Jagged Alliance

Developer: Madlab Software
Publisher: Sir-tech Software, Inc.
Released: 1994
Platforms: DOS, Windows
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based

Synopsis:
Jagged Alliance, the first part of the series which appeared in 1994, can still run with the current Windows operating system.

Jagged Alliance takes the player to the fictitious island of Metavira. Nuclear tests that were carried out on the island in the past have given rise to the growth of an unusual type of tree. The so-called “Fallow” trees produce an extremely valuable sap, which can be used to produce medicines.

The player is sent on a mission by two scientists, Jack and Brenda Richards, who hire him to command a group of mercenaries against a renegade former member of their team: Santino.

Santino is obsessed with money, and has meanwhile used armed force to bring almost all the island of Metavira under his control.

The player commands a unit of mercenaries and must now carry out specific quests and recapture the individual sectors.

The player earns money by extracting and refining the sap from the Fallow trees in the occupied zones, which he can use to increase the strength of his unit of mercenaries; more and better mercenaries and upgraded equipment will increase the unit’s strike power. The player must also train militia to protect the recaptured zones.

Jagged Alliance – Deadly Games

Developer: Sir-tech Software, Inc.
Publisher: Sir-tech Software, Inc.
Released: 1995
Platforms: DOS, Windows
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based

Synopsis:
Deadly Games appeared in 1995 on DOS, and not only uses the same graphics as Jagged Alliance, but also features some extra developments, and for this reason it is also known as “Version 1.5”.

The expansions generally provided new strategic possibilities, so for example it was now possible to kneel down to shoot. New firearms were added, along with mortars capable of destroying the roofs of buildings to eliminate the enemies inside.

In Deadly Games, the player’s mission was not to capture an entire island, but to complete a sequence of individual missions, each of which takes place on a map.
The player earned money from each successfully completed mission to strengthen and upgrade his mercenaries and their equipment.
The feature of Deadly Games was the Multiplayer mode (network) and the map editor.

Jagged Alliance 2

Developer: Sirtech Canada Ltd.
Publisher: TopWare Interactive
Released: 1999
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based

Synopsis:
Jagged Alliance 2 appeared in 1999 first on Windows, and Tribsoft then ported the game onto Linux.
The sequel takes the player to Arulco, where the people are suffering a very unusual kind of marital strife: the legitimate ruler, Enrico Chivaldori, is to be the target of an assassination attempt, and the client paying for the contract killing is none other than his own wife, Deidranna Reitman.
But the attempt fails, as Chivaldori escapes just in time and flees into exile to a secret location. Meanwhile, Deidranna Reitman has established herself as the dictator of Arulco.
Chivaldori acts as the player’s client and informant, and here too the player must assemble a unit of mercenaries, improve their skills and upgrade their equipment.
The objective is to topple the dictator and to liberate the country.

The differences compared to the first part are the greatly improved graphics and the many gameplay changes, which give the game even more tactical depth. In Jagged Alliance 2 the player can talk to and trade with the inhabitants of Arulco, and can even occasionally recruit them to carry out specific tasks.
The player can also climb, jump and run, and there is an array of new weapons available.
The non-linear plot, three different difficulty levels and numerous characters ensure constant game fun and game longevity.
Jagged Alliance 2 was one of the most successful turn-based strategy games of 1999. The game received numerous national and international awards, and was translated into 7 languages.

Jagged Alliance 2 – Unfinished Business (Standalone AddOn)

Developer: Sirtech Canada Ltd.
Publisher: JoWooD Productions Software AG
Released: 2000
Platforms: Windows
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based

Synopsis:
Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business appeared in 2000 and is the official expansion to Jagged Alliance 2, which can also be played independently of the main game.
A transfer program implemented in the game enables players to take their mercenaries from the main game and deploy them in the new mission.
The game takes place in Tracona, a country neighboring Arulco which was liberated in JA2. Ricci Mining, the company that had operated the mines in Arulco before the events in JA2, wants to seize them back using a corrupt military force. Ricci Mining is firing long-range missiles at Arulco as a warning, and has already established a base in nearby Tracona for this purpose.
The player and his experienced unit of mercenaries are hired by Enrico Chivaldori to neutralize the threat to Arulco from Ricci Mining: the unit must cross the border to Tracona and locate and destroy the missile base.

In JA: UB the mercenaries are no longer paid daily or weekly for their services, but receive a flat rate.
Nor can players access the NPCs from JA2, but can import previous savegames and use the same values for the AIM and MERC mercenaries.
The short gaming time of JA: UB compared to JA2 attracted some criticism. However, the integrated editor and the player’s ability to design his own maps and campaigns allowed the first mods to develop into JA2 und JA: UB, thus preserving the brand’s eternal appeal.

Jagged Alliance 2 Gold Edition

Developer: Sirtech Canada Ltd.
Publisher: Strategy First, Inc.
Released: 2002
Platforms: Windows
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based

Synopsis:
Jagged Alliance 2 Gold combines JA2 and the new features from Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business in one edition. Although JA2 Gold contains some new key combinations and “Iron Man” mode, the game itself remains unchanged.

Jagged Alliance 2 – Wildfire

Developer: I-Deal Games Studios
Publisher: Trend Redaktions- und Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Released: 2005
Platforms: Windows
Genre: Strategy / RPG
Perspective: 3rd Person, Isometric
Non-Sport: Turn-based