Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge is a turn-based video game developed by GFI Russia and published by GFI / Russobit-M for Windows in October 2007. The game was made as a 3D re-make of Jagged Alliance 2, but after Strategy First called the deal off, the developer changed all trademarked assets to new legally distinct ones.[1][2][3]
Gameplay[]
Just like the original Jagged Alliance videogames, Hired Guns is a turn-based strategy videogame. Hired Guns is a turn-based tactics game. The player is in command of an elite unit of mercenaries in an attempt to depose an African dictator in a fictional country of Diamond Coast.[4] The player hires and equips a group of mercenaries before starting a mission. They are used in tactical battles to capture areas that generate income. In battle, action points (AP) are used for movement and shooting. The game also has a stamina system where running or carrying extra weight depletes the stamina meter and a character will collapse if it empties.
Storyline[]
The game takes place somewhere in the Diamond Coast, in a Third-World country which takes profits from tourism and diamond mining. The local president was forced to flee by his brother, who introduced a dictatorship backed up by warring mobsters. Player's mercenaries are supposed to overthrow the tyrant and restore the rightful leader to power.
Game Mechanics[]
Most of the game takes place around the laptop, which is used to hire mercenaries, buy them weapons and equipment, and manage the territory. The interface has been simplified from the Jagged Alliance standards, only three websites are accessible:
- M.Z.N. - used to hire mercenaries (in the same way Association of International Mercenaries allows)
- Dickie Jay's Shop, working in the same way as Bobby Ray's Guns and Things
- I.A.P. - the Institute for Mercenary Profiling's equivalent. Questions are almost identical as in Jagged Alliance 2.
In addition, the laptop in Hired Guns provides a log and a message box. Both work just like in Jagged Alliance 2, only simplified. The message box also provides some data about the war theater (in a similar way to Jagged Alliance 2 about Arulco).
The Diamond Coast is divided between 19 sectors - less than Jagged Alliance 2 had (250). However, each sector in Hired Guns is greater than Jagged Alliance 2 sectors, which means that conquering them takes considerable amount of time. Each of the 19 game sectors is occupied by enemy forces - either by dictator's army or by brigands.
Conquered sectors may be upgraded by the controlling player - for example, the airport sector can have additional terminal built or the mining sectors may be fitted with better mining equipment to improve profits they generate.
Mercenaries have the same skills as in Jagged Alliance 2, just renamed.
Soldiers controlled by the player and the computer are limited by Action Points in the game. The combat is resolved in the pretty same way as in original Jagged Alliance series - both player and computer have their turns going one after another until there is only one victor left. The Action Point system in Hired Guns has been reworked from Jagged Alliance 2, for it allows greater tactical flexibility.
Improvements from Jagged Alliance 2[]
The aiming system in Hired Guns is said to be surpassing the original one from Jagged Alliance 2. Instead of moving the mouse cursor upon visible enemy, the bottom right corner of the tactical screen sports "The Aim Guru 5000" - a picture of human silhouette, which is used to allocate shots in body parts. The selection from head, torso, and legs has been supplemented by hands as additional target choice.
A merc standing too close to a window may be hurt, when the window is damaged. Another game mechanics improvement is the possibility of having characters wounded by ricochets from small arms.
Explosive weapons allow destroying any object, even buildings.
