Back in Action, or Flashback?

[EvilPolygons]

I read a lot of terrible things about Back in Action last year, so I held off and waited for Flashback. But now lots of terrible things are being said about Flashback, so I'm wondering if Back in Action maybe wasn't so bad...?

I'm thinking about buying either BiA or Flashback, but JEEZ it's difficult sorting out all the drama surrounding both of these titles.

Does BiA have any features that Flashback doesn't have? Is the combat better? How about squad managment? Can anyone please give me just a basic comparison of the two games?

[rogertheshrubb3r]

I haven't played Flashback, so I can only tell you my impression of BiA. As a fan of the originals that got it on sale not expecting much, it's actually a very decent game. Game mechanics are different (pausable real-time as opposed to turn-based) and has less depth than JA2, but it's a very playable game that runs smoothly, has no (major) bugs and some good mods.

TL;DR: better than I expected. Has mods. Get it on a sale.

[EvilPolygons]

Originally posted by rogertheshrubb3r:

I haven't played Flashback, so I can only tell you my impression of BiA. As a fan of the originals that got it on sale not expecting much, it's actually a very decent game. Game mechanics are different (pausable real-time as opposed to turn-based) and has less depth than JA2, but it's a very playable game that runs smoothly, has no (major) bugs and some good mods.

TL;DR: better than I expected. Has mods. Get it on a sale.

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that it BiA is not turn-based.

[LSD]

Originally posted by rogertheshrubb3r:

Game mechanics are different (pausable real-time as opposed to turn-based) and has less depth than JA2, but it's a very playable game that runs smoothly, has no (major) bugs and some good mods.

TL;DR: better than I expected. Has mods. Get it on a sale.

Can agree with half of that.
It's a decent game, though it does lack a lot of depth.
It's bordering unplayable, though. It runs horribly, and has some pretty huge bugs.

From what i remember, the game has maybe 1 or 2 mods, and they're really only minor reskins or file edits.

[rogertheshrubb3r]

Originally posted by LSD:

It's bordering unplayable, though. It runs horribly, and has some pretty huge bugs.

What major bugs are you talking about? It runs great for me on a very average machine and can't remember any bugs whatsoever. I was actually surprised at how well it runs.

Originally posted by LSD:

From what i remember, the game has maybe 1 or 2 mods, and they're really only minor reskins or file edits.

Obivously nowhere near JA2 level of mods, but those that exist do improve the game and add various things. No major conversions as JA2 had though.

Is the game worth 30 $/euros? No, there are many better games at this price on Steam and elsewhere. Is it worth getting it for 5-10 on a sale (with all DLCs and Crossfire, as I did) or in a bundle? Absolutely yes.

My bottom line is this game is better than some people say. Of course, if you're expecting it to be as good as JA2 was in its day you'll be disappointed, but if you take it for what it is you'll get a decent and enjoyable game.

[EvilPolygons]

I may eventually get BiA if it goes on sale with a STEEP discount, but I'm not at all a fan of RTS. I prefer TBS and there are very, very, very few RTS games that I enjoy. Thanks for the response, though.

[rogertheshrubb3r]

It's not a RTS, it's still a tactical game, but with different mechanics. You can still queue and sync actions like reload, change stance, fire mode etc.

Anyway it's probably best to watch a gameplay video like this one (around min. 19 for example).

FWIW I'm not a fan of RTS games either.

[EvilPolygons]

Yes, I know it's RTS with tactical pause. Not a fan of that, either. I prefer traditional TBS gameplay. Again, I might pick up BiA if it goes on a really steep sale, but I wouldn't pay full price for a genre I generally dislike.

[dichebach]

Originally posted by LSD:

Originally posted by rogertheshrubb3r:

Game mechanics are different (pausable real-time as opposed to turn-based) and has less depth than JA2, but it's a very playable game that runs smoothly, has no (major) bugs and some good mods.

TL;DR: better than I expected. Has mods. Get it on a sale.

Can agree with half of that.
It's a decent game, though it does lack a lot of depth.
It's bordering unplayable, though. It runs horribly, and has some pretty huge bugs.

From what i remember, the game has maybe 1 or 2 mods, and they're really only minor reskins or file edits.

You must be playing a different game than me. I disagree completely with everything you said.

1. It is a very good game, the tactical dimensions have always been the focus of this series and this game does a great job of bringing the visuals and mechanics of tactical combat into the 21st century. I don't see how you can say there is any more "depth" in any of the preceding games, they are all the same: a tactical /operational squad combat and conquest simulator.

2. "Bordering unplayable" What?!? I've played it about 80 hours and had ZERO problems of any sort, whether UI, bugs, glitches, etc.

3. I'm using two main mods "Realistic Reblaancing 1.83" and "JABIA tools."

Very good game even unmodded, Fantastic game with these mods

ADDIT: and responding to some of the comments about turn-based vs RTS . . . I generally prefer turn-based. But this is a fantastic, I would even say revolutionary game design.

Once you figure out how it works, how to effetcively use the Task sequencer (the interface that pauses the game and allows you to issue sequenced orders to your mercs using the spacebar by default) and how to get the most out of your mercs and their weapons, this engine is just about the best modern warfare tactical simulator I've played. The flow and sequence of firefights feels much more realistic than anything else I've ever played. SMGs, Assault Rifles, LMG, HMGs, snipers, all have their role to play in this system.

[Sir Samson]

yea BIA is better than Flashback, but FB is an unfinished joke and just another example of fail crowd funding/steam early access. Also I just got the BIA bundle for 3$, its on many key shops for 3-5.

The 2 mods are decent, one is a good realism mod which is great, tweaks and weapons. The other one Combat Evolved is now older and is choice if you want a hard challenge.

