First impressions with the game aren’t stellar. The presentation in this title is, for lack of a better term, lacking. The story isn’t exactly compelling with its “crazy dictator in charge of an island” premise and the writing is also pretty bland. My merc team was comprised of Dr. Q, who spouted wise Chinese proverbs every five minutes, and Vicki, a Jamaican woman. It’s fun in a campy way but it’s hard to take seriously. Graphics are pleasant enough, though animations can be somewhat choppy at times. Environments looks nice from a distance but the lack of graphical quality is pretty apparent the closer you zoom into gameplay. Ultimately though, even though it doesn’t push any boundaries, what’s here is good enough.

But after all that’s said and done, Jagged Alliance: Rage! is still a tactical game and it is a fun time when everything works the way it’s supposed to. Like I mentioned before, you select a team of two mercenaries to explore the island with. These mercs all specialize in different aspects like sniping, stealth, equipment maintenance, etc. However, they also come with their own setbacks that they’ve acquired over their years of inactivity. Reduced eyesight, claustrophobia, these are all traits that will affect your gameplay through your time on the island. You’ll pick up all of your equipment out in the field and will also have to deal with a few light survival elements like dehydration and infection. The game does a solid job of presenting all of these elements in an accessible way so as not to overwhelm the player.

"Graphics are pleasant enough, though animations can be somewhat choppy at times."

Stealthing around in this game is a lot of fun. You’re given plenty of movement options and it feels great to use them and to outwit your opponents. You can whistle and draw your foes away before you gut them from behind. Finding and stealing equipment during missions is also a lot of fun. This opens up a lot of interesting choices on the fly. Do you keep your busted-up rifle that you modified earlier but needs repair or do you swap it for a relatively pristine yet weaker version that an enemy dropped? Trying to make it out of a mission with some good loot that you’ve picked up adds a compelling tension to the gameplay.

During your turns, you perform actions that use up your action points. You have full control over how your character moves about, from running to sneaking to crawling, with all options having their benefits and setbacks. Gunplay also has a unique twist brought over from the older titles: the ability to aim more accurately. At the cost of additional action points, you can hone your aiming down and improve your percentage chance of hitting any specific part of the body you’re aiming at. This is a great gameplay option and it does a lot to add depth to the simple act of shooting.

What doesn’t add much depth to the gameplay is the addition of survival elements. Though some things make sense, like equipment and health management, the addition of sickness and thirst just creates busy-work for the player. Instead of enjoying your tactical gameplay, you have to constantly be on the lookout from bottles of water scattered around the levels lest your merc start dehydrating and not performing as well. All this creates an additional meter management mechanic, and it happens far too often. This ends up turning into a cycle of wiping a level of enemies before spending the next five minutes searching through every nook and cranny for things to drink before you leave. It’s not difficult, it just serves to add more tedium to your experience.

"The AI in Jagged Alliance: Rage is a strange beast to wrap your head around."

There are also issues that stem directly from that fun gameplay loop. While it’s satisfying to sneak around camps, enemy AI is erratic and their line of sight is never clearly defined. Getting spotted from the other side of the map halfway through a mission is never fun when you feel like it wasn’t your fault that you were caught. Both you and the enemies can also shoot right through environmental objects like buildings or cars in order to hit targets hidden behind them. And I don’t mean shoot through them as in putting holes in the walls of buildings or denting the sides of cars. I mean the shots end up phasing through the object like it wasn’t even there.

The AI in Jagged Alliance: Rage is a strange beast to wrap your head around. The enemies are either brain-dead who don’t react to their comrade dropping right next to them or they’re gun-toting bloodhounds who can sniff you out from the other side of the map. And although you can take out an alerted enemy before he can sound an alarm, most of them just shout out to the others around them as soon as they figure out where you are anyway. They don’t exactly seem like well-crafted enemies that provide a challenge, but more like a malfunctioning CPU that just decides to read your inputs at certain moments.

"This is a game that could have benefited greatly from another year or so in development."