Development[]
In June 2004, Strategy First and Game Factory Interactive (GFI) announced a deal to develop Jagged Alliance 3D and Jagged Alliance 3 with Russian-based developer MiST Land South working on the games.[5] In September 2005, GFI lost the rights to develop Jagged Alliance 3.[6] In January 2006, the development agreement was terminated but GFI was still under contract to develop Jagged Alliance 3D.[7] In August 2006, GFI dissolved MiST Land South and merged it with itself.[8] In September 2006, GFI also lost the rights to publish Jagged Alliance 3D.[9][10] A few days later GFI announced that it would release the game with a new title.[11] In November 2006, the game was renamed to Jazz: Hired Guns.[12][8] On August 10, 2007, the game was finally given the English title Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge.[13][14] The game was showcased at Games Convention 2007.[15] It was released in Russia on October 19, 2007, and in other mainland European countries on March 20, 2008. [Tri Synergy]] and Matrix Games released the game in North America on December 4, 2008.[16][17][18] The game was released in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2009.[19]
Reception[]
The game was criticized for being much slower-paced than Jagged Alliance 2 is - both because the sectors are loading considerably slower than those in original Jagged Alliance 2 and that the artificial intelligence of enemy soldiers remains at lower level than in the previous game. The enemies in Hired Guns tend to prefer melee engagement than handling firearms, or they rely on hand grenades rather than firearms. Similar flaw occurs when player controlled mercenaries are given orders, the script was reported that they often fail to hit enemies standing nearby or even spot them.
The graphical layout and music were also picked as flaws of the game.
Overall, the game was considered as worth playing, yet not worth being a worthy Jagged Alliance continuation.
Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[20]
Larry Levandowski of Armchair General summarized: "Hired Guns takes great pains to emulate its spiritual ancestor, Jagged Alliance; the result is a fun game that satisfies. Fans of the original game and those turn-based gamers who want a good gunfight can’t go wrong with this one."[21]
Fabian Siegismund of GameStar said: "It takes quite some time to get into the game and a lot of it will be spent loading saved games, but once you're over that stage, Hired Guns offers a lot of fun. The game feels like a graphically enhanced Jagged Alliance 2, which isn't bad - quite the opposite. Hired Guns has its weaknesses, but is appealing nonetheless."[22][20] Steve Butts of IGN] summarized: "Overpowered enemies, underpowered weapons, breathless mercenaries and a complete lack of range and accuracy information keep the game from competing with the other titles in the genre."[23] Niko Nirvi of Pelit called it a good tactical strategy game and the best game in the genre since Silent Storm. Nirvi criticized the lack of strong character personalities and attention to detail that are present in the Jagged Alliance series.
References[]
- ↑ Jagged Alliance: Back in Action Review. Gamer Network (17 February 2012).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Gets Patch 1.07.001. SoftNews NET SRL (19 December 2008).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge - Recenzja. Łukasz Tkacz (18 November 2008).
- ↑ Restaurant Empire II and Hired Guns On Steam. Gamurs (28 May 2009).
- ↑ Jagged Alliance 3, Disciples 3 Announced. IGN Entertainment (4 June 2004).
- ↑ Interview: Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge (11 September 2006).
- ↑ Disciples III changing devs. Gamer Network (12 January 2006).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jagged Alliancen perintö - Paha saa poikasia (Finnish). Fokus Media Finland (1 October 2008).
- ↑ STRATEGY FIRST TERMINATES THEIR AGREEMENT WITH GAME FACTORY INTERACTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JAGGED ALLIANCE GAMES. (1 September 2006).
- ↑ GFI осталась без Jagged Alliance (Russian) (2 September 2006).
- ↑ GFI потеряла JA3D, но не сдается (Russian) (3 September 2006).
- ↑ Jagged Alliance 3D обрела новое имя (Russian) (8 November 2006).
- ↑ GFI Announces Three New Names for Three Great Games (10 August 2007).
- ↑ News.
- ↑ GFI goes to GC 2007. Gamer Network (16 August 2007).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge - GFI's turn-based mercs game signed by Tri Synergy for North America.. Gamer Network (31 October 2008).
- ↑ A New Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Video Now Available (24 November 2008).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Now Available From Matrix Games! (4 December 2008).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge - An overview of GFI's mercs RTS, out in the UK on May 22nd.. Gamer Network (7 May 2009).
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge for PC Reviews. Fandom.
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge – PC Game Review. Weider History Group (12 March 2009).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge im Test - Strategiespiel mit Elementen aus Jagged Alliance (German). Webedia (21 March 2008).
- ↑ Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Review. Ziff Davis (12 December 2008).
| This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors). | 
|