Other differences seem aimed at simplifying the game. Using explosives to create new ’doors’ in buildings is now primarily limited to specially marked walls, while conversation with the island’s inhabitants now follows a much smaller dialogue tree. Mercenaries also seem to require less micro-management outside of combat, though the limited time spent with this preview build makes it hard to determine just how simplified it has become.
Not everything has changed, of course. Much of the original’s humor was conveyed through its diverse cast of characters along with little jokes in the inventory screen, and Back in Action has kept most of that intact. Gun descriptions make playful nods to movies and TV shows they were famously featured in, while the mercenaries themselves all have different personalities and reactions to the world around them. For all its gritty attention to how violent gunfights are, this game’s cast makes things much more light-hearted with their various quips and eccentric behavior, and that much at least has been carried over well from Jagged Alliance 2.
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action seems to be on track for its planned release in February. There are some proofreading errors, a few features need to be tweaked, and so on, but this preview build seemed fairly functional. Whether long-time fans will accept a series of changes that simplify and streamline a classic game known for attention to detail remains to be seen, but at least we won’t have long to wait to find out.
