JA2 Systems - Version Differences¶

The Game¶

The Jagged Alliance series is a collection of Tactical Role-Playing Games (TRPG), it is a long-running franchise known for its deep, turn-based tactical gameplay, strategic management layer, and memorable mercenary characters.

Brief History of the Jagged Alliance Series¶

Jagged Alliance (1995) : Developed by Madlab Software and published by Sir-Tech, this first installment for MS-DOS established the core gameplay loop. Players were tasked with liberating the island of Metavira by hiring mercenaries and managing the local economy (harvesting medicinal sap) to fund their operations.

Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games (1996) : Developed by Sir-Tech, this follow-up used the same engine but focused on a series of tactical, mission-based scenarios rather than a persistent open world campaign. It added a multiplayer mode and a map editor.

Jagged Alliance 2 Demo (1998) : Developed by Sir-Tech, a official demo of Jagged Alliance 2.

Jagged Alliance 2 (classic) (1999) : Developed by Sir-Tech and released for Windows, this is widely considered the pinnacle of the series. It vastly expanded the scope with higher resolution graphics, an isometric 3D view, deeper RPG mechanics, and a sandbox campaign to liberate the fictional nation of Arulco from a dictator, Queen Deidranna. The classic version ran up to v1.03 (build 99.06.09).

Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business (2000) : A standalone sequel by Sir-Tech that continued the story after the main game. It featured a shorter, more action-oriented, mission-based campaign with fewer strategic elements, though it did allow character importing from JA2.

Jagged Alliance 2 Gold Pack (2002) : Published by Strategy First, this bundle included both the main game (patched to the definitive v1.12, which incorporated additional bugfixes and minor features from Unfinished Business) and the Unfinished Business expansion. This version is often considered the ideal base for modern modding.

Jagged Alliance 2, v1.12 (build 04.12.02)
Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business

Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire (2004) : Originally a fan-made mod by Serge "WildFire" Pop-off that became a commercial product. The official version 6.04 (build 12.01.06) (by iDeal Games Studio/Zuxxez) featured a tweaked engine for higher resolutions, new maps, new items, and a higher difficulty, but largely kept the core story and engine of JA2 intact.

Jagged Alliance 3 (2023) : After many failed attempts by various developers over nearly two decades, Haemimont Games (known for the Tropico series) released the first official mainline sequel to JA2. It modernizes the series with updated 3D graphics, a new campaign in the nation of Grand Chien, and revised mechanics, while aiming to recapture the depth and tone of the original.

Brief History of the Jagged Alliance IP¶

1994-c. 2000: Sir-Tech Canada
- The franchise was created by Madlab Software, which developed the first Jagged Alliance (1994).
- Madlab Software was later absorbed by its publisher, Sir-Tech Software, Inc., and the IP rights were transferred to them.
- Subsequent titles, including Deadly Games, Jagged Alliance 2, and Unfinished Business, were developed by Sir-Tech's internal development house, Sir-Tech Canada.
- Various companies like TalonSoft and Interplay Entertainment acted as publishers for specific games during this period.

c. 2000-2010: Strategy First
- After Sir-Tech's publishing arm went out of business and Sir-Tech Canada closed in late 2003, the rights were acquired by Strategy First.
- Strategy First attempted to develop Jagged Alliance 3 (and a 3D spin-off) with various developers, including Russian-based Akella, but these projects never materialized into a released game.
- Strategy First was acquired by Silverstar Holdings, which faced its own financial difficulties.

2010-2015: bitComposer Games
- In March 2010, the German company bitComposer Games (now bitComposer Interactive) acquired the rights to the series from Strategy First.
- During this period, games like Jagged Alliance: Back in Action (a remake of JA2) and Jagged Alliance Online were released.

2015-Present: THQ Nordic (via Embracer Group)
- In August 2015, Nordic Games (which later re-branded as THQ Nordic after acquiring the THQ trademark) acquired the Jagged Alliance IP from the bankrupt bitComposer Entertainment AG.
- THQ Nordic, which is a subsidiary of the larger Embracer Group holding company, currently owns the rights and published the critically well-received Jagged Alliance 3 in 2023.

Key Differences Between Versions and Mods¶

JA2 Classic, Gold, and Wildfire

JA2 Classic: Refers to the original 1999 release of the game and its early patches (up to v1.03).

JA2 Gold: The definitive official release, patching the game to v1.12. It is primarily a bugfix compilation that ensures better compatibility with later systems and includes the Unfinished Business mini-campaign. It is the preferred base for most modern mods.

JA2 Wildfire: An official re-release/expansion (v6) that functions essentially as a harder, revamped-map mod with slightly improved graphics and the option for a larger squad size (up to 10 mercs). It keeps the original story but is generally considered more difficult and perhaps less balanced than the original "vanilla" experience.
- Another key difference between JA2WF and JA2 Classic/Gold is that cheat codes are not allowed in JA2WF version 6.04 (build 12.01.06).

JA2 vanilla, Stracciatella, 1.13 and other Mods

JA2 Vanilla: Refers to the original, un-modded game as Sir-Tech intended, typically played using the Gold version (v1.12).

Stracciatella: This project is a source port and unofficial patch that aims to provide a more modern "vanilla" experience. It fixes hundreds of bugs present in the original game, adds support for modern operating systems and higher resolutions/widescreen displays, and includes quality-of-life improvements, all while keeping the core gameplay virtually untouched.

1.13 Mod: A massive, community-driven engine upgrade and overhaul that adds a staggering amount of new content and complexity. It includes tons of new weapons, items, mercs (from JA1), a new Chance-To-Hit (CtH) system, a weather system, and deep customization options. It fundamentally changes and expands the game, often making it much harder and more complex.

Other Mods: Many other total conversion mods (e.g., Deidranna Lives, Urban Chaos) are built using either the vanilla engine or the 1.13 platform, offering entirely new campaigns, stories, or settings.

JA1, JA2, and JA3 Differences

Feature	Jagged Alliance (JA1)	Jagged Alliance 2 (JA2)	Jagged Alliance 3 (JA3)
Perspective/Graphics	Top-down 2D, low resolution	Isometric pseudo-3D, higher resolution	Modern 3D isometric graphics
Campaign Type	Sandbox liberation of a single island	Deeper sandbox liberation of the entire country of Arulco	Sandbox liberation of Grand Chien, with a quest-based structure
Action Points (AP)	Tile-based AP system	Detailed AP system factoring movement, actions, and character stats	AP system with a focus on special abilities (e.g., Over-watch, Take Cover)
Logistics/Management	Manage income from medicinal sap, hire native guards	Deep management of merc contracts, militia training, weapon repairs, and a robust inventory/attachment system	More streamlined logistics and inventory, with a crafting-based weapon mod system
Tone	Campy, action-film inspired	Iconic, highly immersive mix of serious plot and merc personality	Exaggerated action-movie style, with a more modern feel