel Midnight Suns.

The game bombed horribly, but I still applaud them for trying something very different then just another soulless capeshit cashgrab like Marvel Avengers or Gotham Knights. It was a very interesting Visual Novel/Roguelike/Turn-Based Strategy mashup that I think deserves a look.

X-Com 3 will sell just because it's X-com regardless of quality.

It sucks because Marvel Suns was a great turn based strategy game. It was a little lacking in the writing and the hero conversations/activities dragged a bit. But it was still overall a great game, especially the combat mechanics. Solomon left Firaxis afterword and he was lead on Xcom 1 and 2, so dont really know whats gonna happen with the franchise from this point forward.

 

[Mack Yancy]

It sucks because Marvel Suns was a great turn based strategy game. It was a little lacking in the writing and the hero conversations/activities dragged a bit. But it was still overall a great game, especially the combat mechanics. Solomon left Firaxis afterword and he was lead on Xcom 1 and 2, so dont really know whats gonna happen with the franchise from this point forward.

With or without solomon, there is no way that another X-Com isn't being released, the franchise is bigger than any one director. I'm not saying the game will be of the same quality but the game will come out.

 

[Gandzooka]

Is there a scifi option? I remember you can fight aliens in 2 with the scifi option.
Can you still punch cows to gain strength?

No, there is no scifi option in JA3. No cows either if I remember right. There are however crocs and hyenas.

 

[GtehMVP]

That reminds me... have you played Gears (of War) Tactics? It had many concepts that'd advance CRPGs into modern gaming.

*No grid-maps (always seemed limiting).
*3 action points rather than 2.
*Well Optimized Engine - 120FPS/1440p.
*Very interesting upgrade trees for every class.

Very unique how you only get enough points to fill up two of the 'branches' of the tree.

This is a significant upgrade over X-Com2's.

That said, its expansion improved it significantly.

I played a bit of it on gamepass at one point. I remember really liking it. What was the enemy variety like?

 

[Mack Yancy]

I want to love this game, but dear lord is it difficult.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I played a bit of it on gamepass at one point. I remember really liking it. What was the enemy variety like?

Just finished playing through it yesterday and the enemy variety is... pretty good.

Basically if you've played a Gears Of War 3rd-person shooting game you know what enemies to expect.

Its a fine introduction for tactical-strategy games, and for the genre the graphics are 10/10.

The game does have some issues related to replayability and missions repeating, but they're minor issues if you're not planning on playing it five or six times over.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Anyone buy the console release?

Haven't seen many reviews.

 

[Gandzooka]

Patch 1.5 is out.

• New Extensive modding tools were introduced. Create new campaigns, and quests, edit maps, and much more.
• Lua Debug Adapter to debug your mods using Visual Studio Code while the game is running.
• Example mods that are included in game files
• 10 New Game rules introduced
  • Hard Lessons - Mercs level up at a slower pace.
  • Body Count - Increases the number of enemies in hostile squads.
  • Under the Weather - Severe weather effects are more common.
  • Bobby Pays - Increases the prices in the online store "Bobby Ray's Guns and Things"
  • Ammo Scarcity - Find less ammo, throwable items and explosives.
  • Heavy Wounds - Wounds also hamper Free Move and Accuracy. Affects all characters - mercs, allies and enemies.
  • Hiring Game Rules
    • A.I.M. Always Online - Mercs are never "offline" and will not refuse contracts without a good reason.
    • A.I.M. Legendary Deals - Starting salaries of all Elite and Legendary mercs are decreased.
    • A.I.M. Platinum - Unlocks legendary mercs on start (except retired mercs).
    • A.I.M. Union Rules - Mercs demand even higher salaries as they progress. Starting salaries are unaffected.
• Fixed issue where combat wouldn’t end after defeating Siegfried
• Fixed issue where game would softlock when trying to cheese active pause after "Combat start" sequence is initiated.
• Fixed issues where quests would break upon death of certain NPCs.
• Fixed issue where levelling up with XP from Scouting operation would not give a perk point.
• Fixed issue where Inspired would not give extra action points.
• Fixed issue where villagers would trigger alarms
• Fixed "Enemy Repositioning" softlock on the Twin Manors quest.
• Additional fixes and adjustments

 

[Gandzooka]

Currently -50% on GOG

Jagged Alliance 3

Grand Chien, a nation of rich natural resources and deep political divides, is thrown int

www.gog.com

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Currently -50% on GOG

Jagged Alliance 3

Grand Chien, a nation of rich natural resources and deep political divides, is thrown int

www.gog.com

Still full price on XBox, dammit.

 

[MRT]

Currently -50% on GOG

Jagged Alliance 3

Grand Chien, a nation of rich natural resources and deep political divides, is thrown int

www.gog.com

But no native Mac OS version

Loved the original back in the day...

 

[Your Salad]

But no native Mac OS version

Thats like going to a French bistro and being mad they won't provide chopsticks for you to eat with.