Incline Let's settle this once and for all: Jagged Alliance 2

[The Great ThunThun*]

Is it an RPG?

I personally think it's one of the best ones ever made. You have your own char with stats and other chars who also have stats. This makes it an RPG in my book.

But, it's strength is the tactical gameplay which works regardless of the RPG elements (but not despite).

What do you think?

 

[agentorange]

I wish there was a limit on when newfags can make threads. Like they can only make threads after one year. Getting really sick of these redundant "what is an rpg" threads.

 

[Sacred82]

it's a strategy game. Can't even call it strictly squad based tactics with its layer of resource management.


Characters have faces and names and stats though so autists will call it an RPG.

 

[octavius]

I spent 99% of the time playing it as an RPG. The Strategy part (who/what do I spend money on, where do we attack, Militia training) is quite straightforward, but the distribution a of items, assembling of teams, and tactical combat is very time consuming if you try to play optimally.

 

[mfkndggrfll]

Its a turn based strategy game.

 

[Brancaleone]

Pointless poll, Codexers have known that JA2 is kingcomrade since ever.

 

[Tigranes]

It is a Very Good game, what more do you need

 

[Maggot]

It is a Very Good game, what more do you need

not allowed to like it unless it fits my genre of choice

 

[MasterSmithFandango]

Best game of all time.

Not an RPG.

 

[Micormic]

I'd say so.

 

[Quillon]

You have your own char with stats and other chars who also have stats. This makes it an RPG in my book.

Your book has waaaay too many "RPG"s then.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Is it an RPG?

I personally think it's one of the best ones ever made. You have your own char with stats and other chars who also have stats. This makes it an RPG in my book.

But, it's strength is the tactical gameplay which works regardless of the RPG elements (but not despite).

What do you think?

If you're going to claim that Jagged Alliance 2 is an RPG, then at least cite the exploration-related aspects of the game, which it does possess in substantial amount, as this would more clearly differentiate it from being a squad-based tactics game with a strategic overlay. Without the exploration, JA2 is much the same as X-Com, another squad-based tactics game with a strategic overlay that no-one should confuse with being an RPG. The character stats/progression are at most an argument for assigning JA2 to the "SRPG" genre, which would have been more accurately called TRPGs and which are closer to squad-based tactics games than to RPGs.

 

[Agame]

Nope

 

[Jason Liang]

It's mostly a squad tactics game with a hybrid of strategy and adventure. It doesn't have enough exploration outside of combat to be considered an rpg. The combat itself is presented as a tactical game, with a large, complicated battlefield and enemies hidden outside visibiity range. While Pool of Radiance (and its modern equivalent, Temple of Elemental Evil), has similar battle presentation, it's still simplified, streamlined and abstracted compared to JA2.

 

[groke]

It is quite literally what it says on the tin:

 

[Lilura]

JA2 is so good that "RPG" is an insult.

 

[passerby]

More of an rpg, than a majority of games on the codex top70 list.

 

[Jason Liang]

It is quite literally what it says on the tin:

Role-playing here is an adjective only. It's primarily a STRATEGY game.

HoMM3 is also not a RPG.

 

[groke]

HOMM3 also doesn't have the words "A ROLE-PLAYING STRATEGY GAME" on the front of the box.

 

[Jason Liang]

HOMM3 also doesn't have the words "A ROLE-PLAYING STRATEGY GAME" on the front of the box.

At that point it's just semantics. What makes JA2 an RPG when HoMM3 (or even more complicated, HoMM 4) is not?

HoMM3 is not even the best comparison. I thought of one the other day but now it slips my mind.

JA2 is also very similar to Shadow Sorcerer, and Shadow Sorcerer is also not an RPG.

 

[octavius]

JA2 is so good that "RPG" is an insult.

Lilura1: Commentary & Criticism on the original and authoritative incarnations of Renaissance-era Role-playing games.

Hmm....

HoMM3 is also not a RPG.

In HoMM 3 the RPG parts are very straightforward. Relatively few items, only one of two choices when leveling up, and only one hero per army.
And you move armies around the map instead of squads of heroes.
So not a very good comparioson.

The Age of Wonders are more comparable, since they have a stronger RPG part, with more detailed Heroes.
Funnily enough a Strategy game has better tactical combat than 99% of RPGs.

 

[Tito Anic]

Tactics with RPG elements.

 

[Bigg Boss]

Is Fallout Tactics a RPG guuuuyyyys?

Is Final Fantasy Tactics a RPG guuuuyyys?

 

[Darth Roxor]

HOMM3 also doesn't have the words "A ROLE-PLAYING STRATEGY GAME" on the front of the box.

otoh

which is unquestionably a wargame first

the chink's argument is p. convincing to me

 

[Cael]

Your book has waaaay too many "RPG"s then.

No such thing.