Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business Critic Reviews

New mercenaries, new toys, new game engine, an enhanced role-playing aspect, and more combat options combine to make this another winner from Sir-Tech.

If you loved JA2 (like I did), then you owe it to yourself to play this. If you hated JA2, though, there is nothing in this that will make you change your mind: in fact, the higher linearity (compared to JA2) will likely turn you off even more, and you are probably better off waiting for JA3, whenever that will be.

New players to the genre might be put off by the learning curve and difficulty level, but if they stick with it (and practice) they will start to have fun. Serious players will like the chance to sink their teeth into a good turn-based game.

Though hampered by terrible graphics, a lack of multiplayer and a few gameplay problems could not keep us from being impressed by Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business.

While it isn't really a completely new product it does offer more gameplay in the Jagged Alliance 2 style, and it enables you to pick up where you left off with your character from that game.

A more streamlined effort that emphasizes interaction with your handpicked team of mercenaries, rather than miring you beneath the economic and social details of its predecessor.

Chock full of the same brain-straining combat that made the series famous, Unfinished Business will delight turn-based tacticians. Conversely, the game is difficult, perhaps needlessly so, and newcomers are warned to either stay away or prepare themselves for many hours of frustration.

For the guys in the stands yelling "WUSS," you'll be happy to know that there is an Iron Man mode which cranks up the difficulty and removes your ability to save within missions. If you can ace the game in this mode, I salute you!

If your frustration threshold is anything but extreme, give serious consideration before diving into this one.

It can be endlessly frustrating, but it also has most of the elements that make the Jagged Alliance series so outstanding.

Despite the fact that its "bonus" hours of gameplay come as a result of unbalanced enemies, the game still demonstrates that Jagged Alliance 2 is an original, lasting game that rewards patient gamers with a steady, gripping experience.

My only complaint about the story is that it's a little linear, but as the focus of the game is on combat, it's forgivable.

Delivers its money's worth for true fans of the series, but which is much too hard for anyone not utterly devoted to Jagged Alliance.

There is enough entertainment value for veterans to easily justify the budget price tag. Sadly, the near impossibility of many of the missions makes Unfinished Business something best left to experienced players.

Combined with repetitive gameplay where you march, fight, march, fight, rearm, again and again, this game can get pretty boring at times.

While JA2:UB's combat is unique and rewarding, nearly every other aspect of the game lacks vitality and originality. The graphics are weak, there's no story, no character development, and the villagers never say anything but "They're watching you."

Essentially offers little more than a few extra missions that lack the appeal of the original, especially in the area of strategic options.

A mixed bag.

A faded shadow of "Jagged Alliance 2," minus all the elements except combat.

A pale shadow of a flawed but fun game. If the designers do not have more in them than this, the Jagged Alliance series should end here.