And even though those all drag the experience down, the biggest issue Jagged Alliance: Rage! has is in its control. Inventory management is a source of great annoyance since you’re only allowed a certain amount of slots to carry items and the stacking limit is hilariously low, if it’s allowed at all in the case of certain items. Trying to take loot from fallen enemies turns into a cumbersome back-and-forth where you end up giving your dead foe a handful of your items temporarily just so you can get an item and use it. Moving around the map also isn’t ideal. Your cursor oftentimes doesn’t match up with where you’re pointing due to the deceptive camera angle. And orienting the camera into a top-down view gives the game an ugly green filter over everything so that’s not ideal either. On top of all that, there’s slowdown and delays to your cursor, which makes the essential act of moving around a chore.

This is a game that could have benefited greatly from another year or so in development. What is here is fun but it’s brought down by technical issues and strange gameplay elements. While the moments where you successfully take out an entire camp from the shadows stands out as a highlight, you have to slog through so much to get to that point that it hardly seems worth it. Hopefully this title gets patched down the road but as it is, this is not the entry that’s going to get the world wishing for more Jagged Alliance.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Just Cause 4

Rico Rodriguez is back, yet again, making explosions suffer for their crimes against humanity. This time around, he’s in Solis, South America, fighting against the Black Hand to learn more about his father. Along with the same epic scale and environmental design, not to mention Rico’s grappling hook shenanigans, Just Cause 4 will feature hostile weather conditions like tornadoes, blizzards and much more that tear up the surroundings. This forces the player to think on their feet and survive the ordeal. Just Cause 4 is out on December 4^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade

Not much is known about the first paid expansion for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. In Legacy of the Hidden Blade, you’ll play as the first person to wield the legendary Hidden Blade. What new mechanics we can expect, where it takes place and even the release date are all pretty much up in the air. Regardless, it is an enticing adventure and will release as three episodes – the first is out in December 2018 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Override: Mech City Brawl

It’s been a while since an outlandish mech fighting game has released. Override: Mech City Brawl seemingly covers all bases with 12 giant robots, a huge cityscape to wreck, numerous skill and styles and more. Along with a single-player campaign and local and online Versus modes, players can also partake in a unique 2 to 4 player co-op mode that sees each person controlling a different mech part. An over-the-top art style and awesome destruction make Override: Mech City Brawl worth watching out for when it releases on December 4^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

One of the biggest releases of the year is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo’s latest follow-up to the famous crossover fighting game series. Along with a new campaign mode called World of Light which sees players freeing their fallen allies, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also features a new Spirits Mode. Spirits are essentially characters that provide boosts and other benefits to a fighter and it’s possible to use several at once. Spirits Mode involves battling other fighters with their own Spirits for victory. With Classic Mode, numerous tweaks and customization options for multiplayer and 74 characters to play with at launch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could be the series’ best yet. It’s out on December 7^th for Nintendo Switch.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PS4)

Regardless of all the controversies and complaints that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has faced in the past year, it’s still one of the most popular Battle Royale titles available. On December 7^th, it releases for PS4 and brings all three current maps – Sanhok, Erengel and Miramar – along with custom matches and Event Mode. So if you want another Battle Royale title on PS4 – yes, another one – then PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds may be the way to go.

Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom

The Monster Boy series has always stuck out for its aesthetic and Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom is no exception. Developed by Game Atelier and releasing for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One, Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom is actually influenced by Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon’s Trap released in 1989. In this side-scrolling adventure, players will have different animal forms to switch between, solving puzzles and eventually saving the kingdom from corruption.

Borderlands 2 VR

Yes, it’s Borderlands 2. But this time, it’s Borderlands 2 in VR! Borderlands 2 VR will be exclusive to PlayStation VR when it launches on December 14^th. Along with the same base campaign and four Vault Hunters, the VR version adds BAMF Time for slowing time down. This allows for dodging bullets and taking on multiple foes at once without getting overwhelmed. Several skills have also been reworked, taking BAMF Time into consideration. If that weren’t enough, vehicles can be driven in first person for the very first time.

Gear Club Unlimited 2

More than 1800 miles of roads, 250 races and over 50 licensed vehicles from manufacturers like Porsche, Dodge and McLaren await in Gear Club Unlimited 2. Releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in December, the sequel promises a variety of environments like forests, deserts and coastlines to play through. Keep an eye out for it in December if you enjoyed the original.

Jagged Alliance: Rage!

