Summary
Jagged Allianceis somewhat long in the tooth. The tactical shooter series originated in 1990s, with the last entry coming in 1999. It’s odd, then, to suddenly debut a new title in 2023. Of course, that doesn’t stopJagged Alliance 3from subscribing to certain conventions of modern gaming.
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Among these are mods. Talented fans have built a handful of files modifying the game. Granted, there aren’t as many as other titles, but it’s quality over quantity. Most of them amend core elements of the gameplay, changing the resources that players have on hand. Even the seemingly cosmetic options have some utility in how they shift the squad’s strengths. Using these mods, fans can craft their quintessential version ofJagged Alliance 3.
6Custom Settings
Though several mods tweak individual aspects ofJagged Alliance,this oneis more widely encompassing. It adds a number of new settings to the main menu. These let players change factors like stat points, money, amount of mercs, and the chance to drop ammo and armor. Using these options, fans can create the match that they want.
Players have gotten used to that level of control. Such a philosophy especially goes for top-down and isometric titles. Sim and overhead strategy games are appealing in how they force fans to manage resources. Sometimes, though, it’s equally engaging to just relax and build the ideal project. There’s nothing wrong with a power fantasy, and this mod answers that call.
5Quiet
Within the gaming industry,desert environments and spec opsexploits conjure memories ofMetal Gear Solid 5. WhileJagged Allianceis a completely different beast thanMGS, they both involve planning one’s approach to dispatching enemies in a modern warfare setting. Clearly, one fan had the same thought.
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This modadds Quiet: the mysterious assassin and breakout star ofMGS5. She appropriately specializes in long-distance combat. Not only is she equipped with a sniper rifle, but she boasts 99 points in the Marksmanship stat. These traits are ideal for an assassin. Granted, herJagged Alliancecounterpart isn’tas convoluted or ridiculous as a typical Kojima character, but maybe that’s for the best. Otherwise, Quiet might break the game.
4The Expendables
Again,Jagged Alliance 3is a belated sequel to a ’90s series. This period was a glorious age of entertainment. Shoot ‘em up action and one-liners dominated the gaming landscape, and it all had enough cheesy charm to put a smile on anyone’s face. Why not complement that witha movie which does the same?
The mod in questionmakes the Expendables part of the team. The film series of the same name takes a bunch of action stars from yesteryear and brings them together for a throwback romp. With them in the game, it’s hard not to feel invincible. The only downside is Jet Li, who gets stuck with a thoroughly unconvincing character model. On the upside, four out of five isn’t bad.
3Sandbox
Here’s an addition that expands on the idea of maximizing control and customization.The modinstalls a new way to play. It’s classified as a difficulty mode, but it does away with difficulty altogether. Players begin a match with $100 million; they also receive a high daily income. In other words, they get enough money to solve all of their problems.
This is another area where the modder takes inspiration from other strategy/sim titles. In games likeJurassic World Evolution, for instance, Sandbox Mode lets players build on a map with unlimited funds. As such, they have the same freedom here. After buying the best troops and equipment, they can secure their victory in whichever way they choose.It’s escapist enjoyment at its finest.
2Show Chance To Hit
Jagged Alliance 3may have shooter elements, but it’s primarily a turn-based strategy. Would-be commanders must carefully calculate their next move. Naturally, they’d want to account for as many variables as possible so that they can make an informed decision.
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This modhelps with that. As the name suggests, it shows how likely each shot is to hit the target. That’s not all, though. It also displays the chance of hitting each body part and how much health said part has. While not realistic, this factor does enhancethe game’s tactical side. Players can maximize their resources and make every shot count.
1Increase Scrap Parts
On top of money, players should accumulate parts. These miscellaneous bits and bobs go toward modifying weapons. They can either enhance a gun or repair it. To attain them, the troops search for hidden stashes around the environments. However, they also get parts from disassembling weapons and equipment. Sadly, the small yield doesn’t always seem like a fair trade.
This modis the key to a better deal. It increases the amount of parts gained from scrapping an item. Boosting it by a static amount would have been enough, but the modder goes one step further.
Players can fix the output at whichever level they like. They can set the gain up to 400% of the original amount. This virtually solves all problems related to scrapping and parts.Fans can then craft anything they set their mind to. Plus, it provides an additional facet to tweak, personalizing their experience even more.
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