Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games is a turn-based strategy game in which you lead a squad of mercenaries on a series of missions. Like the original Jagged Allieance, you command troops in a top-down battlefield view, equipping them with various weapons and using them to take out enemies and achieve missions. However, this game changes the original's formula in several ways.

Special Missions

Where the first Jagged Alliance game focused on resource and territory management, Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games follows a more linear story structure. Complete one mission, and it's on to the next. Between missions, you can buy equipment and manage your squad. Not every mission is a stand-up fight; instead, you'll be called on to carry out special operations like identifying targets, rescuing hostages, blowing up buildings and sneaking into enemy-held areas. Your weapons dealer will sell you upgrades for your troops' gear, including scopes, silencers and more -- but the quality may not always be reliable. What it loses in player control, however, this game makes up in mission variety. In addition to eh standard campaign, there's a scenario editor you can use to create your own missions.

A tactical challenge

Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games offers a little more in the way of tactical challenge than its predecessor, but at the cost of some of its strategic content. It's a worthwhile purchase for any strategy game fan, despite its dated presentation.