Can you feel the rage? Classic turn-based tactics series Jagged Alliance is making a comeback with Rage which features a new aesthetic with the same band of crazy mercenaries. Taking place two decades after the first game, Jagged Alliance: Rage sees the player taking on an entire island of baddies. Two player co-op is supported and each mercenary has their own unique personality, backstory and abilities to take advantage of. The new Rage skills allow mercenaries to become more powerful as the battle wears on. Jagged Alliance: Rage is out on December 6^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island

Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 4 was crammed full of content at launch and even with the plentiful updates, the developer will be offering even more with its first expansion Fortune Island. Heading to the North of the British Isles, players will deal with extreme weather conditions and terrain. Lightning storms are a given but cliff-side dirt roads and mountain switchbacks will also present hazards. More information on new missions, activities, Horizon Stories and more should be coming soon but for those who already own the Expansion Pass, Fortune Island arrives on December 13^th for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

"Overall the biggest changes is that you are fighting against a huge army with just a small group of Mercs, with no HQ support you are on your own staying alive out there."

How have the twenty long years since the last game’s events changed the characters in this game?

All the characters aged and developed certain habits and specialties. The impressively large Ivan for example can now be used as mobile cover by other Mercs. However over the years he also got bad knees which hurt when he drops down from high ground. Or Dr Q: He has mentally trained to focus, allowing him to gain additional action points, but over the years also his eyesight got worse making him a poor gunner.

What are some of the major gameplay changes that we’ll be seeing in Jagged Alliance: Rage?

Overall the biggest changes is that you are fighting against a huge army with just a small group of Mercs, with no HQ support you are on your own staying alive out there.

On the strategy level, the game is quite similar to previous titles and remains to offer a deep strategic challenge with plenty of options on how to approach a target. You can invest additional AP to aim more precisely, change stances, use elevations, etc. But there are also new additions like special skills that are unique to each character, or new stealth features, e.g. you can kill enemies instantly if you manage to sneak behind them without being noticed.

On the tactical level there are major changes since you are cut off from your HQ, and therefore you must try to survive and escape from the island. This results in different economics where you manage various survival aspects. So you take care of your group on a more personal level, which will link you much closer to your small group of mercenaries. This is for example thirst that can lead to dehydration, or wounds that bleed and can become inflamed or even crafting weapon mods from parts.

Can you elaborate about some of the survival and adventure elements players can expect to see in the game?

Survival example: If your characters get wounded and catch a shrapnel, there is a chance of getting an infection if the shrapnel isn’t removed from the body. An infected wound will lower the overall performance of that Merc. All Mercs also have a hydration level, which dictates how well they can perform in combat and how well their immune system works.

Adventure: Over the course of the game your characters meet several NPCs they can talk to via multiple choice. Without spoiling the story, there are situations where the player has to decide whether to help an ally or stay out of it. Further there are plenty of funny dialogues when you Mercs start picking on each other.

How accessible is this game going to be, and how challenging can it get? Tell us more about the difficulty settings available to players in the game.

The game aims to be more accessible than previous titles. This is achieved by a more clear user interface, less complicated inventory management and also plenty of “learning by doing” situations during the first hour of gameplay. However, once this first hour has passed, the game opens up and the challenge increases continuously over the course of the game. There are certain missions which are really really tough, but when beaten they offer great rewards.

There are 3 difficulty settings available: Easy for the casual players that are mainly interested in following the story. Here the enemies are easier to kill and your own Mercs have better chances to survive. But on Medium and Hard difficulty this changes drastically, making it significantly harder to kill enemy foes and keep your Mercs healthy.

"Making this game more accessible means it takes less time to understand the basic rules & mechanics of the game, but this doesn’t mean it will become a dumbed down experience."

In a game like this, it seems like reducing the difficulty would get in the way of the overall experience. How does the game achieve a balance of being accessible while still bringing tense gameplay?

On Easy mode the difficulty is reduced. However on medium and hard difficulty, the challenge is more in line with the series’ predecessors. You’ll have to make sure to use any bit of help you can get and plan carefully before you strike. However, since this game does some things different compared to its predecessors, a 1:1 comparison is not really possible.

Making this game more accessible means it takes less time to understand the basic rules & mechanics of the game, but this doesn’t mean it will become a dumbed down experience. The player will often be surprised, be it by development of a battle or by story elements. In this game it will happen often that you come up with a good plan but then something goes wrong and hell breaks loose!

How large will the game’s roster of characters be?

There are 7 characters the player can control, each with their unique strengths, weaknesses and special abilities.

