Games developed by Madlab Software
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Jagged Alliance
One of the most addictive games ever created in any genre, Jagged Alliance is a grand strategy game that successfully combines the outstanding squad-level gameplay of X-COM with an unprecedented level of personalities and RPG elements that make it even more addictive than the MicroProse classic.
You know the game is something special when it starts with a great storyline: the island of Metavira contains valuable tree sap, which is collected and sold to pharmaceutical companies. The island's facilities were operated by Jack, his daughter Brenda and Lucas. Lucas took over the island by hiring a group of thugs to capture the sap trees. Jack and Brenda hire you to take back the island. The problem is that you don't have unlimited funds at your disposal: you get paid based on how much sap your workers harvest. The funds are used to hire mercenaries every day to take back Lucas' island.
The game takes place over the course of a full day during which you try to carry out your mission, which begins in any sector you choose. You move each of your team members in real time on a tactical map, until combat begins, at which point the game switches to a highly effective turn-based mode that allows you to plan each mercenary's movements. X-COM fans will feel right at home in the tactical battles of Jagged Alliance: each turn, each mercenary has a limited number of 'action points' that are used for everything from moving to firing a weapon. Leaving a few action points at the end of your turn will allow a mercenary to respond when he sees an enemy during the enemy's turn.
However, instead of the faceless soldiers of X-COM, the mercenaries in Jagged Alliance come to life with their trademark chattering, complaining, cheering, and even fighting each other. Each mercenary has their own personality, which affects gameplay: cowardly mercs will tend to whine and run away from combat faster than others, while bloodthirsty mercs will unload all their ammo on a hapless enemy and refuse your order to switch targets or lower their weapons.
Relationships between mercs are also important: many mercs will refuse to work with their rival mercs, while some may agree to work for you only if their teammates are on the team. The personalities of the mercs are so well written and distinctive that you will soon grow fond of some mercs and distrustful of others. There are many other innovations that Jagged Alliance has brought to the genre that would take pages to list. In addition to tactical battles, there are many strategic options: you can hire guards to defend conquered sectors against enemy reinvasion in case your mercs are elsewhere.
The enemy AI is also excellent. They run for cover, try to flank you, shoot back and seem to have different skill levels. There are also plenty of special items, some of which are hidden, that can be used to help you in your missions, as well as optional quests. In true RPG fashion, your mercenaries' stats improve with experience and practice, and the plot is seamlessly integrated into the game. The missions themselves are the typical Find Something, Rescue Someone, Capture Something, etc. that RPG players love so much. Landmines, traps, team interaction, and the overall RPG feel are just a few examples of a long list of strengths that give Jagged Alliance a great depth and addictiveness rarely seen in this type of game. If you've ever wondered how X-COM could be improved, look no further.