[questmotion]

I pretty much felt the same after playing BIA, it's actually one of my favorite games. I like both RTS and BTS but this felt like the next step I had been waiting for. Great PC title, highly underrated in my humble opinion.

Originally posted by dichebach:

Originally posted by LSD:

Can agree with half of that.
It's a decent game, though it does lack a lot of depth.
It's bordering unplayable, though. It runs horribly, and has some pretty huge bugs.

From what i remember, the game has maybe 1 or 2 mods, and they're really only minor reskins or file edits.

You must be playing a different game than me. I disagree completely with everything you said.

1. It is a very good game, the tactical dimensions have always been the focus of this series and this game does a great job of bringing the visuals and mechanics of tactical combat into the 21st century. I don't see how you can say there is any more "depth" in any of the preceding games, they are all the same: a tactical /operational squad combat and conquest simulator.

2. "Bordering unplayable" What?!? I've played it about 80 hours and had ZERO problems of any sort, whether UI, bugs, glitches, etc.

3. I'm using two main mods "Realistic Reblaancing 1.83" and "JABIA tools."

Very good game even unmodded, Fantastic game with these mods

ADDIT: and responding to some of the comments about turn-based vs RTS . . . I generally prefer turn-based. But this is a fantastic, I would even say revolutionary game design.

Once you figure out how it works, how to effetcively use the Task sequencer (the interface that pauses the game and allows you to issue sequenced orders to your mercs using the spacebar by default) and how to get the most out of your mercs and their weapons, this engine is just about the best modern warfare tactical simulator I've played. The flow and sequence of firefights feels much more realistic than anything else I've ever played. SMGs, Assault Rifles, LMG, HMGs, snipers, all have their role to play in this system.

[LSD]

Really? You people didn't notice anything wrong with the game? This game was universally panned for all the bugs, glitches and issues. Never mind the crashes, there's the non-existent AI and pathfinding, and of course the performance issues in specific cities.
You've then got arbitrary weapon stats (i don't care about guns, but when you've got an assault rifle like a SCAR being less accurate at long range than a pistol like a Glock, you've got some serious issues there). You've got glitchy missions (especially the one with the scientist). You've got broken gameplay elements (camouflage doesn't have any effect in the game whatsoever, for example).

The game is a mess.

And yes, that was exactly my point about mods: there's one or two file changes out there, but no full-fledged mods for the game, since the game's locked down tight.

[questmotion]

Originally posted by LSD:

Really? You people didn't notice anything wrong with the game? This game was universally panned for all the bugs, glitches and issues. Never mind the crashes, there's the non-existent AI and pathfinding, and of course the performance issues in specific cities.
You've then got arbitrary weapon stats (i don't care about guns, but when you've got an assault rifle like a SCAR being less accurate at long range than a pistol like a Glock, you've got some serious issues there). You've got glitchy missions (especially the one with the scientist). You've got broken gameplay elements (camouflage doesn't have any effect in the game whatsoever, for example).

The game is a mess.

And yes, that was exactly my point about mods: there's one or two file changes out there, but no full-fledged mods for the game, since the game's locked down tight.

Try the realistic rebalancing mod, adds 45 weapons, fixes camo, bugs & crashes, even makes militia useful ... There's more stuff the modd adds like more realistic ballistics etc.

I had great fun on my 1st playthrough, a game crash here and there but because the game saves at every fight I never lost much progress. Think I must've crashed 5 times and man did I take my time on that 1st playthrough :D

Pathing can be cluttered if u don't sequence your orders properly but that's easy to adapt to imho. Performance drops in cities is true as well, alhough it seems to run better on more recent GPUs (770gtx), not really other fixes from what I read. For the rest the mod really does the trick.

But to be fully honest, I think it's one of those hate or love game, few inbetweens ;) For those in doubt whether to buy this I recommend "One f Jef" his LP on youtube.

[nephilimnexus]

I've played both, and it's BIA as the winner hands down. No, the game isn't perfect, it's not amazing and to this day it still has it's share of bugs and aggrevations. Luckily it can be modded (I use "Combat Evolved" myself).

However, Flashback is a craptstic, glorified smartphone game that would bore a chimpanze.

It's like comparing a fast food cheeseburger to something you dug out of a dumpster. Relatively speaking, the former is fine cusine in comparison.

[threat vector]

Originally posted by LSD:

Originally posted by rogertheshrubb3r:

Game mechanics are different (pausable real-time as opposed to turn-based) and has less depth than JA2, but it's a very playable game that runs smoothly, has no (major) bugs and some good mods.

TL;DR: better than I expected. Has mods. Get it on a sale.

Can agree with half of that.
It's a decent game, though it does lack a lot of depth.
It's bordering unplayable, though. It runs horribly, and has some pretty huge bugs.

From what i remember, the game has maybe 1 or 2 mods, and they're really only minor reskins or file edits.

What are you talking about? I have finished JA:BIA multiple times, the bugs are very minor. With the rebalancing mod installed the game is fun and challenging to play. Oh and for the OP JA:FB is dead and broken. Nuff said.

[threat vector]

Originally posted by LSD:

Really? You people didn't notice anything wrong with the game? This game was universally panned for all the bugs, glitches and issues. Never mind the crashes, there's the non-existent AI and pathfinding, and of course the performance issues in specific cities.
You've then got arbitrary weapon stats (i don't care about guns, but when you've got an assault rifle like a SCAR being less accurate at long range than a pistol like a Glock, you've got some serious issues there). You've got glitchy missions (especially the one with the scientist). You've got broken gameplay elements (camouflage doesn't have any effect in the game whatsoever, for example).

The game is a mess.

And yes, that was exactly my point about mods: there's one or two file changes out there, but no full-fledged mods for the game, since the game's locked down tight.

As I said I thoroughly enjoyed this game with and without the rebalancing mod.