On a related note, what are some of the unique traits and personal conflicts of these characters, and how do these impact gameplay?

A few examples:

Ivan Dolvich, the former highly decorated Soviet Army Major, is so large that he works as mobile cover for other Mercs, but due to his size he can only hide while being prone. Also he has a bigger inventory and really good with assault rifles and shotguns. When he gets enraged, he can withstand more damage than any other Merc. But he is also an alcoholic, so he needs alcohol to function properly. So overall Ivan is more like a tank and a good choice for players that enjoy direct conflict

Kyle “Shadow” Simmons is an ex-Ranger and stealth expert, making less noise overall and only he can throw knifes for stealth kills. Further he is always concealed when in cover and really good with SMGs. But he is also a bleeder with higher chances to get infections. He is a good choice for players that like stealth gameplay and clever strategies to trick the enemies.

Carlene “Raven” Higgens is a former SWAT team sniper, therefore really good with pistols and rifles. She can is not restricted by own sight range and has a special precision shot that ignores armor. If an enemy gets close, she can disarm them and grab their guns. But since she is also not the strongest person and therefore unable to use heavy weapons. She is a good choice for players that enjoy sniping and striking where it really hurts.

The list goes on for the remaining characters, where each one has really strong differences and supports certain playstyles. Choosing the right Mercs for your playstyle is key to success!

Will the game feature Xbox One X specific enhancements? What can players expect if they are playing the game on Xbox One X? Is 4K/60fps on the cards?

4K is on the cards, but at 30fps. For a turn based game we felt reaching 60fps is less critical than e.g. in a racing game.

And how will the PS4 Pro version turn out in terms of resolution and frame rate?

The game runs slightly better on a PS4 Pro, however there are no differences in terms of resolution and framerate.

"Most turn based games are naturally limited by CPU power, since the underlying battle simulation must do insane amounts of background calculations to provide accurate and believable combat situations. In our case this results that 4K support was quite easy, but since CPU is the limiting factor achieving 60FPS would have been a really major undertaking especially for a smaller developer like us."

From a development perspective, how do you find the Xbox One X to be? With so much GPU power, we are sure you must be doing some amazing things.

This really depends on the type of game and the size of the developer. Most turn based games are naturally limited by CPU power, since the underlying battle simulation must do insane amounts of background calculations to provide accurate and believable combat situations. In our case this results that 4K support was quite easy, but since CPU is the limiting factor achieving 60FPS would have been a really major undertaking especially for a smaller developer like us.

How is the game running on the original Xbox One and PS4, frame rate and resolution wise?

The game runs in 1080p with 30fps on the regular PS4 and on 900p with 30fps on base Xbox models.

Are there any plans to bring the game to the Switch? If not, why?

Unfortunately, it’s too early to speak about this now.

Next gen is coming sooner or later. From a development perspective, what is your biggest expectation from PS5 and Xbox Scarlett?

If 4K gaming will be the norm by then, of course much faster GPU and CPU power will be the key, along with significantly faster hard drives. For smaller development teams like us it is beneficial to have less different variants of a console, as this means we can focus much more on one platform.

Cliffhanger Productions’ Jagged Alliance: Rage was supposed to release today. Unfortunately, publishing label HandyGames has announced a delay to December 6th. There’s not much reason for the delay, aside from more polish and development time being required. Some new gameplay footage has been released to quell anticipation in the meantime. Check it out below.

As a follow-up to the classic turn-based tactical strategy series, Jagged Alliance: Rage takes place two decades after the first game. With just a handful of soldiers, a comparatively larger enemy, and no hope for the cavalry to come swooping in, players will need to rely on guerrilla warfare to succeed.

Jagged Alliance: Rage includes two player co-op, adventure elements, and different characters with their own personalities, abilities, and tactics. New Rage skills are also available for each character, which become more potent as a battle wears on. Soldiers will even have experimental drugs, though these can also be used against the enemy.

What are your thoughts on the new gameplay footage? Let us know in the comments below.

Don’t rage… yet. Jagged Alliance: Rage! will now be brought to you by Saint Nick. Whether you own a PC, a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One, there ain’t no better present to put in your boots now that the release date on all platforms has been moved to December 6th 2018. pic.twitter.com/ybPjeEbXpf

— THQ Nordic (@THQNordic) September 26, 2018