Forewarning: this game has been abandoned by the developer, who is no longer in business.

I bought it anyway because I thought it would be a decent expansion to Back in Action (BIA). Unfortunately it isn't. For the most part, the engine is the same, gameplay is more or less the same, but there are a few differences. Here's a list of points that I think are worth mentioning:

1. The map is much smaller. In terms of sectors, it's maybe half or less than half of the sectors in BIA.

2. There are a few more mercs. The rival group M.E.R.C. merged with A.I.M. so there you get to choose from a few more but this doesn't really add much to the game. Although initially, you are so broke that some of the cheaper MERC soldiers can be useful.

3. Don't expect much, weapons-wise.

4. Money is hard to come by, early in the game. I had to take several sectors with just 2 mercs in my squad. As long as you have at least one medic and several first aid packs, you can heal after (or during) the battle.

5. Travel everywhere is still on foot. This is so damned annoying, you just can't imagine. What I love about JA was the ability to move around by various means, not just by walking (which is stupid, not to mention slow).

6. There's often only one way to do things. e.g. if you have mines in front of you, you have to trigger them or defuse them, you can't blow them up (again, kind of stupid).

7. My biggest peeve is, after you kill the head villain and take all the sectors, they make you start all over again (if you trigger the final quest) when "reinforcements" retake the harbor. SERIOUSLY?! And because you're halfway across the country, these reinforcements overrun several sectors before you can get into position -- meaning you have to plod through those sectors and re-take them ALL OVER AGAIN. Now this is just not how games or expansions should be designed. If you want breadth and depth, you make it a decent (larger) campaign with perhaps more side quests instead of getting the player to REPEAT what they've already done, just to increase replayability. That's just downright lazy.

If you still don't mind all of this, I'd strongly suggest waiting till this game is dirt cheap before even thinking of buying it (think $2-$3). To me, Crossfire is a disappointing end to a lukewarm attempt at trying to recreate what was an outstanding game and franchise, Jagged Alliance.

4.5/10

Forewarning: this game has been abandoned by the developer, who is no longer in business. I bought it anyway because I thought it would be a decent expansion to Back in Action (BIA). Unfortunately it isn't. For the most part, the engine is the same, gameplay is more or less the same, but there are a few differences. Here's a list of points that I think are worth mentioning: 1. The map is much smaller. In terms of sectors, it's maybe half or less than half of the sectors in BIA. 2. There are a few more mercs. The rival group M.E.R.C. merged with A.I.M. so there you get to choose from a few more but this doesn't really add much to the game. Although initially, you are so broke that some of the cheaper MERC soldiers can be useful. 3. Don't expect much, weapons-wise. 4. Money is hard to come by, early in the game. I had to take several sectors with just 2 mercs in my squad. As long as you have at least one medic and several first aid packs, you can heal after (or during) the battle. 5. Travel everywhere is still on foot. This is so damned annoying, you just can't imagine. What I love about JA was the ability to move around by various means, not just by walking (which is stupid, not to mention slow). 6. There's often only one way to do things. e.g. if you have mines in front of you, you have to trigger them or defuse them, you can't blow them up (again, kind of stupid). 7. My biggest peeve is, after you kill the head villain and take all the sectors, they make you start all over again (if you trigger the final quest) when "reinforcements" retake the harbor. SERIOUSLY?! And because you're halfway across the country, these reinforcements overrun several sectors before you can get into position -- meaning you have to plod through those sectors and re-take them ALL OVER AGAIN. Now this is just not how games or expansions should be designed. If you want breadth and depth, you make it a decent (larger) campaign with perhaps more side quests instead of getting the player to REPEAT what they've already done, just to increase replayability. That's just downright lazy. If you still don't mind all of this, I'd strongly suggest waiting till this game is dirt cheap before even thinking of buying it (think $2-$3). To me, Crossfire is a disappointing end to a lukewarm attempt at trying to recreate what was an outstanding game and franchise, Jagged Alliance. 4.5/10