Why JA3 is better than JA2 1.13

[Eukatae]

Mod-ability.
I have read a ton of reviews and posts here about how JA2 is a better game. Sure, right now it is; but JA2 is very difficult to mod and very limited in what you can achieve with mods.
From the little I've dug into it most of the limitations that stymied the tiny handful of diehard fans that worked on JA2 1.13 are not a problem with this game. That means more people will be able to do more with more. In the months ahead I am confident we will see some great stuff from the developer and the modding community.

[mr_oluap]

one thing i like is the topography in this game ; flat terrain seems so boring in comparison

[avadream]

I agree that JA3 can be made better than even JA2 1.13 with mods and without cheats.
JA3 will be king in it's niche sub-genre for a long time.

[Rhapsody]

Originally posted by avadream:

JA3 will be king in it's niche sub-genre for a long time.

What niche would that be? Turn-based games are pretty popular and, leaving Larian's unparalleled RPGs and the funny issues like limited ammo availability here aside, JA3 is the best turn-based game I've played in several years.

[avadream]

Originally posted by Rhapsody:

Originally posted by avadream:

JA3 will be king in it's niche sub-genre for a long time.

What niche would that be? Turn-based games are pretty popular and, leaving Larian's unparalleled RPGs and the funny issues like limited ammo availability here aside, JA3 is the best turn-based game I've played in several years.

Guns are exsisting guns and they look and sound real.
The Tactical maps look like realistic terrain.
Guerilla warfare looks realistic.

In short, gameplay like in many FPS shooters, but made isomentric and hybrid turn-based.
This is not unique but rare, when you dismiss the historical wargames and fantasy games.

[Kulin]

And the reason why it is worse:

- dumbed down tactical combat. Enemies don't need to see you, hear you or use according gear. The AI in JA2 was far ahead.

- Enemies cheat. The moment combat starts they know where you are, no matter if you sit on the other side of the map. They beeline directly to your team.

- Repetitive. The combat is so dumbed down compared to JA2, after around 20-30 fights it starts to feel all the same. All the missing equipment, the smaller enemy variation and the mostly irrelevant terrain makes combat boring pretty fast.

And i'm quite sure mods are not going to fix that.

[Barack Osama]

"- Enemies cheat. The moment combat starts they know where you are, no matter if you sit on the other side of the map."

Thats my biggest problem with the game.

[Rampage]

I dont count mods toward a game when rating it. The game is much worse than JA2. If a mod comes along that magically fixes all the flaws it will be a good mod for a poor game, it wont make the game any better.

[Kulin]

Originally posted by Barack Osama:

"- Enemies cheat. The moment combat starts they know where you are, no matter if you sit on the other side of the map."

Thats my biggest problem with the game.

Mine too. They just weren't able to implement a system where the AI not only needs to actively see you - with all variables like light, bushes, high gras, camoflage - but also can hear you to find you.

Instead they went with the x-com scatter at combat start and this cheating AI. I mean almost all other systems are more or less there. But this absolutely vital core part of all things is missing.

[suejak]

It is so hard to win over some old school fanboys.

As someone who played every JA game at release, I honestly don't see how they could have made a better sequel than JA3. It's really good and captures the spirit of previous games perfectly.

It actually takes it even further with every single merc having unique things to say in conversation! That is crazy and leagues better than any JA game.

[suejak]

Originally posted by Barack Osama:

"- Enemies cheat. The moment combat starts they know where you are, no matter if you sit on the other side of the map."

Thats my biggest problem with the game.

This isn't true at all, though. For example, we've cleared sectors in heavy rain by just openly shooting them in pods. We shoot up 1-2 and the rest don't react. I think the issue is (theory) you're not appreciating the effects of night and weather.

[Kulin]

Originally posted by suejak:

Originally posted by Barack Osama:

"- Enemies cheat. The moment combat starts they know where you are, no matter if you sit on the other side of the map."

Thats my biggest problem with the game.

This isn't true at all, though. For example, we've cleared sectors in heavy rain by just openly shooting them in pods. We shoot up 1-2 and the rest don't react. I think the issue is (theory) you're not appreciating the effects of night and weather.

I was talking about something entirely different, though. AFTER combat starts they know where you are, without seeing or hearing any of you. I'm not talking about that wonky combat entry system.

[Macro]

Originally posted by Eukatae:

Why JA3 is better than JA2 1.13

No... Just no!

JA 3 is on the tactical side and many more Aspects so dumbed down that it isnt even funny .

It's sad as fu.. That a over 20 Year old game with less Graphics can do better in every way.

[Motorola]

Vanilla JA2 was pretty barebone, i also dont undestand the complaints about wapons, there are plenty to find,JA2 didnt had more weapon than this JA3 i believe,i also prefer the fact you cant buy them but you need to explore and loot to get the best, so you have to think twice about modding weapons.

[Outcast]

Originally posted by suejak:

It is so hard to win over some old school fanboys.

As someone who played every JA game at release, I honestly don't see how they could have made a better sequel than JA3. It's really good and captures the spirit of previous games perfectly.

It actually takes it even further with every single merc having unique things to say in combat! That is crazy and leagues better than any JA game.

How about if they made it more like JA2 and less like the new XCOM. Honestly, I played JA2 dozens of times to completion an put in over 1000 hours, easy. What I like about this one is that it retained what made JA2 unique, meaning the merc personalities and interactions, but they lost a lot of what made JA2 fun and playable.
The lack of loot in JA3 sucks completely and being unable to purchase what you want goes a long way to making the lack of loot turn this from a fun game to a crap game.

[Pitagora]

Originally posted by suejak:

It is so hard to win over some old school fanboys.

As someone who played every JA game at release, I honestly don't see how they could have made a better sequel than JA3. It's really good and captures the spirit of previous games perfectly.

Well that's a bold statement, don't get me wrong, I overall like the game and having fun playing it, but...
It can be quite a lot better than this. Just mind a real trade system, a less dumb character inventory management and a proper crafting system (it was silly in ja2, but this is even worse), just to point out three aspect that really needs some love from the devs.

Originally posted by suejak:

It actually takes it even further with every single merc having unique things to say in combat! That is crazy and leagues better than any JA game.

So you lied in the first sentence. You clearly never "really" played ja2, because character random interactions and specific sentences per merc on different situations where way more in JA2 than the few words these mercs say in the third episode... Not to mention the number of mercs available in both titles. I still giggle every time I hear Spider or MD blabbering in the crepitus queen mission. So, no, you dind't play ja2 in all its glory.

But I repeat, I like this game and having fun playing it, I just hope it will be better in the future with patches and mods, because it definitely CAN be better.