Summary
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action – Shades of Red
Introduction
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action – Shades of Red is a standalone expansion pack for the 2012 turn-based strategy game Jagged Alliance: Back in Action. Developed by Coreplay and published by Kalypso Media, it was released on May 23, 2013.
Gameplay
Shades of Red introduces a new campaign, new characters, new weapons, and new items to the base game. The campaign follows a group of mercenaries led by Fox as they attempt to stop a terrorist organization from using a stolen nuclear weapon to attack a meeting of world leaders in Eastern Europe.
The gameplay in Shades of Red is similar to that of the base game. Players control a squad of mercenaries and must use strategy and tactics to complete missions. The game features a turn-based combat system, in which players must carefully position their mercenaries and use their unique abilities to defeat their enemies.
New Features
Shades of Red introduces a number of new features to the base game, including:
- New campaign: A new campaign with 15 new missions.
- New characters: Three new playable characters, each with their own unique abilities.
- New weapons: A variety of new weapons, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers.
- New items: A variety of new items, including armor, medical supplies, and explosives.
- New enemies: A variety of new enemies, including terrorists, mercenaries, and mutants.
Reception
Shades of Red received generally positive reviews from critics. IGN praised the game’s new campaign, new characters, and new weapons, but criticized its repetitive missions and lack of innovation. GameSpot praised the game’s challenging gameplay and deep strategic elements, but criticized its dated graphics and animations.
Overall
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action – Shades of Red is a solid expansion pack that adds a lot of new content to the base game. The new campaign is challenging and engaging, the new characters are interesting and well-developed, and the new weapons and items add some much-needed variety to the gameplay. However, the game’s repetitive missions and lack of innovation may disappoint some fans.
Detailed Review
Campaign
The new campaign in Shades of Red is one of the game’s strongest features. It is well-written and engaging, with a good mix of action, stealth, and strategy. The missions are varied and challenging, and they offer a good amount of replayability.
The campaign also introduces three new playable characters:
- Fox: A skilled mercenary and the leader of the group.
- Raven: A sniper with a mysterious past.
- Hammer: A heavy weapons specialist with a penchant for explosions.
Each of the new characters has their own unique abilities and playstyles, which adds some much-needed variety to the gameplay.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Shades of Red is similar to that of the base game. Players control a squad of mercenaries and must use strategy and tactics to complete missions. The game features a turn-based combat system, in which players must carefully position their mercenaries and use their unique abilities to defeat their enemies.
The combat in Shades of Red is challenging and rewarding. Players must carefully consider the strengths and weaknesses of their mercenaries, as well as the terrain and enemy positions, in order to succeed. The game also features a variety of environmental hazards, such as fire, gas, and explosives, which can add an extra layer of challenge to the combat.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in Shades of Red are dated, but they are still functional. The character models are well-animated, and the environments are detailed and atmospheric. The sound design is also good, with realistic sound effects and a catchy soundtrack.
Overall
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action – Shades of Red is a solid expansion pack that adds a lot of new content to the base game. The new campaign is challenging and engaging, the new characters are interesting and well-developed, and the new weapons and items add some much-needed variety to the gameplay. However, the game’s repetitive missions and lack of innovation may disappoint some fans.
Review Score
8/10
