Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business builds on the tactical, turn-based formula of its predecessor, offering a focused mission to track down and destroy Ricci Mining’s hidden missile base. Combat remains grid-based, requiring careful positioning, use of cover, and coordination between mercenaries. With the sight range and cover overlay options, players can plan each move with greater clarity, identifying blind spots and firing lanes before exposing their squad to enemy fire.

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Unlike the original Jagged Alliance 2, militia training is omitted here, which shifts the emphasis squarely onto your hired team of mercenaries. This stripped-down structure creates a more intimate combat experience—every shot, every casualty, and every medipack feels crucial. The smaller map size (roughly 20 sectors, many of which are subterranean) intensifies each engagement, making logistics and resource management critical. You’ll need to balance ammo reserves, medical supplies, and repair kits as you push deeper into Tracona’s caverns.

The standalone nature of Unfinished Business allows you to import beloved characters from Jagged Alliance 2 or build a fresh roster. New character development options let each merc grow in specializations like demolitions, electronics, or marksmanship. Fresh weapons and equipment keep gear selection exciting—you might uncover a new sniper rifle or experimental rocket launcher that turns the tide of an encounter. For players who love customization, the included campaign editor extends replay value, enabling community-driven scenarios long after the main story is complete.

Graphics

Graphically, Unfinished Business retains the classic isometric, pixel-art style of Jagged Alliance 2, with modest enhancements. Textures on cave walls and missile silos show improved detailing, and dynamic lighting effects cast realistic shadows that heighten the atmosphere in underground sectors. While it won’t rival modern 3D engines, the art direction is functional and evocative, effectively conveying the claustrophobic tension of infiltrating an enemy base.

Character and weapon sprites are sharp and easily distinguishable, which is vital in a game where identifying friend from foe in dimly lit corridors can mean life or death. The UI improvements—such as the visible cover indicators and line-of-sight overlays—integrate seamlessly without cluttering the screen. Inventory menus and character portraits maintain the familiar Jagged Alliance aesthetic but feel more responsive and polished than before.

Animations remain relatively simple: firing, reloading, and melee moves loop clearly but can grow repetitive over long sessions. However, the atmospheric details—dripping water in tunnels, sparks from damaged electronics, and occasional muzzle flash—enhance immersion. For players seeking tight, tactical visuals rather than flashy graphics, Unfinished Business delivers a crisp, purposeful presentation that complements its gameplay-driven focus.

Story

The narrative thrust of Unfinished Business picks up after the civil war in Arulco, where the defeated Ricci Mining and Exploration company seeks revenge. By establishing a missile base in neighboring Tracona, Ricci threatens to rain destruction on any dissenters unless the mines are returned. The tension is immediate and visceral: traders report missile tests in the borderlands, and the recent destruction of the Tixa prison warns of Ricci’s lethal resolve.

You assume the role of Enrico’s trusted commander, tasked with locating and obliterating the missile silos before they can decimate Arulco’s civilian population. Dialogue snippets and mission briefings convey a sense of urgency, but much of the story unfolds through mission design and environmental cues. Blown-out tunnels, abandoned training grounds, and the occasional intel drop piece together a grim picture of Ricci’s fanatical drive for profit and power.

While the plot isn’t heavy on cutscenes, the writing captures the dry humor and mercenary banter that fans love. New characters—seasoned explosives experts, hardened former mining engineers, and local guides—add texture to the world, though you won’t forge deep personal arcs in this shorter campaign. The claustrophobia of underground operations, punctuated by radio chatter and distant explosions, keeps the stakes high and the pace brisk from start to finish.

Overall Experience

Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business stands out as a tightly focused spin-off that streamlines the Jagged Alliance formula. By removing militia training and concentrating on a single, high-stakes objective, it provides a distilled tactical challenge ideal for series veterans. Newcomers may find the learning curve steep, but the built-in tutorials and clear combat overlays ease you into the complexities of merc-based warfare.

The smaller scale mission structure makes for a cohesive playthrough you can complete in a shorter timeframe than the main Jagged Alliance 2 campaign, yet the variety of underground layouts and optional side encounters inject replay value. The campaign editor further extends longevity, empowering you to design unique maps, tweak enemy AI, or import your own narrative twists—perfect for modders and community enthusiasts.

While the graphics and animations reflect its early 2000s heritage, Unfinished Business thrives on tight design, emergent tactical moments, and mercenary camaraderie. If you crave a challenging, no-frills tactical RPG experience with a dash of 1990s strategy flavor, this standalone expansion is a satisfying, action-packed detour that complements the broader Jagged Alliance saga without overstaying its welcome.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10