GFI got the style just right, and even with its problem, the game is very impressive.

User Rating: 8 | Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge PC
By Nbveh | Review Date:
I think, we all know - in past Hired Guns was called Jagged Alliance 3D. But in the end of 2006, Strategy First has rejected rights to the title, so here is the new name.

Even with its new name, Hired Guns has same old-school, true Freelancer style, used in previous Jagged Alliance series. A few things about the story:
There is a place, called "Almaznij Bereg" (Russian, in English probably - "The Diamond Coast") in the heart of Africa. Its president was kicked off by own brother who has taken his place. You are the field-commander who must kill the dictator by using International Mercenaries Agency (remember A.I.M. from Jagged Alliance?) and restore rights of the true president. By the way, you can get one of five different endings.

The combat system is staying close to previous Jagged Alliance titles. When not in combat, your mercenaries is moving on location in real-time mode. But when the combat has started, gameplay will transform to turn-based mode. Your mercenaries has Action Points [AP] to make your turn. Count of AP is according to mercenary level and his current HP. When you clear a location out of enemies its becomes yours. But be on your guard! Dictator can send reinforcements to this location and take it back.

Graphic level is nice. The game uses a lot of DX9 effects and shaders. And thanks to that, the game looks good. Also, the game has good physics engine. You can blow up any tree or house by using grenades, explosive packs, etc. Physics make game very realistic. For example, try shot some enemy at the edge of gorge. First the body will start moving, and then its fall at bottom of the gorge.

Sadly, the game has a problems. The first one - very bad cinematics. I think, GFI should learn from Blizzard Ent. or BioWare how to make perfect cinematics prerendered on game engine. The second one - there is no weather effects, nights or even sky! Just a black space like in Warcraft 3, but wc at least has the nights. The last one - a little bugs. But if you play in official russian release, you can download 1.5 patch, it will remove lots of bugs.

Summary. If you are fan of Jagged Alliance, you must play Hired Guns. And its a very good way to spend time till Jagged Alliance 3 will be released.

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