Pros:
+Limited health, fatigue, and dehydration really make one consider their survival options
+The map of the island is absolutely giant and very well designed
+Combat situations offer high amounts of tension and tactical forethought while playing
Cons:
-At times, performance became problematic and made it hard to play
-Scenarios can be somewhat too difficult for newcomers of the series.
Before reading this review, I need you to understand this is my first official disclaimer so please understand this review is based on my personal experience with the game titled, Jagged Alliance Rage.
Unlike any other game I have ever played in all my years of gamer lifestyle I choose to live; this game is like any other I have everything I have ever encountered and that even takes it back to the computer games I use to play. The concept was very simple, slow pasted, cookie cutter and very cliché. I found myself losing interest halfway through even with the twist up throughout the game.
Here’s a little background to this game. The starts out as a pilot is calling 6 people and is about to crash – why is a pilot calling anyone while a helicopter is mind-boggling to me, I would be trying to land the plane, but HEY, got to keep in mind this is a game ha-ha – and enlist their help to find him where he lands they crash landed.
Tactics, weather elements, and six men lost in a jungle
You get to choose yourself and your partner in crime from a pool of 6 people, they all have their flaws but also have some strengths, so it’s well balanced. Once the journey starts, you must navigate through the game to find your friends and of course this wouldn’t be a game it was easy and you have to fight trained soldiers and their boss, a drug lord.
Then to make matters worse, you have to face off against elements of the island as well. So, along the way you learn certain skills and tactics that will help you along the way and keep you alive.
I don’t want to sound like a complete douche here because the game was actually “okay”, it’s just these types of games aren’t really my type of games. To some gamers out there, these types are what they live for, moving their characters into the right position and getting the kill effectively in a timely manner.
But it’s just not my style, if I wanted to play a game with an aerial view that required me to strategize, I would turn off the game system, put down the controller and challenge my grandmother to a game of chess. Mind you the woman is over 60 and I still can’t beat her.
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There is quite a bit of reading that has to be done
Personally, I do not like to read while I am getting my game on but sometimes is if I keep dying on a mission and I keep overlooking the error message then I will stop to take a look at the note they are instructing me to read.
To the average gamer, they do not want to constantly keep reading every message the games offer to them and on the tutorial version of the game it does just that. A bit of overkill if you ask me, entirely too much reading and I will never choose to add that to my campaign mode if I was to ever go back and start over.
After charging into an area recklessly, one thing I learned over time that took me some time to understand and comprehend was the action points. I can’t tell you the number of times I have snuck up to someone in hopes to get a simple and easy kill only to find out that I do not have enough “Action Points”. That was the absolute worse because then I would die, the worse feeling ever.
Then you would need certain points to do X, Y, and Z. Like it was just a lot to swallow in the allowed timeframe and I was just not understanding. I left confused then when I originally started the game.
The conclusion – Pay attention to the tutorials
So, my number one piece of advice walking away from this game is TAKE YOUR TIME AND LEARN EVERYTHING THEY ARE TEACHING YOU!
Jagged Alliance Rage
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4 Pro
Developer: Handy Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Release Date: Now Available
Cost: $29.99
I honestly feel this game along with any other strategy turn-based games should be left on computers and mobile phones because it is easier to work with. This game is designed to have a mouse and keyboard; with just a controller it felt as if I was being held down, like being forced to put on a seatbelt at the dinner table. Overall a decent game but not my style of genre games.
Our review is based on a retail version that was purchased by the reviewer of the game. For information about our ethics policy please click here.
Final Score: 6 out of 10
About the Writer:
Tyvon J. Hunter is the latest member of the crew. He brings to the table a unique take on video games and sports. He brings an unparalleled sense of inspiration through his sheer excitement to the team as well as those around him. Also, he likes to build theme parks and a lot of them in his spare time.